By Charlene Bisson
Sun City golfers will have to play in smaller groups if the Recreation Centers of Sun City Board of Directors approves a recommendation from its Golf Advisory Committee.
A foursome putts on the green at the first hole Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2017 at Riverview Golf Course in Sun City. RCSC is considering a change in teeoff format from fivesomes to foursomes.
Golfers can now get tee times for groups up to five players. Many of the golf group, such as the Men’s Golf Club, members prefer this arrangement because it gives them a chance to have five members finish at the same time, allowing them all to participate in fellowship after play, according to resident Cord Angier.
However, the Golf Advisory Committee recommended limiting group teeoffs to foursomes.
“If you go to four you will lose some people who play in groups,” Mr. Angier said. “That fellowship would be gone for some.”
He also believes going to foursomes will not speed up play on the golf courses.
“I have played behind three people and I had to wait,” Mr. Angier said.
Rich Hoffer, RCSC board president, said the board planned to begin its deliberations about the teeoff limit during its Dec. 9 workshop meeting.
“But we do not anticipate a decision soon,” he said.
Joelyn Higgins, RCSC communications and marketing coordinator, said the board sent the proposal back to the golf committee for further review. The Golf Advisory Committee meets 8:30 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 19 in the upper level board room at Lakeview Recreation Center, 10626 W. Thunderbird Blvd.
The reason the golf committee recommended the change to foursomes was to improve the pace of play on Sun City golf courses, according to Ms. Higgins.
Mr. Angier believes switching to foursomes would increase the number of groups playing and fill all the tee time slots for that day, leaving few, if any, slots to sell on the Golf Now website, www.golfnow.com/tee-times/city/sun-city-az/search.
Other Sun City golfers have no preference on the size of a group.
“I have played in groups of four and five, and both work,” said Ben Roloff.
He believes play on Sun City courses is already pretty fast.
“Change is always difficult,” he said.
Mr. Angier encouraged RCSC officials to get input from golfers before making a final decision.
“We will get input,” Mr. Hoffer said.
Mr. Angier believes if the move is being made to increase the pace of play, there is another solution.
“We need people out there to keep it moving,” he said.
RCSC has a golf ranger program that is all-volunteer. But Mr. Angier believes it is ineffective in terms of pace of play.
The fivesome format of teeoffs began in 1976 on a trial basis and was formally adopted in 1977, according to Ms. Higgins. That change was made to accommodate the number of golfers wanting to play, she added.
