Pace of Play
We have a Pace of Play Clock System on the course to maintain the speed of play and make your round more enjoyable.
Golfers who enjoy Locust Valley know and understand the time-honored basics of fast play etiquette. It should take no longer than 4 hours and 30 minutes to play our course.
Choose the right Tee
Players should play from a set of tees best suited to their driving distance. In addition to providing more enjoyment for golfers, teeing it forward also can be one of the most important steps that golfers take in improving pace of play.
Ready Golf
- When a player is at the ball and ready to play, they should go ahead and play—so long as it’s safe.
- Again, if you are not in the line of play, you can move forward and/or help others find their ball.
- It’s not the U.S. Open. If you are on the tee and ready to tee off, go ahead and tee off.
- Putting. Again—it’s not the U.S. Open so putt continuously: if you are not in someone’s line, go ahead and finish that short putt.
Think Ahead
As you walk or ride up to the next shot, start assessing the situation and getting a feel for the shot, the wind, and the yardage. You’ll spend less time analyzing the shot when you get to the ball.
As you ride or walk up to the green, you can often learn more about the next shot from in front of the green than on the green. Look for tell-tale slopes, mounds, and swales that will affect the break. Look for where the water will roll off. Often, the best read is the first read. Go with your gut.
To book a tee time at Locust Valley, call 610-282-4711 or Click Here!
Riding in a Cart?
- Drop your partner off at their ball, then ride ahead to yours. Switch drivers if necessary.
- Carts on the path? Take several clubs when you walk to the ball so that you don’t have to walk back to the cart.
- If there is a group behind you, limit the time looking for a ball that is obviously not going to be found to one minute.
The rules let you take five minutes but you should try to take less
Out of the Hole? Putting up a Big Number? Pick Up and Move On.
The USGA Handicap System allows a maximum score depending on handicap and par. Use the simple guidelines below.
| Your handicap / Average Score | Maximun Score per hole |
| 9 or less / 80 | Double Bogey |
| 10 – 19 / 90 | 7 |
| 20 – 29 / 100 | 8 |
| 30 – 39 / 110 | 9 |
| 40 and over / over 120 | 10 |
Navigation
- Where you walk and where you park the cart can significantly affect pace of play.
- Park or leave the bag off the green on the side closest to the next tee.
- Park or leave your bag off the green on the side closest to the next tee.
- Line up your putt while others are putting.
- When putting, leave the clubs you used for chipping in line with the next tee.
- Mark your scorecard after leaving the green.
- Talk while you walk.
Follow these simple guidelines and always be thinking about how you can play a little faster each hole and you’ll enjoy your golf—at Locust Valley or anywhere in the world! Plus groups behind you will be able to play faster. Remember that we monitor pace of play and ask slow golfers to leave the course—for the benefit of those of you who follow the guidelines and believe in the four hour round.
Your place on the golf course is immediately behind the group in front of you, not immediately in front of the group behind you.
To book a tee time at Locust Valley, call 610-282-4711 or Click Here!
