How the LPGA is Addressing the Pace of Play Issue

It’s the thing everyone seems to be harping on these days—the pace of professional golf. More often than not, it’s too slow. And the response from just about everyone, players to fans, has been the same. Something’s gotta change and quickly.

This is a conversation that has dominated storylines for most of the 2025 season thus far, but it’s coming to its crux. Ahead of last week’s LPGA Founders Cup, Monday Q Info a.k.a. Ryan French had circulated a screenshot of the new pace of play policy memo that was shared with athletes in a player meeting before the start of the tournament.

What French posted pretty much sums up the Tour's official announcement. In the official statement, the LPGA adds more color on the current policy and how it has previously been enforced. Action needed to be taken, and here's what it will look like moving forward.

What’s changing?

There will be a new penalty structure for "plus time" (extra time players take over strokes). If a player takes over 1-5 seconds allotted, they will receive a fine. If they take between 6-15 seconds, that player will receive a one-stroke penalty. If a player exceeds 16 seconds, that individual will be issued a two-stroke penalty.

Additionally, the Tour will be implementing 10-second allowance changes. In the old policy, the player with honors would receive an additional 10 seconds on all holes. But now, the first player to hit on par 4s and 5s will no longer receive an additional 10 seconds, except on reachable par 4s and par 3s.

What's staying the same (but with more enforcement).

According to the Tour, there will still be traces of the old policy that will be enforced alongside these new changes.

Warning System: A group that is out of position will be issued one warning per round by a Rules Official unless an Official deems the group to be so far out of position that a warning is not appropriate. Groups may be timed without receiving their warning if they are on the last three holes of their round.

Excessive Shot Timing: A player is subject to being timed at any time during a round and for any stroke.

Target Timing: The Rules Committee reserves the right to time a player who is not helping to improve the groups’ position on the course due to their actions and/or pace of play.

Banking Time: The cumulative nature of the Pace of Play Policy is still in effect, allowing the players to determine how they want to use their allotted time.

Violations will result in double fine structure the following year: Fines incurred due to the accumulation of “plus times” (between +1-5 seconds) and Excessive Shot Timing will double each consecutive year a player is in violation of the policy.

When does it go into effect?

The new policy will go into effect at next months Ford Championship in Arizona, a month before the first major of the season. For the Epson Tour, the developmental tour of the LPGA, the new pace of place will go into effect in late April.

Why Now?

I think I can comfortably speak for everyone in saying that it's about time. The jury is still out, and how much this will actually remedy the issue is still to be determined, but it's a start.

I also must give credit where credit is due...the LPGA is taking charge on this issue setting the tone for professional golf and igniting a fire that hopefully wakes everyone up. No round of golf needs to drag out over six painstaking hours, that's how you lose momentum and fan interest. We've all seen how well the TGL shot clock has worked. Baseball and the MLB have implemented similar changes. It's time for golf to get with the larger program and find ways to execute and enforce.

And LPGA leadership agrees. “As a global sports and entertainment property, the LPGA conducted a thorough review of the current pace of play policy to evaluate and address an issue that has been a source of frustration for players and fans alike. This new policy, which was player-led and developed through an established Pace of Play Committee, was created in what we believe is in the best interest of our brand, fans and the overall LPGA watching experience,” said LPGA Player President, Vicki Goetze-Ackerman.

The goal should always be to make the viewing experience better and more efficient. The simple attempt at enacting change is a step forward, and I'm here for it.