THESE ISSUES HAVE COME UP NUMEROUS TIMES - HERE ARE THE DEFINITIVE DIRECTIONS:

• What is the "Lost Ball rule" and how does it work? Answer - If we were playing in a USGA - sponsored tournament, we would proceed under Rule 27 .  As you can see, this works great for plus-handicappers with forecaddies and spectators, not so good for high handicappers who may ‘spray’ the ball and play on tighter ‘point-and-shoot’ courses with unimproved (or muddy) areas bordering fairways, as well as other golfers who may play or pocket your ball - i.e. Auburn.  Effective immediately, we will proceed as follows: If you believe your ball may be lost always play a ‘provisional’.  A provisional is a ball that is introduced into play temporarily. The provisional is hit from the spot you last played. If your ball is found (within 5 minutes) then no penalty has occurred and you play the original ball. If the original ball becomes lost then you play the provisional ball. The provisional ball takes care of the distance element of the rule and now you add a 1 stroke penalty.  If you do not play a provisional and the group fails to find your ball within 5 minutes, drop a ball where the group agrees the original ball should have been and add a 1 stroke penalty.

• What is "Pace of Play" and how do I know if I (and my partners) are complying? Answer - The USGA defines pace of play under Section 1.  Simply stated, this means "It is a group's responsibility to keep up with the group in front. If it loses (falls behind) a clear hole and it is delaying the group behind, it should invite the group behind to play through, irrespective of the number of players in that group. Where a group has not lost a clear hole, but it is apparent that the group behind can play faster, it should invite the faster moving group to play through."  

• Some may confuse or choose to blame "Pace of Play" with their choice to take an "X" on a bad hole - don't do it! We've all had "blow up" holes; ensure the actual stroke count appears on the score card.  Failure to do so takes you out of the weekly competition, removes you from point competition for that week, and gives me heartburn, because I have to manually enter the USGA solution for unplayed holes:"iif 13 or more holes are played, the player must post an 18-hole score. If 7 to 12 holes are played, the player must post a nine-hole score. In either case, scores for unplayed holes must be recorded as par plus any handicap strokes that the player is entitled to receive on the unplayed holes. (See Section 4-2 and 5-1a .)"  A lot of work because you put a ball in play in your pocket!

Even among professional golfers, there are discrepancies regarding the speed with which they play.  Other than skill/talent/age and so on, we are no different EXCEPT THAT they are wealthy independent contractors who are being paid to perform, and are being monitored by a cadre of rules enforcers.  We are not being paid and are self-policing.

Speed of play IS NOT related to skill or handicap - it is an individual characteristic.  Some of us are more deliberate than others.  Some of our better players are the slowest in the group.  That being said, with a dozen players in the league, we should all be finished by 6:30!

Read and comply with the bulleted items above, slower AND faster players look in the mirror, recognize each other exist and exercise courtesy and tolerance!