The competition can be played on any measured course suitable for the handicap and gender of the players. It is down to the team captains to agree which course the games for the match is conducted on including which courses are available for play on the agreed date.

Yes this is permitted.

However, where possible we encourage two balls' to aid with the speed of play. This is a guidance recommendation, not a competition rule or committee mandate.

Teams playing '2 matches on one tee time booking' should be fully aware of the Rules of Golf, Rule 24.4-c

24.4.c A player must not ask for advice from or give advice to a member of his or her team playing on the course.

This applies whether the team member is playing in the same group as the player or in another group on the course.

Penalty for Breach of Rule 24.4: General Penalty. Loss of hole in match play

https://www.randa.org/Rog/2019/Rules/The-Rules-of-Golf/Rule-24

For 2021 we will use the Handicap Index for players so they can calculate their Course Handicap for each match to set the Playing Handicap having taken full difference.

We set the player eligibility rules using a Maximum Handicap Index because that is what makes every player equal.

When playing you will then calculate your Course Handicap for the course the match is played on:

Handicap Index x (Slope Rating ÷ 113) = Course Handicap

You then take the full difference of the 2 opponents Course Handicaps for the Playing Handicap in your game in the match.

Useful links to help with calculating your Course Handicap

The Maximum Handicap Indexes for 2021 Competitions are

• Ladies Handicap Index of 30
• Gents Handicap Index of 20

This means the maximum Handicap Index which can be used by players in the competition is 20 (Gents) and 30 (Ladies).

A player with a Handicap Index greater than the limit could play in a team as long as their Course Handicap is calculated from the Maximum Handicap Index for the competition; Some examples:

• A female player with a Handicap Index of 31.9 could play as long as their Course Handicap is calculated from a Handicap Index of 30.
• A male player with a Handicap Index of 20.9 could play as long as their Course Handicap is calculated from a Handicap Index of 20.

There is no limit on the Course Handicap of players in either competition.

The new handicap system is launched in November 2020

The introduction of the WHS has seen the removal of Competition Rule 6.c. So No additional shots will be given to away players.

No, the rules do not permit courtesy shots in any Round. This changed given the introduction of the World Handicap System.

Yes this is acceptable as it meets the rules of offering 3 dates where at least one date must be a weekend.

Yes, provided they are used in accordance with the Rules of Golf & they comply with any Covid-19 guidance or restrictions in play.

Rules state: So that a definite result of a match can be obtained, every game must be played to a finish, i.e. if a game is all square after the 18th hole, the game is concluded by a sudden-death play-off.

Only with the agreement of both Team Captains, matches may be recorded as a draw if the overall team result is in no doubt.

No bucket holes are not R&A regulation size and are not permitted for use in the competition. 

Yes, if the local rules are in place for their use, mats, prefered lies, clean and replace and lift to semi-rough are permitted for use in the match. Competition rules support all local rules.

The committee makes this guidance on the advice of CONGU who advise a handicap qualifying competition can be undertaken with the use of fairway mats, preferred lies and clean and replace. 

Yes as long as that course is a measured course.

The use of artificial tees or temporary tees which form part of a measured course with a Standard Scratch Score is permitted (as CONGU permits their use for handicap qualifying competitions) 

The competition rules place no restriction on the use of winter or temporary teeing areas. There is the option if more than 7 temporary greens are in use for the opposing team captain to ask for a postponement, see Rule 5.a.

Team captains can log in and update your profile and contact details. Log in then follow the links to update your team directory profile.

Any membership status can play providing your club has arrangements in place to allow none 7-day members to play at a weekend if required.

When your club is drawn to play at home, they must offer a weekend date to their opponents in which a home team will be fully represented.

“…the home club must offer 3 dates, one of which must be a weekend…”

If the weekend date is chosen by the away team, a full team should be available to play.

Any course green fees for none 7-day members is an issue for the club and outside the reach of the competition organising committee, in addition to rule 3 which states:

“In all rounds (including the Final) it is the prerogative of the host club to provide or decline courtesy of the course prior to the day of the event. Participation does not give an automatic right for courtesy rounds sanctioned by the organisers.”

Likewise, when playing away and a weekend date is offered, it cannot be dismissed solely on the basis that members of the away team are 5-day members and ‘cannot play weekends due to their membership status’

Should this happen and cannot be resolved between both parties; both teams involved should inform the organising committee, with evidence of the breach of rule 1, with evidence of attempts to resolve.

If any of these rules are breached the team will be disqualified from the competition with immediate effect.

There are no competition rules prohibiting their usage. 2019 Rules of Golf allow the use of DMDs without the need for a Local Rule.  But, courses can implement local rules restricting their use, in which case the competition rules support the local rule.

Although the Rules of Golf allow the use of DMDs, players must ensure that the device they use complies with the restrictions in Rule 4.3a(1). Further Guidance can be found here from the R&A

Yes – There are no rules restricting the use of buggies or similar vehicles. However, if local rules restrict their use, local rules still apply (Rule 9) -

If local rules restrict usage and there is a medical or certified reason for use by a player the team captain should seek guidance from the host course to find out their accessibility policy guidance.

It is usual, but not compulsory, for the home team to offer a meal at a shared expense. Please ensure you take with you appropriate attire. (See Rule 3.c)

Following the online submission of a match result, your team captain will need to login and submit this, within 15 minutes following submission, your team will show in the following rounds draw online. Therefore it is important that results are submitted online ASAP after the match.

Team Captains may also receive an email telling them their opponents are known, however, team captains are responsible for regularly checking the website and not relying on these notifications.

Please note teams & results are subject to change following official verification.

Extensions of up to a maximum of 3 days can be granted by the committee in the event of continued extreme weather, with evidence of best efforts to play the match when applying you will have to answer ‘yes’ to all the following with clear evidence… (Rule 5.c)

• Is the application made no less than 3 days before the last day of play?

• Have the team captains arranged to play the match more than 3 times, having invoked rule 5.a  (agreed and accepted dates, not proposed dates)?

• Have the team captains arranged the match to be played at the away course?

• Have both (home and away) courses been closed for over 5 consecutive days, during the period of allowed play, because of extreme weather conditions?

• Are the extreme weather conditions forecast to impact course (home and away) availability up to the ‘last day of play’?

If you cannot answer 'yes' to all these questions take the 'no' answers and use them as guidance to seek a date or location for the match.

Extensions to the last day of play will not be granted on the grounds of player and team captain availability; Rule 2.b.i includes the allowance for reserve players and Rule 2.c allows any member meeting Rule 2 eligibility criteria to play for the team. 

Applications are to be made to the competition secretary 

Irrespective of the names initially supplied on entry forms, a club’s team can bring in a new player at any time in the duration of the competition in any given year provided:

(a) that the player holds a bonafide handicap at the said club and meets the terms of Rule 1.
(b) that the player is not part of an active team in the competition.

(c) that the player has not played for any other club in the competition if he is a member of two clubs in the progress of the competition in that year.

Example

Kedleston Park enter 2 teams A & B;

Both teams are in Round 3 of the competition, which has the last day of play of the 30th of the month;

The A team plays on the 10th and is knocked-out; the B Team are due to play on the 16th; players from the A team are not permitted to play for the B team in Round 3, as the A team is still active until midnight on the 30th of the month;

The B Team wins and is in Round 4; the knocked-out A team players are only eligible to play for the B Team for Round 4 onwards

If after both home and away matches of round 1 are all square; (for example Match B 4-3 Match A 3-4) to conclude the result of the match, a 3 hole playoff with any 3 players from each team, over any 3 holes as agreed by both team captains (at the location of the last match played)- Rule 5 sets the conditions. An individual playoff game cannot be recorded as a half, all 3 matches must be played to a definitive result, continuing onto hole 4 (and beyond) with a sudden-death playoff until a winner is determined. In the play off full handicap difference is applied

The first round matches can be played in any order, they do not have to be played “A” then “B”, they can be played “B” than “A” – this is to allow the best flexibility for arranging your matches.

Rules : So that a definite result of a match can be obtained, every game must be played to a finish, i.e. if a game is all square after the 18th hole, the game is concluded by a sudden-death play-off. With the agreement of both Captains, matches may be recorded as a draw if the team result is in no doubt.

Note for Round 1: – For the first of the 2 matches played the overall team result will be in ‘doubt’, individual games shouldn’t be recorded as a half for the first matches. If on the final game of the 2, a match could be recorded as a half, if the overall result (A+B – First plus Second) is not in doubt. If after the 2nd match you need to instigate the 3 hole playoff, all results should be definitive (ie no halves)