Rules and Regulations

Playing Etiquette and Rules:

• All players are to register at the Golf Shop before reporting to the starter to tee off.
• All golfers must tee off hole #1.
• No fivesomes are permitted.
• Divots are to be replaced and ball marks on greens repaired.
• Faster players should be allowed to play through if play ahead is clear.
• Bunkers are to be raked when distressed and the rakes to be placed back in the bunker.
• Players under 14 years of age are to be accompanied by an adult.
• Golf cars follow the 90 degree rule. Cars are to be driven on cart paths where provided and kept 30 feet from tees and greens.
• A maximum of two riders are permitted per golf car.
• No refunds are made after payment of greens fees.
• Each player must have their own equipment.
• Affiliates only have access to tee times on Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday before 3 p.m.
• Online tee times can only be made by registered 2023 Affiliates. OU faculty, staff and students may only book tee times in person, or by calling the golf shop. You may call the Golf Shop at (248) 364-6300 ext. 2 to book a tee time.

Golfing Attire:

Players are to be dressed in appropriate attire for golf. Shirts are to be worn at all times. Inappropriate attire includes tennis shorts, short shorts, jogging shorts, cutoff jeans, tank tops and similar attire. The golf staff reserves the right to determine appropriate attire.

Non-metal golf spikes, or softspikes, are mandatory.

Pace of Play Guidelines:

Oakland University Golf & Learning Center is lucky to have an abundance of Affiliates. This means that there are many options for playing partners and increased competition with large numbers of participants in our tournaments. The issue we face when the tee sheet or tournament is full, is the importance for each player to be responsible in respecting the pace of play. This allows all players to complete their round in a timely manner.

At Oakland University, our target pace of play on Katke-Cousins is four hours and on R&S Sharf is four hours and fifteen minutes to complete an eighteen-hole round. Unfortunately, we are seeing several times that exceed this, on weekends and league rounds. The Golf Staff would like us to stress the importance of this pace for all rounds. Below is a list of tips to help speed up play. Please review these ideas and implement them in your game. 

Remember this simple rule: If each player in a foursome can save 15 seconds per hole, the foursome will save 18 minutes off the end of their round.

• Come prepared to play before you get to the 1st tee: Give yourself ample time so you can be waiting at the first tee a few minutes before your tee time. Your tee time means that at least one player should be hitting their drive at that exact time. If the tee box falls five minutes behind it effects the entire tee sheet. Do you have enough balls, tees, wet towels, drinks, or snacks? Thinking about what you need and giving yourself a few extra minutes will save time. 
• Limit your pre-shot routine: Every player has their own system, but many players spend an excess of time over the ball or take too many practice swings. If you can limit the number of swings and hit the ball within a few seconds after you address it, you will become a faster player.
• Keep pace with the group ahead of you: When we address a slow group on the course, we often hear “the group behind us hasn’t waited all day.” The group behind you does not matter with a foursome’s responsibility to keep pace. At times, a group will have a slow hole, but you should never have more than one hole open ahead of you. If you do notice a hole or two open ahead of you, the foursome needs to take notice and pick up the pace to reduce that gap. The only rule that applies is that you ALWAYS need to stay within one shot of the group ahead of you. 
• Watch all four tee balls: Players that watch all four tee shots in the group can greatly reduce the time it takes to find a wayward tee shot. Four sets of eyes are always better than one or two. Line up that crooked tee sheet with landmark in the distance to make finding the ball easier. 
• Only three minutes to locate a ball: The USGA rule for a lost ball is limited to three minutes. When you begin searching for a ball, the clock starts and ends at three minutes. If you have not located the ball, it is time to apply the appropriate penalty and get back to play. 
• Be prepared to hit your shot: This point stands out to me more than anything when you talk about slow play. Players always need to be prepping their next shot BEFORE IT IS THEIR TURN. This means when you are the next to play, begin getting yardages and selecting your club on the way to your ball, especially while the other player is hitting their shot. If you are the next to hit, you should begin your routine while the other ball is still in the air. Too often players are beginning this process much too late. PLAN OUT YOUR SHOT BEFORE IT IS YOUR TURN TO PLAY. 
• Over prepare for your shot: This is a great idea when we have cart restrictions or when our cart partner is on the other side of the hole. Estimate the yardage needed from the and bring several clubs that all could work for the shot. This includes bringing a towel, range finder, and divot mix bottle.
• Maintain the buddy system with your cart partner: If you’re sharing the golf cart with a partner, stick together. Even if your tee shots land on opposite ends of the fairway – pick a ball, go to it and hit, then proceed to the other player’s ball. This helps out so that one person is not constantly walking and the cart does not need to keep driving backwards and sideways to pick up the other player. 
• Line up your putt while others are putting: Read the green for your putt while to other players are hitting their putt. Never wait until it’s your turn to begin this process. If a player putting before your is in a similar line to yours watch their putt to get a “free read” to save time and help you make your putt. 
• Don’t mark that two-foot putt: Announce to the group that you would like to finish and tap that putt in. Don’t just pick it up as we want all putts that count to be holed, especially in leagues or tournaments. 
• Wave faster groups through when available: If you don’t have groups immediately ahead of you and a twosome, threesome, or even fast foursome is behind you waiting, let them go through. Wave them up on a par three or talk to them on the tee box and let them know you want them to go through on the next hole. 
• Pick up when you are out of the hole: The USGA allows for max score of net double bogey which caps the max score you can take on a hole for handicap posting purposes. What does this mean? If I am getting a shot (dot) on hole number #1 and I am putting for a 7, I can pick up the ball because the best I can make is a net 6 which is net double bogey. This can be confusing when the shots (dots) fall on different holes but referencing your scorecard in tournament/leagues will help you see when you would usually get a shot. Picking up also applies to the team games we normally play, especially when playing (1) best ball of (2). If my partner makes his/her putt for a net 4 on hole #10 and I am putting for 5 from 30 feet, I can pick up my ball because I cannot improve the team score. In this case, I would record my MOST LIKELY SCORE on the card which would be 6 followed by and X to note that I picked up.

By implementing some of these simple practices we can make the Affiliate experience better for everyone!

Call the Golf Shop at (248) 364-6300 ext.2 if you have further questions.