Click on the links below Introduction & Acknowledgment Forming a 'Pace of Play' Committee Features of the USGA PRS The USGA PR Formula in Brief How to have your course Pace Rated How to Take The USGA Pace Rating and Run With It Resources for Teaching, Managing, and Enforcing Pace of Play Player Education/Communication On-Course Products and Services Programs of Note More On-Course Aids Setting up Your Course to Play To Its USGA Pace Rating Questions and Answers About The USGA Pace Rating Appendix A - The USGA Pace Rating Form PR1 Publications

Appendix A - The USGA Pace Rating Form PR1

This is a guide for completing the USGA Pace Rating Form PR1. It is intended for use by Regional Golf Associations which have the written authority of the USGA. The USGA Pace Rating Form PR1 is to be completed by a Pace Rating official.

Which Set Of Tees To Pace Rate

The USGA Pace Rating for the course is determined from the most often played set of tees. These are generally the middle tees for men.

However, a course may request a separate USGA Pace Rating for each set of tees on the course. In that case, when a tournament or play-day is taking place on the back tees or the front tees, the Pace Rating of the tees being played will apply. When members of a group play from more than one set of tees, the higher Pace Rating will apply to all players in the group.

Pre-Rating Preparation

Before Pace Rating a set of tees, the Pace Rater should:

Obtain a copy of the USGA Course Rating Form 1 that accompanies the most recent Course Rating and Slope Rating of the set of tees. Obtain the Form 1 for men's Course Rating if the set of tees is played most often by men. Obtain the Form 1 for women's Course Rating if the set of tees is played most often by women. Use the Form to complete distance and obstacle questions;

Inquire from course management about:

Whether carts are required to stay on cart paths; if so, on which holes;

The hole location of any halfway house;

Whether a significant number of golfers walk the course. If so, measure the distance from green-to-tee* (in yards) for walkers for holes 1-17. The distance is measured from the edge of a green, along the most-frequently walked path to the permanent marker of the tees being rated on the next hole.

*Note: Green-To-Tee Distance may also be added when the course requires carts and the distance from a green on one hole to the tee on the next hole is significant. See page Appendix - 10.

INSTRUCTIONS AND CALCULATIONS FOR COMPLETING USGA PACE RATING FORM PR1

Top of Form

At the top of the form, record the name of the course, the name of the official conducting the rating, and the date. Indicate which tees are being rated.

Club Policy

Record the answer to the following question: Are carts required to stay on paths?

Hole By Hole Evaluations

Line 1 - Length (In Yards)

Consult the USGA Course Rating Form 1 for the yardage (as measured from the tees being rated) for each of the holes on the course. Enter the length on Line 1 - Length.

Line 2 - Length Time OR Cart Path Time

Complete Length Time if the hole is played by a significant number of walkers or if carts are used and are allowed on the fairway. (Allowed on the fairway can mean under the 90-degree rule).

The calculation for Length Time is:

Length of hole (Line 1) divided by 48, plus 4 = Length Time

Example: For a hole 472 yards in length to which walkers and carts have full access,

Length Time =

472/48 + 4 = 13.83. Round to nearest decimal = 13.8 minutes.

Enter the Length Time for the hole on Line 2 - Length Time.

OR

Complete Cart Path Time instead of Length Time if carts are used but are restricted to cart paths only. Complete this calculation instead of Length Time even if the hole is played by a significant number of walkers.

The calculation for Cart Path Time is:

Length of hole (Line 1) divided by 42, plus 4 = Cart Path Time

Example: For a hole 472 yards in length to which walkers have full access but carts are restricted to the cart path, Length Time =

472/42 + 4 = 15.23. Round to nearest decimal = 15.2 minutes.

Enter the Cart Path Time for the hole on Line 2 - Cart Path Time. Note: Carts may be allowed on the fairways of some holes, but restricted to the cart paths on others (especially par-3 holes). Therefore, on such a course, both Length Time and Cart Time will apply.

Line 3 - Obstacle Total

Consult the USGA Course Rating Form 1 for the numerical obstacle rating assigned to the following obstacles on each hole:

Topography

Fairway

Green Target

Recoverability and Rough

Bunkers

Out of Bounds/Extreme Rough

Water Hazards

Trees

Green Surface

Psychological

Note those obstacles (except Water Hazards) that are rated a total of 5 or higher. A total rating of 5 can be either the rating for a scratch player only, or the rating for a bogey player (the sum of the scratch rating and the bogey adjustment)

Examples of a total rating of 5:

Scratch rating is 5; bogey adjustment is -1

Scratch rating is 4; bogey adjustment is +1

Add together the obstacle values (except Water Hazards) that are rated a total of 5 or higher on each hole.

Example: Hole 1 has ratings for Topography, 6; Fairway, 5; and Bunkers, 5. The Obstacle Total =

6 + 5 + 5 = 16

Enter the non-water Obstacle Total for the hole on Line 3 - Obstacle Total.

Line 4 - Obstacle Time

Divide the Obstacle Total from Line 3 by 30. Round to the nearest decimal.

Example: Hole 1 has an Obstacle Total of 16. The Obstacle Time =

16 divided by 30 = .533. Round to nearest decimal = .5 minute

Enter the Obstacle Time for the hole on Line 4 - Obstacle Time.

Line 5 - Water Value

Note the obstacle rating for Water Hazards on each hole. (The obstacle rating for Water Hazards does not have to be 5 or higher to be considered).

Enter the Obstacle Rating for Water Hazards on the hole on Line 5 - Water Value.

Line 6 - Water Time

Divide the Water Value on Line 5 by 6. Round to the nearest decimal.

Example: Hole 1 has a Water Value of 4. The Water Time =

4 divided by 6 = .666. Round to nearest decimal = .7 minute

Enter the Water Time for the hole on Line 6 - Water Time.

Line 7 - Total Obstacle Time

Add the Obstacle Time on Line 4 to the Water Time on Line 6.

Example: Hole 1 has an Obstacle Time of .5 and a Water Time of .7. The Total Obstacle Time =

.5 plus .7 = 1.2 minutes

Enter the Total Obstacle Time on Line 7 - Total Obstacle Time.

Example: Hole 3

Sample Hole Obstacle Rating (From USGA Course Rating Form 1)

Obstacle Scratch Bogey

Topography 0
Fairway 0
Green Target +1
Recoverability and Rough +1
Bunkers 0
Out of Bounds/Extreme Rough +1
Water Hazards 0
Trees 0
Green Surface 0
Psychological +1
The obstacles (except Water Hazards) rated a total of 5 or higher include:

Non-Water ObstaclesRated 5 or Higher Rating

Green Target 5 (4 +1)

Bunkers 5 (5 + 0)

Trees 6 (6 +0)

Green Surface 6 (6 + 0)

Obstacle Total 22

Divide by 30 30

Obstacle Time (Rounded) .7 Minute

Water Value 4

Divide by 6 6

Water Time (Rounded) .7 Minute

Obstacle Time .7

Plus Water Time .7

Total Obstacle Time 1.4 Minutes

Line 8 - Green-To-Tee Distance

Complete this entry only if a significant number of players walk the course.* Measure the yardage from green-to-tee for holes 1-17. The measurement should be from the side of the green, along the most-frequently walked route, to the permanent marker for the tees being rated on the next hole.

Enter the Green-To-Tee Distance for the hole on Line 8 - Green-To-Tee Distance.

*If carts are required and the distance between holes is significant, there may be a Green-To-Tee Distance. See page Appendix-10 for the formula.

Line 9 - Green-To-Tee Distance Time

Complete this calculation only if a significant number of players walk the course.*

If the distance in Line 8 is 20 yards or less, enter 0 as the Green-To-Tee Distance Time.

If the distance in Line 8 is more than 20 yards, calculate a Green-To-Tee Distance Time. The formula is:

Green-To-Tee Distance (Line 8) minus 20, divided by 48 =

Green-To-Tee Distance Time

Example: The measured yardage from the green on Hole 1 to the tee on Hole 2 is 40 yards. The Green-To-Tee Distance Time for Hole 1 =

40 yards minus 20 yards = 20 yards

20 divided by 48 = .416. Round to nearest decimal = .4 minute

Enter the Green-To-Tee Distance Time for the hole in Line 9 - Green-To-Tee Distance Time. Note: Green-To-Tee Distance Time is added to the previous hole. There is no entry for Hole 18.

Line 10 - Halfway House Time

Allow four minutes for a stop at the halfway house on the course. Assign the four minutes to the hole that precedes the stop.

Example: The Halfway House is between holes 9 and 10. Hole 9 receives a Halfway House Time = 4 minutes.

Enter the Halfway House Time of 4 Minutes for the appropriate hole on Line 10 - Halfway House Time.

Line 11 - Total Time

Calculate the Total Time for a hole by adding:

Length Time (Line 1) OR Cart Path Time (Line 2) + Total

Obstacle Time (Line 7) + Green-To-Tee Distance Time (Line 9) + Halfway House Time (Line 10). Round to the nearest minute.

*If carts are required and the distance between holes is significant, there may be a Green-To-Tee Distance Time. See page Appendix - 10 for the formula.

Example: Hole 3 has this Total Time:

Length Time 13.8

Total Obstacle Time 1.4

Green-To-Tee Distance Time 1.3

Total Time 16.5

Enter the Total Time for a hole in Line 11 - Total Time.

Line 12 - Time Par

Round the Total Time in Line 11 to the nearest minute. The result is the Time Par for the hole.

Example: The Total Time for Hole 3 is 16.5 minutes. Rounded to the nearest minute, the Time Par for the hole = 17 minutes.

Enter the Time Par for a hole on Line 12 - Time Par.

Line 13 - Front Nine/Back Nine Total Time

The Total Time for the Front Nine/Back Nine is the sum of the Time Pars in Line 12 for each of the 9 holes per side.

Example: The Total of the Time Pars for the front 9 is 123 minutes. 123 divided by 60 = 2 hours, 3 minutes.

Enter the Total Time for the Front Nine/Back Nine on Line 13 on the appropriate side of Form PR1, as hours and minutes.

USGA Pace Rating

The USGA Pace Rating for the course is the sum of the Total Time for the Front Nine and Back Nine from Line 13 on each side of Form PR1.

Example: The Front Nine Total Time is 2 hours, 3 minutes.

The Back Nine Total Time is 1 hour, 56 minutes. The USGA Pace Rating =

2 hours, 3 minutes plus 1 hour, 56 minutes = 3 hours, 59 minutes

Enter the USGA Pace Rating in the space provided on the back of the form, as hours and minutes.

SPECIAL NOTICE: FOR COURSES ON WHICH CARTS ARE REQUIRED AND MAY TRAVEL SIGNIFICANT DISTANCES BETWEEN HOLES

Since the USGA Pace Rating formula was developed in 1993, an addition to USGA Pace Rating has been recommended for courses which require carts and have significant distances between the greens and the following tees.

On these courses, a Green-To-Tee Distance Time may be added to Time Par for any hole 1-17 on which the distance from the green to the following tee is more than 80 yards.

The formula for figuring the Green-To-Tee Distance Time for cart travel is:

If distance from green to following tee is more than 80 yards:

1 minute plus (distance minus 80) divided by 260 =

Green-To-Tee Distance Time.

Example: The Red Course is layed out around residential areas and requires a considerable amount of cart travel to get from green-to-tee on several holes. For example, the distance from the green on hole 1 to the tee on hole 2 is 300 yards. Enter the Green-To-Tee Distance on Line 8 of the Form PR1.

In figuring the Time Par for hole 1, the Green-To-Tee

Distance Time will be:

1 minute plus (300-80) divided by 260

or 1 minute plus 220/260 = 1.84 minutes,

rounded to nearest tenth = 1.8 minutes.

The Green-To-Tee Distance Time for Hole 1 will be 1.8 minutes. Enter the Green-To-Tee Distance Time on Line 9 of the Form PR1.

Pace Raters should apply this Green-To-Tee Distance Time formula for each hole 1-17 on courses where carts are required and the distance from green-to-tee is more than 80 yards.

The software does not presently reflect this Green-To-Tee Distance Time formula for carts, so Pace Raters should add the value by hand to arrive at the Time Par for courses where carts are required and there is much cart travel between holes.