Purpose

• To provide guidelines and principles to oversee an enjoyable, equitable, accessible, and value-drive round of golf for all participants at City of Toronto operated golf courses.

Oversight & Management

• Golf Play Guidelines are subject to approval of the Liaison Committee. Input into Guidelines shall be provided by the City of Toronto’s Golf Steering Committee and Operations Working Group.
• Guidelines are in keeping with City of Toronto PFR values and Steering Committee vision for sport & community development.
• Changes to Golf Play Guidelines are subject to change at any time with Liaison Committee approval.

Pace & Etiquette

• Proceed safely and directly to your own ball
• Plan your shot and select your club while approaching your ball
• Get set while other players are taking their shots
• Take one or two practice swings at most
• Hit your shot as soon as safety and courtesy permits
• Understand the rules of the game – especially those about balls out of bounds, water hazards and lost balls. If you aren’t sure what the rules are, ask a golf marshal.
• Play from tees that match your skills – it’s faster and more fun.
• Wait with your club in hand well behind tee markers and help spot the location of everyone’s tee shots.
• Wait until all tee shots are made before proceeding to your ball
• The first person to putt keeps going until they putt out followed by the others in their group. This keeps play moving and eliminates the need for markers.

Marshals

• Marshals will be utilized to:
  • Organize, supervise and control play on the golf courses to ensure the most orderly, safe and effective use of the courses;
  • Supervise the conduct of all patrons on the courses and in the club houses.
• At all times, an adequate number of staff who have been appropriately trained and qualified will be on course to manage pace, etiquette and supervise play & patrons.

Alcohol

• No personal alcoholic beverages are allowed on the course.
• Alcohol is available for purchase from the Clubhouse.

Tee-Time Management

• Tee-times shall be no more than 10 minutes and no less than 8 minutes apart at all times
• 8 minute tee-time intervals shall only be in effect before 8:00am
• The first tee-time will be 16 minutes prior to scheduled sunrise and no earlier than 5:30am.
• Time of first tee-time shall be reviewed bi-weekly.

No-Show Policy

• Credit card information will be taken at the time of booking for online reservations
• Players may cancel tee-times 24 hours in advance at no cost
• Cancellations within 24-hours are subject to a cancellation fee equal to 100% of green fees booked.
• Cancellation fees will not be charged in the event of inclement weather impacting play at the sole discretion of the City staff.
• Green fees will no be collected in the event of inclement weather. No rain checks will be provided in the event of inclement weather unless applicable under the Rain Check Policy.

Rain Check Policy

• As required, rain checks will be made available if any of the following conditions occur:
  • The course closes
  • It has been raining for 30 minutes and the golfer chooses not to continue
  • The greens have flooded
  • There is lightning
• Rain Check will not be issued if:
  • No Rain Check sign is displayed on the counter in the Pro Shop.
  • Golfer has a nine-hole or twilight green fee
• Rain Checks will be issued to golfers with 18-hole Green Fees as follows:
  • Golfers will receive a credit toward future play that is equal to the remaining number of holes
  • Credit will be stored on individuals profile used to make booking.
  • If reservation was made in-person or via phone, credit may be issued as a gift certificate
  • Credits are only applicable towards the purchase of future Green Fees.
  • Credits are only valid for the season in which they were issued.

League Play

• Leagues will be established and operated in-line with industry standards
• Leagues shall be not-for-profit or charitable in nature
  • For clarity, no commercial benefit shall be gained by Leagues to the detriment of Thistle or City of Toronto
• League play partnerships may include requirements for Cart, Food & Beverage, and other revenue as determined by Thistle.

Tournament Play

• Tournaments will not operate before 10:30am
• Tournaments will be defined as groups of 60 or more players booked more than 30 days in advance.
• While the City reserves the right to request a review of the tournament schedule through the Liaison Committee, the City has the ultimate authority to:
  • Limit the number of tournaments consisting of fewer than 60 players
  • Amend the maximum number of tournaments permissible at each golf course. This could include a reduction in the number of tournaments to ensure equitable access to the Golf Centres by members of the public
  • Amend the definition of a tournament is public access is being impacted.
• All tournaments must charge applicable Green Fees.
• Tournaments may be required to include Cart, Food & Beverage, and other revenue as determined by Thistle.

Lessons & Instructional Opportunities

• Lessons & Instructional programming may only be provided by Thistle Golf staff
• All lesson & instructional programming shall be carried out by instructors with a minimum PGA certification

Course & Maintenance Management

• Best practices for course and maintenance management shall be prioritized.
• City of Toronto Operational staff shall advise of necessary cultural practices that need to be maintained.
• Dates shall be scheduled prior to the start of the season. Additional in-season work shall be scheduled a minimum of 30 days in advance unless emergency in nature.
• Dates for maintenance blackout periods shall be discussed and agreed to by the Operational Working Group. Approval of such periods shall be made by the Liaison Committee.