General Competition Rules
GENERAL COMPETITION RULES:
1. The Gentleman and Lady Competition & Handicap Secretaries shall be responsible for the administration, rules and decisions relating to Club competitions.
2. The Rules of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club, St Andrews shall apply with additional Local Rules as printed on the scorecard or posted on the Club Notice Boards for all Club competitions.
3. The ‘Committee’ as defined in the Rules of Golf has responsibilities before, during and after play to ensure the smooth running of a Club competition. The ‘Committee’ consists of the Gentleman and Lady Competition & Handicap Secretaries plus the Club Professional.
HANDICAPS:
4. Handicaps will be allocated in accordance with the World Handicap System (WHS). Unless otherwise stated, competitors must play off their current “Home” Club Handicap Index.
5. Markers of all competition and ‘General Play’ cards must hold a current handicap at this or another affiliated golf club. Juniors must not sign adult score cards.
6. Score cards for handicap purposes must be played over a measured course with a current Course and Slope rating; in accordance with the Rules of Golf, over a minimum of 10 holes for an 18-hole round and with at least one other person. Players must play 54 holes of golf to receive an initial handicap. These 54 holes may be played in rounds of 18 holes for Gents off the Yellow or White measured courses, and for Ladies a combination of 54 holes off the Red 18-hole or Red 9-hole measured courses.
7. Handicap Allowances for all forms of competition are as advised in the Rules of Handicapping. Mixed Competition allowances will be advised for each competition.
8. See Club Competition Booklet for eligibility and maximum handicap allowances for individual competitions.
9. To enter an Honour Board or Club competition players must have submitted three score cards in the preceding 12 months. PMG members are not allowed to enter Honour Board competitions. Pre-Paid Access members must also have played in three competitions to enter a Club competition. 5-Day members must pay a green fee if a match is played at the weekend.
10. Competition entry fees are payable via the individual players’ Club card. Competitors are deemed not to have entered a competition if they have not paid the competition entry fee.
11. In all competitions where starting times are allocated, competitors are not allowed to change, or inter-change their starting times except with the agreement of the Committee.
12. The 1st Hole is the only official starting point for official Club competitions unless otherwise stated.
13. Slow play is discouraged and may lead to a penalty in line with the Rules of Golf.
14. Failure to comply with Competition Rules may incur a 1-to-3-month suspension from competitions. The relevant Captain will, after considering all aspects of the failure to comply and the previous history (if any) of the offending member(s), make a considered decision as to the severity of the punishment to be delivered within these parameters.
15. Constant or blatant failure to comply with the obligations and responsibilities imposed by WHS will result in the suspension of players’ handicaps.
16. The Committee reserves the right to make any decision, which in its opinion is both just and compatible with the competition, and its decision is final.
STROKE PLAY COMPETITION RULES
17. Tee reservation and competition entry:
a. No person may enter more than 3 names including his/her own (4 names in a 4-ball competition).
b. Players booking a competition starting time must pay the entry fee prior to playing. PMG/Pre-paid access must also pay their green fee before playing. Players failing to do so will be disqualified and may be barred from future competitions.
c. Players who have booked a tee time are reminded they have a responsibility to notify the Club of their withdrawal prior to the competition, either by calling the Professional or via the online portal. They must also notify their playing partners asap.
18. Unless otherwise stated all Club competitions are to be played from the White tees (Gentlemen), Red tees (Ladies).
19. It is the duty of players to ensure their score card is entered on Igor the touch screen outside the Professional shop) if they are able and returned to the Professional and/or the Ladies Score Card box on completion of a round. The exceptions are illness or injury should you be unable to complete your round but the Competition organiser must be alerted you have left the course. Late starting players who have entered and paid for the competition must be responsible for uploading their score onto IG (if the Professional has gone home) and to ‘finalise’ their score prior to 9pm. Score cards must be placed under the Professional’s door.
20. Ties in 18-hole Stroke Play, Stableford and Bogey competitions:
a. Gentlemen’s Club Scratch Championship: Play-off on the day of the competition over holes 1, 2, 9, 10 followed by ‘sudden-death’ using the same holes.
b. All other Stroke Play Competitions: Count back is decided over the last played 9 holes.
1) Take the back 9 and use half of the players playing handicap to get your net 9-hole score, if still tied you repeat with the back 6 (last 6 holes played and 1/3 of the players Playing handicap), you can also repeat for back 3 or count back which is starting with the 18th hole and working backwards till you get a winner.
See Rules of Golf – Committee Procedures, Section 5A (6)
21. Ties in 36-hole Stroke Play, Stableford and Bogey competitions:
a. Ladies Club Scratch Championship: Play-off on the day of the competition over holes 1, 2, 9, 10 followed by ‘sudden-death’ using the same holes.
b. All other 36-hole Stroke Play Competitions: Count back is decided over the last played 9 holes.
1) Take the back 9 and use half of the players playing handicap to get your net 9-hole score, if still tied you repeat with the back 6 (last 6 holes played and 1/3 of the players Playing handicap), you can also repeat for back 3 or count back which is starting with the 18th hole and working backwards till you get a winner.
See Rules of Golf – Committee Procedures, Section 5A (6)
MATCH PLAY COMPETITON RULES
22. Competition entry:
a. All entrants must be available to play midweek and at weekends. Entry fees for Match Play competitions must be paid by the closing date prior to the draw being made. Appropriate green fees should be paid by Pre-Paid Access and PMG members; 5-Day members should pay a green fee if playing at the weekend.
b. All competitors must have played in three or more “Qualifying competitions” during the preceding 12 months before the closing date for entry to the competition.
c. All Knock-out competitions must be played from the White tees (Gentlemen), Red tees (Ladies). If tee markers are missing play is from the White or Red measured disc.
d. Players who have booked a tee time are reminded they have a responsibility to notify the Club of their withdrawal prior to the competition, either by calling the Professional or via the online portal. They must also notify their playing partner.
23. Responsibility for playing matches:
a. The onus is on all players to acquaint themselves with the online draw sheet.
b. It is the responsibility of both players/pairs to ensure the match is played on time and to make mutual arrangements to play the match giving at least three dates, not to be consecutive and not to be within one week but one of which must be a Saturday or Sunday.
24. No extension of time will be allowed for individual matches unless the course, due to its condition or to weather, is closed. Any extension will be advised by the Committee.
25. The “Honour” will be agreed by lot on the 1st tee on the day of the match.
26. A match ending ’All square’ after the stipulated round has been completed should be played-off hole by hole until one side wins a hole. The play-off should start at the hole where the match began, strokes being given or received as for the match. Players should proceed directly from the last hole to the play-off.
27. Winners of matches are responsible for updating the draw on IG or via the Professional.
INTER-CLUB MATCHES
28. Inter-club matches are open to Full and Intermediate (younger age group) members, PMG and Pre-paid Access members having duly paid the appropriate green fee and match fee to CHGC (Home or Away). 5-Day members may play in Inter-club matches but if they are on a weekend, they have to pay the appropriate green fee to CHGC (home and away). This applies to both ladies and gentlemen.
RECIPROCALS
29. Reciprocals, when available, are open to Full and Intermediate (younger age group) members only. 5-Day members may request a reciprocal between Monday to Friday. PMG and Pre-paid Access members are excluded.
