Queries
- Introduction
- Handicapping and scratch score
- Rules and amateur status
- Advice to committees
ADVICE TO COMMITTEES
It is the duty of the Committee of an Affiliated Club to organise competitions for all playing members. The Committee must lay down regulations and conditions governing their competitions and publish them in advance of the competition. The Committee has no powers to waive a Rule of Golf. Recommendations are set out below.
1. QUALIFICATIONS
The Committee is responsible for specifying the qualifications required to enter competitions.
2. METHOD OF ENTRY
The Committee shall lay down the regulations specifying
2.1 method of entry, including closing date
2.2 entry fee, if applicable.
3. CONDITIONS OF COMPETITIONS
It is the responsibility of the Committee to lay down the conditions under which a competition is to be played, in accordance with the Rules of Golf, Rule 33.
Conditions of competitions should include:
3.1 format of competition
3.2 handicap stroke allowance
3.3 starting places
3.4 teeing grounds to be used
3.5 time of starting
3.6 procedure to be adopted if a suspension of play becomes necessary
3.7 trophies and prizes
3.8 ties and halved matches.
When the Committee has agreed that certain conditions are to apply to all competitions, these should be displayed on a permanent notice.
4. FORMAT OF COMPETITION
The Committee must set out the format of competitions, including:
4.1 Par, Stableford or Stroke Play competitions for individuals including the number of rounds to be played.
The Committee may lay down that a single round competition is to be played on more than one day, as in the LGU Medal Main and Alternative Days and, if so, must provide in the conditions that the holes and teeing grounds may be differently situated on each day, in accordance with the Rules of Golf, Note to Rule 33-2b.
4.2 Match play competitions, including foursomes and four-balls. For a match play competition, the Committee shall establish the limit of time within which each round shall be completed in accordance with the Rules of Golf, Rule 33-3.
5. HANDICAP STROKE ALLOWANCES, INCLUDING HANDICAP LIMITS
In Qualifying Competitions, players must play off their full handicap allowance in order that their scores may be correctly calculated for handicap purposes. In other competitions the Committee may decide the handicap allowance.
If the Committee wishes to apply a handicap limit in a stroke competition, the player must record her correct Playing Handicap on her score card, and the Committee should adjust the Nett Score, Stableford points or Par result for the purpose of awarding prizes.
In a match play competition, the Committee may impose a handicap limit.
6. JUNIORS
The Committee should appoint a Junior Convenor to organise and encourage girls to take part in coaching sessions and competitions. As soon as their skills permit, the girls should be encouraged to put in scores for handicap, see the CONGU Unified Handicapping System Appendix K, for procedures for allotting and adjusting handicaps for juniors. Once they have gained a CONGU handicap they should be allowed to participate in all club competitions on an equal footing with other players with a CONGU handicap, including winning trophies and prizes. Any club which does not permit a junior member with a CONGU handicap to compete in LGU Medal Competitions shall not be entitled to receive Silver and Bronze Medals or an LGU Pendant.
7. CLUB HANDICAPS
Where a club has members who are physically unable to complete 18 holes, it is suggested that Club handicaps be allotted on the basis of nine-hole scores doubled. The Committee should specify which holes are to be played and the scratch score will be the equivalent to the par of these holes, doubled. The administration of such handicaps is the sole responsibility of the Committee of each club. Handicaps so obtained are Club handicaps only and not CONGU handicaps.
8. STARTING PLACES
Where an Affiliated Club has authorised an alternative starting place or places a notice must be posted stating that the alternative or alternatives are permitted.
9. TEEING GROUNDS
For Qualifying Competitions, Ladies’ Medal Tees must be used.
10. TIME OF STARTING
The Committee is responsible for establishing the competition starting times. The Committee may lay down that players may determine their own starting times.
11. PROCEDURE FOR SUSPENSION OF PLAY, CANCELLATION OR POSTPONEMENT OF THE COMPETITION
The Committee should lay down a procedure for suspending play during a competition should the course become unplayable or circumstances arise that make the proper playing of the game impossible, in accordance with the Rules of Golf, Rule 33-2d.
Players may discontinue play in competitions if they believe they are in danger from lightning, Rules of Golf, Rule 6-8a(ii). In match play, players may agree to discontinue play for any reason, Exception to Rules of Golf, Rule 6-8a.
It is strongly recommended that the Committee appoint at least two authorised representatives to be available on competition days, including LGU Medal Competition days, to make a decision, if required, on the suspension, cancellation or postponement of the competition. If the competition is declared null and void, it should be clearly stated whether the competition is to be replayed under exactly the same conditions on another day, or a new competition is to be played, or the competition is to be abandoned.
12. TROPHIES AND PRIZES
Where both scratch and handicap prizes are being offered it should be clearly stated in the conditions of the competition whether it is permitted for a single competitor to accept both prizes and, if not, which prize takes precedence.
13. TIES AND HALVED MATCHES
The Committee must lay down the method of settling ties and halved matches before a competition begins in accordance with the Rules of Golf, Rule 33-6.
13.1 Ties in a stroke competition
A tie in a stroke competition may be decided by replaying over 18 holes, playing off over a stipulated number of holes, sudden death play-off, or card count back.
The Committee must lay down the handicap to be used in the event of a replay, play-off or sudden death play-off in a handicap competition. This may be either the handicap that the players played off on the day of the competition or current handicap.
Where a tie is to settled by card count back the recommendation is as follows:
- In an 18 hole competition, on the basis of the best score on the last 9, 6, 3 or 1 hole(s) as required
- In a 36, 54 or 72 hole competition, on the basis of the best score on the last 18, 9, 6, 3 or 1 hole(s).
In a handicap event, handicaps must be deducted in proportion:
1/2 handicap for last 9 holes 1/6 handicap for last 3 holes
1/3 handicap for last 6 holes 1/18 handicap for last hole
Where the Committee has decided that ties will be settled by a card count back, there must be a method for deciding a further tie for example:
- Trophies may be held for a fraction of the normal time, e.g., 6 months for a two-way tie, 4 months for a three-way tie and 3 months for a four-way tie.
- Vouchers may be shared equally
- Play-off over a stipulated round or a stipulated number of holes.
- If no other solution is available, the winner may be decided by lot.
Where there is more than one starting place, if a card count back is to be used, it is recommended that the last 9, 6, 3 or 1 hole(s) is considered to mean holes 10-18, 13-18, 16-18 or 18.
13.2 Halved matches
A match which ends all square should be played-off hole by hole until one side wins a hole. The play-off should start on the hole where the match began. In a handicap match, handicap strokes should be allowed as in the prescribed round. The Committee should lay down that players are to proceed directly from the last hole of the match to the next hole, and that the play-off is an extension of the prescribed round.
14. OPEN QUALIFYING COMPETITIONS
The Committee should prepare score cards for all competitors before an Open Qualifying Competition and is responsible for checking the CONGU handicap certificates of all visiting players and recording their Playing Handicaps before they play in an Open Qualifying Competition.
The Committee is responsible for calculating the Competition Scratch Score in accordance with the CONGU UHS Appendix E.
14.1 Unless the CSS calculation results in a Reduction Only competition, details of the scores of all players should be sent to their Home Clubs, together with the CSS.
14.2 In a Reduction Only competition or if the competition has been abandoned, details of the scores of the players who have returned Nett Differentials below zero should be returned to their Home Clubs, together with the CSS.
15. AUTOMATIC DRAW, UNEVEN DRAW
15.1 Automatic Draw
When qualifying rounds are held to determine the players who shall take part in the ensuing match play, the draw for the match play is carried out in accordance with the Automatic Draw.
15.2 Uneven Draw
Where a qualifying round is not held and where the number of entries is not a power of 2, the draw is carried out in accordance with Uneven Draws.
16. LOCAL RULES
The Club Committee may make Local Rules for abnormal conditions in accordance with Appendix I of the Rules of Golf. The Committee of the Ladies’ Section may make regulations and conditions governing its competitions.
17. STROKE INDEX
See Appendix I of the CONGU Unified Handicapping System.
18. AMATEUR STATUS AND PRIZE VALUES
18.1 All amateur status questions relative to members of clubs affiliated to the English Ladies’ Golf Association, the Irish Ladies’ Golf Union, the Scottish Ladies’ Golfing Association, or the Welsh Ladies’ Golf Union shall be submitted to the R&A Rules Limited.
18.2 It is the responsibility of the Committee to ensure that the total value of scratch prizes or each division of handicap prizes in any one event does not exceed the limits recommended in the Rules of Amateur Status, Rule 3-2, Note 2.
18.3 It is the Committee’s duty to ensure that no prize of retail value in excess of the limit laid down in Rules of Amateur Status, Rule 3-2a, is offered or awarded to an amateur golfer.
19. REFERENCE BOOKS – RULES OF GOLF INCLUDING THE RULES OF AMATEUR STATUS, DECISIONS ON THE RULES OF GOLF, THE LADY GOLFER’S HANDBOOK
It is the Committee’s responsibility to settle any doubts arising during the playing of competitions and it must be conversant with the Rules of Golf as published by R&A Rules Limited. The following books should be used for reference:
19.1 Rules of Golf including the Rules of Amateur Status
Current copies of the Rules of Golf must be available for the use of members.
19.2 Decisions on the Rules of Golf.
The Committee should have a current copy of the Decisions on the Rules of Golf to assist with any queries that may arise during competitions. Copies may be obtained from bookshops.
19.3 The Lady Golfer’s Handbook
The Handbook, published by the Ladies’ Golf Union, is sent to all Affiliated Clubs each year and should remain in the clubhouse. Additional copies may be obtained from the LGU office on payment of the current price.
It is very helpful for players, particularly beginners, if occasional talks by a competent person can be given on the Rules of Golf.
20. USE OF COMPUTER
The use of a computer for the CONGU Unified Handicapping System is optional. If a computer is used, the following procedures should be observed:
20.1 standard computer disciplines should be observed with back-up disks in case of breakdown, fire or theft. Copy disks should be kept away from the computer.
20.2 there should be at least two people at any Affiliated Club capable of operating the computer.
20.3 if the Committee requires players to enter their own scores in the computer, the Committee must check the actual cards for signature, handicap and date.
The output from the computer software should be checked periodically to ensure that handicaps are being calculated in accordance with the CONGU Unified Handicapping System.
21. NOTICE BOARD
Notices sent out by the Ladies’ Golf Union and the National Organisations should be prominently displayed in the clubhouse.
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