Competition Rules 2012
1. Introduction
(a) The Rules of Golf 2012 – 2015 apply. In addition these Competition Rules 2012 apply to the running of all Club competitions.
(b) All members please note that these, revised, Competition Rules 2012 come into effect from Saturday 3rd April 2012. The Committee is responsible for their application and enforcement. Note that where the ‘Committee’ is referred to this is, normally, the committee in charge of running the competitions and not the Club Committee.
2. Time Sheet
(a) The time sheet becomes available on line on Thursday at 7-00 pm for the following week.
(b) Members cannot normally book tee times by telephone. This is, however, acceptable on the day before and on the day of the competition concerned.
(c) Members may only add, remove or change the name of another member on the timesheet with the express permission of that member – failure to observe this rule may, at the discretion of the Committee, result in suspension from future club competitions.
(d) Cancellation of a booking should take place before 7-00 pm on the day before the competition concerned that is on the Friday evening for Saturday competitions. Bookings are accepted on-line until 10-00pm, and so it is possible to cancel a booking up until 10-00pm. Such late cancellation is unfair to others and those repeatedly doing so will be actively discouraged. Cancellations will also be taken by telephone or in person until close of business, on the day before the competition that is on the Friday evening for Saturday competitions.
(e) Members who contact the office on the day of the competition itself because they are unable to play will be asked to say why they are unable to play. Any explanation given will be noted on the back of the time sheet and the facts will be considered by the Committee before a decision is taken as to whether or not the player will face suspension from future club competitions.
(f) Any competitor who fails to turn up on the day of competition without contacting the office in advance may at the discretion of the Committee, face suspension from future club competitions.
(g) All competitors should report to the shop, have paid the appropriate entry fee, be on the first tee and ready to commence play five minutes before the allotted starting time. Rule 6.3a Rules of Golf applies to those who arrive at the first tee after the starting time and may result in loss of two strokes at the first hole, loss of first hole [match play] or disqualification.
(h) Play is not to commence until the allotted tee time.
3. General
(a) All scorecards should be fully completed including competition name, player’s name, handicap and date. The player must ensure that his handicap is recorded on his score card and is accurate. Failure to do so may result in disqualification – see Rules of Golf, Rule 6.2b.
(b) After each hole the marker should check the score with the competitor and record it. On completion of the round he must sign the score card and return it to the competitor. On completion of the round the competitor should check his score for each hole and settle any doubtful points with the Committee. He must ensure that the marker has signed the score card sign the score card himself and return it to the Committee as soon as possible.
(c) All scores on the scorecard must be entered into the computer. Failure to do so may result in suspension from future club competitions.
(d) All cards must be marked by a player with an official GUI/ILGU handicap. In the case of a Junior marker they must be eligible to compete in the competition for which the card is being marked. Group marking of cards is prohibited.
(e) All singles competitions (subject to course conditions) on the fixture list from April onwards will be qualifying competitions for handicap purposes unless otherwise indicated on the timesheet for the day in question.
(f) Where a prize distribution is arranged for the evening of the competition, any prize winner who is not present will, at the discretion of the Committee, forfeit any prize for which they are eligible.
(g) Slow play must be avoided. The pace of play in a Saturday competition is that of a four-ball. The time allowed for completion of 18 Holes is 4 hours 15 minutes.
(h) Any four-ball that falls more than one hole behind the four-ball in front is required to call through the match behind - offenders may, at the discretion of the Committee, face suspension from future Club competitions.
(i) Please repair pitch marks, replace divots and rake bunkers, leaving rake in the back of the bunker.
(J) Match play matches must not be combined with Saturday / Sunday competitions, unless approved in advance by the Committee.
4. Suspensions
(a) Members who offend as follows may, at the discretion of the Committee, be suspended from all Club competitions as follows - first offence, one week, second offence, two weeks, third offence, four weeks and so on:-
· Enter their name on time sheet and fail to appear for the competition,
· Remove their name from timesheet on the day of the Competition without providing an adequate reason,
· Fail to enter their score into the computer and return their card to the Committee following completion of round.
· Add, remove or change the name of another member on the timesheet without their express permission
· Fail to call through the match behind after falling more than one hole behind the four-ball in front.
5. Local Rules
(a) Local Rules for the course can be found on the scorecard or posted on the notice boards in the locker room. They must be complied with.
(b) The following is an example of a local rule not shown on the scorecard but posted on the locker room notice board. Additional local rules may be posted by the Committee at any time and it is the player’s responsibility to be aware of them.
Definition - Local Rule 8 - Embedded ball through the green
"Through the green, a ball that is embedded in its own pitch-mark in the ground, other than sand, may be lifted without penalty, cleaned and dropped as near as possible to where it lay but not nearer the hole. The ball when dropped must first strike a part of the course through the green.
Exception: a player may not obtain relief under this Local Rule if it is clearly unreasonable for him to make a stroke because of interference by anything other than the condition covered by this Local Rule.
Penalty for breach of this local rule
In match play this is loss of hole; in stroke play it is two strokes". Note: the position of the ball must be marked before it is lifted under this Local Rule - see Rule 20-1
Explanation: relief, under this rule, cannot be taken if a ball is embedded in grass or sand it must be embedded in the ground
6. Competition Prizes
(a) The Gents Committee have decided to award prizes in each Saturday competition (except team event weeks) during the season as follows:
· Overall winner
· Overall runner-up
· Division winner - handicaps 0 – 11
· Division winner - handicaps 12 – 17
· Division winner – handicaps 18 – 28
· Gross prize
Note; no player may win more than one prize
Prizes will be allocated in value order