LGU - The Ladies' Golf Union

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1. QUALIFICATIONS
The Ladies’ British Open Amateur Championship shall be open to players of the female gender who are members of a recognised golf club; who have Amateur Status in accordance with the current Amateur Status Rules of the R & A Rules Limited and who hold a CONGU Exact Handicap of not more than 4.4 or overseas equivalent, at date of entry.

2. REGULATIONS
a) Entries shall be limited to 144. In the event of entries exceeding this number, the 144 players with the lowest Exact Handicaps will be accepted. In the event of a tie, the 144th place shall be decided by ballot, which shall take place immediately after the closing date for entries. Those entrants balloted out will be placed on a waiting list. Unsuccessful entrants will have their entry fees refunded.
b) Entries must be submitted either electronically via the LGU website or by post or fax using the official entry form and must reach the Ladies’ Golf Union, The Scores, St. Andrews, Fife KY16 9AT, Scotland by 23:59hrs GMT on the date on which entries close. Late entries will not be accepted.
c) The appropriate entry fee must accompany the completed entry form. Cheques should be made payable, in sterling, to the Ladies’ Golf Union. Entries by fax will be accepted when accompanied by valid credit card details. Entries by telephone will not be accepted. An up to date list of entrants can be found on the LGU website at www.lgu.org No entry will be included in the draw unless complete in every detail. Entry fees will not be refunded unless notice of withdrawal, in writing, is received before the closing date for entries.
It is the responsibility of the competitor to ensure that her entry has been received.
d) All entries shall be subject to the approval of the Committee appointed by the Executive Council of the Ladies’ Golf Union which reserves the right to refuse an entry without assigning a reason for its decision, which shall be final.
e) The Exact Handicap certified at date of entry will be used for the purposes of the ballot. Each competitor should produce a current CONGU Handicap Certificate, or overseas equivalent, at registration. Penalty for failure to produce verification of current handicap before completion of the first round – Disqualification.
f) Competitors holding both a CONGU and overseas authority handicap must enter the Championship using their CONGU handicap. The club maintaining the player’s CONGU handicap must be used for all purposes. Penalty for failure to enter in compliance with this regulation – Disqualification.
g) Competitors must register in person at the Championship Office of the Ladies’ Golf Union on site, not later than 1400 hours on the day prior to commencement of the Championship. Penalty for Breach - Disqualification. Telephone calls may be accepted in exceptional circumstances. Failure to notify withdrawal from the Championship may disqualify a player from future Championships.
h) Team nominations must be submitted on the official entry form, signed by an official of the players’ National Association and reach the Ladies’ Golf Union no later than seven days after the Championship closing date. Should one or more of the nominated players be incapacitated by illness, accident or other unavoidable occurrence, the nominated reserve or reserves may be substituted, in order of selection, up to the advertised time of starting of the affected player or players.
i) The Committee reserves the right to use films, photographs, pictures and similar references to competitors in practice and play in the publicity arrangements prior to, during and after the Championship
j) The Committee reserves the right to arrange and /or alter starting times.
k) The Committee reserves the right to alter the Regulations and Conditions of the competition
l) The decision of the Committee is final in all matters.

3. CONDITIONS
a) Players must be of the female gender and have been female at birth or have had the female gender assigned. For the avoidance of doubt, the Ladies’ Golf Union reserves the right to carry out a confidential case-by-case evaluation at any time either prior to or after the Championship if in its reasonable opinion such an evaluation is or becomes necessary. Any player in breach of this condition may be disqualified.
b) The Championship shall be played in accordance with the Rules of Golf as approved by the R&A Rules Limited.
c) One round of 18 holes shall be played on each of the first two days, for which one draw shall be made. The players returning the 64 lowest scores over 36 holes shall qualify for match play. Ties for the last place(s) for the automatic draw shall be decided by hole-by-hole play-off over holes decided by the Committee. All other ties for the automatic draw shall be decided by card count back using the 18 hole second round score. If still a tie, scores for the second 9 holes (or 6 or 3 or 1) of the second round will be used. If a tie still arises, the last 6 holes of the first 9 holes (or 3 or 1) of the second round will be used. If necessary, the first round will then be treated in the same way. If no decision is reached, the Committee shall make a final decision.
In the event of a tie for the lowest score for 36 holes in the qualifying competition, a card count back using the 18 hole second round score will be used. If still a tie, the last 9 holes (or 6 or 3 or 1) will be used. If still a tie, the Trophy shall be held for an equal period of time and final places shall be shared.
In the event of a tie for the lowest score for 18 holes, scores for the second 9 holes (or 6 or 3 or 1) of the appropriate round will be used. If still a tie, the Trophy shall be held for an equal period of time and final places shall be shared.
d) Team Award - any country may nominate a team of two or three players, the two lowest scores in each qualifying round to count. Ties will be decided by card count back using the aggregate of the lowest 18 hole second round scores. If still a tie, the aggregate score for the second 9 holes (or 6 or 3 or 1) of the second round will be used. If still a tie, the Trophy shall be held for an equal period of time by each of the teams which has tied and final place(s) shall be shared.
e) The draw for the match play stage of the Championship shall be made according to the automatic draw and shall be posted as soon as possible after termination of play of the qualifying rounds.
f) Each match, including the final, shall consist of one round of 18 holes. The stipulated round is deemed to extend to as many holes as are required for a match to be won.
g) Immediately after the match is finished, the winner must sign the official result card and give the result to an appointed official or return the card immediately to the LGU Championship Office.
Failure to comply with this condition renders the player liable to disqualification.
h) A player is prohibited from having a golf professional serve as her caddie during the stipulated round.
Penalty for Breach of Condition :
Match play – At the conclusion of the hole at which the breach is discovered, the state of the match is adjusted by deducting one hole for each hole at which a breach occurred; maximum deduction per round – Two holes.
Stroke play – Two strokes for each hole at which any breach occurred; maximum penalty per round – Four strokes.
Match or stroke play – In the event of a breach between the play of two holes, the penalty applies to the next hole.
A player having a caddie in breach of this condition must immediately upon discovery that a breach has occurred ensure that she conforms with this condition for the remainder of the stipulated round. Otherwise the player is disqualified.
i) The ball the player plays must be named on the current List of Conforming Golf Balls issued by the R & A. Penalty for Breach of Condition - Disqualification.
j) The driver the competitor carries must have a clubhead, identified by model and loft, that is named on the current List of Conforming Driver Heads issued by the R & A Rules Limited.
Note: Any individual driver on the List, if tested on the pendulum testing apparatus approved by the R & A Rules Limited, must not have a characteristic time greater than 257 microseconds. An updated List of Conforming Driver Heads is available on the R & A website www.randa.org This list is also available in the LGU Championship Office.
k) If the player arrives at her starting point, ready to play, within five minutes after her starting time, in the absence of circumstances that warrant waiving the penalty of disqualification as provided in Rule 33-7, the penalty for failure to start on time is loss of the first hole to be played in match play or two strokes in stroke play instead of disqualification. Penalty for lateness beyond five minutes is disqualification.
l) Players must walk at all times during a stipulated round unless permitted to ride by the Committee in accordance with the LGU Transportation Policy. A copy of the LGU Transportation Policy is available on the LGU website at www.lgu.org.
Penalty for Breach of Condition:
Match play – At the conclusion of the hole at which the breach is discovered, the state of the match must be adjusted by deducting one hole for each hole at which a breach occurred. Maximum deduction per round: Two holes.
Stroke play - Two strokes for each hole at which any breach occurred; maximum penalty per round: Four strokes. In the event of a breach between the play of two holes, the penalty applies to the next hole.
Match or stroke play - Use of any unauthorised form of transportation must be discontinued immediately upon discovery that a breach has occurred. Otherwise, the player is disqualified.
m) Each player is responsible for playing without undue delay. The pace of play condition will be available prior to play.
n) Competitors must not make use of any drug to enhance performance. Should a competitor show evidence of use of a drug for non-therapeutic purpose, the Committee may require the competitor to undergo a drug test. Any player infringing this Condition may be disqualified. Competitors who are on medication and in doubt as to their clinical status should seek advice from the LGU via the Championship Office. 

IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF EACH COMPETITOR TO ENSURE THAT SHE COMPLIES WITH ALL THE REGULATIONS AND CONDITIONS OF THE COMPETITION.

4. TROPHIES AND VOUCHERS
The Championship Cup - shall be awarded to the winner and held by the Ladies’ Golf Union. The winner shall be The Ladies’ British Open Amateur Champion and shall receive a replica and a voucher.
The Pam Barton Memorial Salver - shall be awarded to the Champion and shall be held for one year.
The Diana Fishwick Cup - shall be awarded to the runner-up and shall be held for one year. The winner shall receive a voucher.
Springbok Trophy - shall be awarded to the semi-finalist beaten by the Champion. The winner shall receive a voucher.
Lion Trophy - shall be awarded to the semi-finalist beaten by the runner up. The winner shall receive a voucher.
The Doris Chambers Trophy - shall be awarded to the player returning the lowest score for 36 holes in the qualifying competition and shall be held for one year. The winner shall receive a voucher.
The Angus Trophy - shall be awarded to the player returning the lowest score for 18 holes in the qualifying competition and shall be held for one year. The winner shall receive a voucher.
The SLGA Cup - shall be awarded to the team with the lowest aggregate score for the qualifying rounds and shall be held for one year. Members of the winning team shall each receive vouchers.

Notes: In the event of an unresolved tie, voucher values will be shared equally. The Trophies may not leave Great Britain or Ireland.