2026 LON RULES & PACE OF PLAY GUIDELINES



Play READY golf.
Be prepared for your shot and walk directly to your ball with your club in hand.
Do your pre-shot routine while others are playing so you are ready when it is your turn.

Keep up to the group in front, not ahead of the group behind.
If you fall a full hole behind and cannot catch up quickly, you must wave the group behind through at the next safe opportunity.

Maximum time: your group should complete 9 holes in no more than 2 hours 15 minutes.
A typical full round of 18 holes should take about 4 to 4.5 hours.

On the tee: the first player ready should hit, not necessarily the player “away,” as long as it is safe.

On the green: putt continuously when safe instead of marking short tap‑ins.
Leave your bag or cart on the side of the green closest to the next tee.

You have 40 seconds to play each stroke once it is your turn and you can play without interference.

Scoring and scorecards

  • One person in each group is responsible for keeping the official scorecard.
  • Confirm scores on each hole before leaving the green.
  • Turn in the signed scorecard to the clubhouse or league organizer immediately after the round.

Lost balls, hazards, and relief

  • Lost ball: You have 2 minutes to search. If not found, take an extra stroke.
  • Out of bounds: White stakes or boundary fences mark out of bounds.
    If your ball is out of bounds, you must replay from the previous spot with a one‑stroke penalty.
  • Penalty areas (water, stakes): Use standard relief with a one‑stroke penalty under the Rules of Golf.
  • Ground conditions:
  • Hardpan, rocks, roots, and bare ground are to be played as they lie unless marked as ground under repair.
  • If the league or course has marked ground under repair, you may take free relief no nearer the hole.
  • Sand traps: Play the ball as it lies.
    Rake the bunker smooth after your shot and leave the rake as directed by the course.

On-course etiquette

  • Be ready to play: choose your club, check yardage, and plan your shot while others are playing when it is safe.
  • Limit practice swings and play in a prompt, continuous manner.
  • Repair ball marks on greens and replace or fill divots in fairways and tee boxes.
  • Keep noise and movement to a minimum when others are hitting.

League expectations and fun

  • No mulligans
  • Socializing is encouraged, but keep moving between shots and holes to maintain pace.
  • We want everyone to finish in daylight, enjoy their round, and be able to visit the clubhouse at roughly the same time.



    The Games We Play

Each week when your tee sheet is sent to you, the course captain will announce if there is a game that will be played that week.  Below is a listing of most of the games we play in case you're not familiar with any of them. 


  • Step Aside Scramble:  All players will all tee off and the best shot will be selected for the second shot. On the next shot, only three members of the foursome play. The one that doesn’t hit is the person whose drive was selected. He/She “steps aside” and the other members of the foursome play their second shots. The next shot is then selected, and again, only three members of the foursome play. The person that doesn’t hit is the person whose most recent shot was selected. This shot selection and the changing roster of three players that hit the next shot and the player that steps aside on each shot continues to change in this way until the group holes out on that hole. 
  • Roll the Dice: Each team will have 3 or 4 players.  Before you start playing, choose who will be Player #1, Player #2, Player #3, Player #4.  If there are 3 players on the team you will alternate as Player #4.  Player #1 on each team will keep the team score.  After you have finished each hole, one of you will roll the dice to see which player’s score will count for that hole.  If you roll a "one", then whatever player #1 shot on that hole will count as the team score.  Similarly for two through four.   If you roll a 5, your team score will be 5.  If you roll a 6, you will record a 6 for the hole. There will be a maximum of double par on each hole, so please pick up if you are up to 6 on a par 3, 8 on a par 4 and 10 on a par 5.
  • Scotch Foursomes: To play, players pair up into two teams.  Then pairs alternate shots from tee to green until ball is in hole. One of the teams drive all the odd holes and the other all the even holes.  So it's a bit of a competition between the pairs in a foursome.  Prize for lowest score of a pair after 9 holes.
  • Dots: This is played among a foursome with partners being decided at the beginning of each hole's play.  Teams are formed according to where their balls land with the hole being the divider. The two balls landing to the right of the hole are designated as one team and balls landing to the left are the other team. Each player plays the home as they normally would and the best ball scores from each team are compared. Partners with lower score mark a dot under their score.  At the end of the round the player with the most dots is the winner.  
  • Consecutive Three: Each player decides before the game begins, to circle 3 consecutive holes on their scorecard. The scores on those holes will be deducted from their score at the end of the game.  Player with lowest score wins.
  • Fairways and Greens:  One point is allocated every time a player lands on fairway. Points also earned when hitting green. The player with most points after nine holes wins prize.
  • Bing,bang,bong: On each hole players count 1 point if they have the furthest drive, 2 points if they are first on green and 3 points if first in hole.  At end of game, golfer with most points wins.
  • Putting Competition: Scores. 3 pts for one putt, 2 pts for two putts, 1 pt for three putts or more.  Player with the highest number of points wins.
  • Closest approach shot to green on a designated hole.  Player closest to the green wins.  A spin on closest to the hole.
  • Team competition playing with two clubs:  Team members of a foursome or threesome will decide what clubs each person will use. There is no sharing of clubs, team decides before they start based on their strengths for the clubs they use. Example: one person uses a driver and pitch or putter. Rest of team fills in for second shot and third using the clubs they are using. The team with best score at end of nine holes wins the prize.