Cleveland Metroparks takes on pace of play issue

Golf Course News, Nov 2002 by Smith, Michelle R

CLEVELAND - According to many golf experts, one of the toughest and most important challenges facing golf course operators today is pace-of-play management. A course with substandard pace of play, or even a reputation for having slow play, stands to lose revenue and regard in the professional golf community if the problem is not purposefully addressed.

In recent surveys of golfers, pace of play was the number one concern. To address this, Cleveland Metropark District's golf staff modified previous measures and instituted several new pace-of-play initiatives this season to maintain an above satisfactory pace of play on all six Metroparks courses.

"The goal is to ensure that we keep our promise of fast play to loyal and new patrons alike," said Mike Raby, clubhouse manager for several of the district's golf courses, and leader of the pace-of-play initiative.

One measure the district has taken at all six of its golf courses is to hand out pace-of-play POP information cards with receipts at every clubhouse. This information emphasizes the benefits of playing "ready golf," which improves pace of play.

Sleepy Hollow and Little Met golf courses have established incentives programs, using completed POP cards, through which players are rewarded for finishing 18 holes in less than the standard four and a half hours. The incentives, which include free rounds of golf, are intended to encourage players who might not otherwise focus on pace of play.

Also at Sleepy Hollow, Personal Rangers have been installed in the golf cars. These electronic pace-of-- play management systems attach to the car's steering wheel and track time from the beginning of a player's round. The LCD display indicates where players should be on the course at any given time. "These units are used at over 40 golf courses nationally and have been proven to help players maintain a proper pace, or even shave many minutes off their round times," said John Hander, Sleepy Hollow's golf professional. Fiander said pace of play at Sleepy Hollow has improved significantly since the devices were installed, with the average nine holes dropping as much as 40 minutes. The statistics were recorded through a tracking system implemented at Sleepy Hollow that compares 2002 turn times with 2001 times to assess the effectiveness of the Personal Rangers.

The Metroparks District's Manakiki Golf Course clubhouse staff uses "wave" tee times on weekends and holidays. According to head pro Toni Kochensparger, this system has been effective in maintaining the course's pace of play. The first wave begins around sunrise. Sixteen groups go off the first tee, and 13 go off the 10th. After all groups have teed off, the staff shuts down both tees so play can move from one nine to the other. After all the groups have made the turn, the staff begins a new wave. This second wave usually finishes around mid-afternoon, when the course returns to a traditional first-tee start.

Kochensparger said the wave system allows staff to regulate how many groups are on the course and to better spread out play, which leads to better pace of play. It also allows the course to host more players during prime morning hours.

Manakiki also posts selected turn and finish times in a public location on the course to make players aware of improvements in overall course pace of play. This encourages a "healthy competition" in players, spurring them to keep pace with those who have an impressive pace of play. MetroparkS Mastick Woods Golf Course also posts turn and finish times in an attempt to make players aware of how their conscious efforts can improve pace of play.

At Shawnee Mills and Big Met courses, clocks with pace of play will be in stalled at the first, third, sixth, tenth, 12th and 15th tees. The objective is to increase time awareness in players. If they prove successful in improving pace of play, these clocks may eventually be installed at all six Metroparks courses.

Also, regularly scheduled meetings for rangers and starters are held to improve staff training in customer relations and player management. Through increased and more intensive training, the part-time rangers and starters who enforce regulations on the greens become more effective in helping maintain good pace of play. Rangers use the POP cards to remind players of ways to improve their pace. At Shawnee Hills and Big Met, starters have begun experimenting with wave tee times.

With these initiatives in place, players on Cleveland Metroparks golf courses will see the Park District's commitment to providing them with quality golf, and they can see what their own efforts can do to improve play on their favorite local golf course.

Michelle R. Smith works for Cleveland Metroparks.