Referees assisting with starting are responsible for ensuring that players start at the time specified by the Committee and that scorecards and special notices are distributed to the players. The Championship Director will determine starting uniform. 

As a starting official you should:  

• Arrive at the appropriate starting tee 20-30 minutes prior to the first tee time.  

• Ensure that the starter’s box contains all the necessary materials and paperwork, which includes: 

• • • Atomic Clock  

• • • Course Evacuation Procedure  

• • • Golf Course Scorecards  

• • • Hole Location Sheets  

• • • Notice to Players and USGA “Hard Card”  

• • • Pace of Play Policy  

• • • Pairings and Tee Times  

• • • Pencils and Permanent Markers  

• • • Scorecards (Official) and Extra Scorecards  

• • • Tees  
• Other items that may be needed in the starting area include:  
• • • PA System  

• • • Trash Box  

• You will receive a starting script from the Championship Manager/Director.  

• Make sure all equipment is set up. Please call the USGA Rules Office if something is not set up when you arrive.  

• If play is delayed while tee times are in progress, maintain time records on the pairings sheet. Additionally, please notify the Championship Director, Pace of Play (POP) Administrator (POPA) and Scoring of any delays. Those delays should be called in after each delayed group.  

• Inform Championship Director and POP Administrator when the last group has teed off.  

• Procedures to follow for starting:  

• • • Review the Notice to Players. If you have any questions, please call the Championship Director prior to starting players.  

• • • The atomic clock is the official time. Start each group exactly at the time indicated on the pairings. Do not start any group prior to the scheduled time. Begin announcing a group so that the first player will go forward to play their ball at the group’s tee time (approximately 30-40 seconds before scheduled tee time).  

• • • Do not delay a group because a player is late in appearing for their tee time. All players in a group must be present and ready to play at the time specified by the Committee. The order of play is irrelevant.  

• • • • Four-Ball Stroke Play:  

• • • • • A side may be represented by either partner for all or any part of a round.  

• • • If a player(s) has not arrived at the tee before their scheduled time, please refer to the “Late to the Tee” Procedure.  

• • • In match play, introduce yourself, the Referee, observer, walking scorer and the standard bearer to the players.  

• • • Give each player a Hole Location Sheet for the day and the Notice to Players (only on day 1) and point out the location of the Evacuation Policy and USGA Hard Card. Caddies may take a Hole Location Sheet and Notice to Players. Notify players of any new items on an updated Notice to Players. 

• • • Remind each player to mark and identify their golf ball to opponent(s) or other players in the group in stroke play.  

• • • Remind each player to count their clubs before they start.  

• • • At amateur championships for the first round of stroke play, note the following to the players about the Pace of Play Policy as you hand out the scorecards:  

• • • • • Point out the time on the scorecards.  

• • • • • Explain the need to play at or under designated time or to be in position with the group in front (i.e., keep up with the group in front). 

• • • • • In stroke play, encourage players to play ‘ready golf’ in a safe and responsible way (Rule 6.4).  

• • • In stroke play, the player does not receive their own scorecard. Player 1 keeps Player 2, Player 2 keeps Player 3 and Player 3 keeps Player 1. This is the procedure we would like followed.  

• • • Four-Ball Stroke Play:  

• • • • • Each side will keep a scorecard for the other. One scorecard is kept per side.  

• • • • • Review the requirement of individually identifiable scores.  

• • • In match play, give the match scorecard to the Referee.