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The war against slow play is set to be ramped up at this week’s Solheim Cup.

bunkered.co.uk understands that both sides have had meetings with officials at which it was made clear to them that pace of play rules will be strictly enforced at Gleneagles – with repeat offenders facing the ultimate sanction of the loss of a hole.

In foursomes and fourballs, players will be given 50 seconds to play, unless they are playing first on a hole, in which case they will be allowed up to 60 seconds to hit.

That will be cut to 40 seconds in singles. 

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Those who breach this limit will be given a verbal warning by the walking rules official. If they don’t speed up, they will then be put on the clock. Should they take more than their allotted time again in any one round, they will be made to concede the hole.

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Officials have allowed up to four hours for foursomes matches, four hours and thirty-five minutes for fourballs, and four hours for singles, based on all matches lasting 18 holes.

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A rules official we spoke to said: “There will be no mercy. We cannot allow slow play to continue. It’s there in the rules and the players have all been made aware of how it will be enforced.”

Allowances will be made for ‘common senses’ scenarios, such as if a player loses a ball, or in particularly inclement conditions. However, we have been told that the rules will be uncompromisingly applied otherwise.

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The crackdown on slow play has intensified in recent weeks following some high-profile incidents, particularly on the PGA Tour.

The world’s most lucrative circuit is undertaking a review of its pace of play policies, whilst the European Tour has also announced a new, concrete, four-point plan aimed at tackling the issue.

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Michael McEwan is the Deputy Editor of bunkered and has been part of the team since 2004. In that time, he has interviewed almost every major figure within the sport, from Jack Nicklaus, to Rory McIlroy, to Donald Trump. The host of the multi award-winning bunkered Podcast and a member of Balfron Golfing Society, Michael is the author of three books and is the 2023 PPA Scotland 'Writer of the Year' and 'Columnist of the Year'. Dislikes white belts, yellow balls and iron headcovers. Likes being drawn out of the media ballot to play Augusta National.

Deputy Editor

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