Page Last Updated 18 August, 2008

1.         All competitions are to be played in accordance with the Rules of Golf adopted from time to time by the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews and with such Local Rules as are permitted by the Rules of Golf and are made by the Playing Committee.

2.         No member shall be declared the winner of a competition or competition prize, or be eligible to enter a matchplay competition unless they have a valid handicap.

3.         A valid handicap will be where the player: -

(a)       Has already returned cards of complete rounds in not less than One of the Club’s singles stroke play (Medal or Stableford) competitions within the previous twelve months. Or;

(b)       During the current playing season (April to March) the Competitions and Handicaps Sub-Committee has either allotted him his first Club handicap or has considered three cards of complete rounds played from the medal or yellow tees submitted by him for confirmation or otherwise of his current handicap. Or;

(c)       Presenting a valid handicap certificate from previous (or home) club to the playing committee.

4.         A member may only enter his own name on the entry sheet for a competition. Any member who subsequently finds he is unable to play must delete his name from the entry sheet, or following posting of the draw, advise the Professional’s Shop no later than 1 hour prior to their drawn tee off time. Any member, who fails to comply with this rule, will be suspended from playing for 1 competition. A repeat offence will result in a suspension for 3 competitions.

5.         Entry fees must be paid at the Professional’s Shop before commencing play in the competition. Failure to do say may disqualify the member from the competition. Also for matchplay events, winter league, summer knockouts etc., all entry fees must be paid prior to the draw being made.

6.         For all competitions members shall sign in at the Professional’s Shop at least 20 minutes before drawn tee time. Failure to do so may result in loss of place in that competition at the discretion of the starter(s) and the member will be reported to the Etiquette Committee, which may result in suspension of eligibility to play in competitions for a period of time. In addition where a player is not on the tee ready to play at there allocated start time, they will be disqualified as laid out rule 6.3 of the R&A rules of golf , and will not be allowed to compete in that competition.

7.         All competitions shall be played from the “White” tees (Blue in winter) unless otherwise stated on the day of the competition.

8.         If less than 8 players participate in a competition then the competition shall be declared null and void and all monies returned.

9.         Play in competitions shall start from the 1^st tee only, except when other tees are specified on the competition draw.

10.       The handicap allowance and limit for domestic competitions shall be set by the Playing Committee. Generally, and unless otherwise posted on the competition draw, all club singles competitions shall be played as full handicap qualifier competitions.

11.       New members must have played in and completed Four “Handicap Qualifier Competitions”, after receiving their initial handicap, before they can win a Medal or Trophy competition that is played as a Handicap Qualifier. The committee may wave this rule for members with a proven handicap from a previous club.

12.       Following this, members must have completed a minimum of 3 handicap qualifier competitions during the past 12 months before they can win a Medal or Trophy competition or the Summer Matchplay or Winter League competitions. Members must have completed a minimum of 3 handicap qualifier competitions since the last Club Championship to win that competition. In addition from time to time the playing committee may set additional qualification criteria for all members to play in a competition. Such additional criteria will be posted on the entry sheet.

13.       A competitor must play off the current handicap allocated to him by the Handicaps Sub-Committee, or such lower handicap that the player may expect will be allocated to him following the next handicap review meeting as result of posting good scores from previous rounds [home and away] that have not yet been reviewed/reported by the Handicap Secretary of Sub-Committee.

14.       Notwithstanding the type of competition, cards must be clearly marked (Preferably in pen) with the gross score for each hole “completed”. It is the player’s responsibility to ensure correct gross scores and entered on the scorecard before he signs the card. Failure to do so will disqualify the player from the competition.

15.       Cards returned in a competition must be signed by the player and marker (who must be a member with a current handicap playing in the competition) and placed in the competition box. This also applies to cards of an incomplete round in a competition (‘no return’). Cards that are not signed will result in disqualification of the player from that competition.

16.       With the exception of “All Day Competitions”, the latest time for returning competition cards is 20 minutes after last group has completed their round. For “All Day Competitions” cards must be returned by 09:00 the following day.                                               

17.       Failure to return a card in any “Handicap Qualifier Competition” will result in disqualification and the member will be reported to the Etiquette Committee, which may result in suspension of eligibility to play in competitions for a period of time.

18.       For “All Day Competitions” players must play their round with someone also playing in the competition with the card being marked and signed by such fellow competitor as would be case for drawn competitions. In addition the player shall sign in at the Professional’s Shop and pay his entry fee before commencement of play.

19.       If a player fails to complete a round without good reason the player will be suspended for 1 competition. A repeat offence will result in suspension for 3 competitions.

20.       The procedure for the Etiquette Committee and Disciplinary Committee is published on the website and the notice board. Names of suspended members will be posted on the competition notice board. Members may appeal against any disciplinary action only in accordance with the procedure laid out in the published Disciplinary Procedures document.

21.       Members may appeal a disqualification from a competition by lodging an appeal in writing to the Competitions Secretary with a copy to the Club Captain (within 7 days of results being posted,) giving reasons why the player believes the disqualification should be withdrawn. The disqualification will be reviewed at the next playing committee meeting. Where a disqualification is overturned the result will updated and re-published.

22.       Unless dates are fixed by the Competition Secretary, for all competitions played on a knock out basis, it is the responsibility of both named Players/Teams to contact their opponent(s) to fix the date and time of the match, having regard to the closing date set for completion of each round of the competition. If a match is not decided by the closing date and there is no evidence that one player is at fault, the result will be decided on a toss of a coin made by the Competition Secretary in the presence of another member of the playing committee. Where the committee finds there is evidence that one player/team is at fault in not arranging/completing the match, the player at fault will be disqualified and the match awarded to their opponent(s).

23.       Where the date and or time are fixed by the Competition Secretary, for all competitions played on a knock out basis and a player/team is not able to make the match, the match shall be awarded to the player/team able to play. If both players/team are not able to play the result will be decided on the toss of a coin, unless the playing committee elect to move the date/time of the match.

24.       In the event of a tie in a stroke play competition, the result will be decided on the last 18 (multi round competitions), 9, 6, 3 or 1 holes, and then, if necessary, the first 18, 9, 6, 3 or 1 holes, with the exception of the Club Championship (Gross Category) which shall be decided by a sudden death play off. Where competition starts from multiple tees, the back nine shall be the course back nine.

25.       Other than in a league match, if a match in a matchplay competition remains ‘all square’ at the end of the stipulated round(s) it must be played off hole by hole until one side wins a hole. The play off should start at the hole where the match began and strokes given and received as in the stipulated round. Players must proceed directly from the last hole of the match to the next hole and play off until a result is obtained. If, however, the play off is deferred by agreement of the players, or because insufficient daylight remains, or for one of the reasons allowed under Rule 6-8 of the Rules of Golf, the players must conclude (not replayed) the match another day but before the closing date set for that round of the competition.

26.       All day competitions will commence 15 minutes after Professional’s Shop has opened. However, should the green staff need to move pin positions during the day (say in the event of frost), further entry to the competition will be closed and pin positions moved after the last group on the course have passed.

27.       The Green staff, club management and pro-staff may close the course at any time as may be necessary to protect the course or members. Where a competition is still being played and is not completed immediately, the competition will be abandoned.

28.       The playing committee may suspend or cancel a competition at any time if a quorum of at least 4 playing committee members agrees.

29.       Local rules will be set by the playing committee, as provided under rule 33-8, and published these on the scorecards. Temporary additional local rules to protect the course and to promote fair play will be published on the notice board by the playing committee and these will be reviewed continuously. Such temporary rules will be decided at committee meetings, or on the day if a quorum of at least 4 playing committee members agree.

30.       Buggies: - Members will be permitted the use of buggies in all competitions. However, in singles events members may not share buggies and only one set of clubs may be carried per buggy. In pairs matches only partners may share a buggy. Penalty for breach of rule shall be disqualification for member who buggy is not assigned to.  

By Agreement of the Men's Playing Committee

19^th July 2008

RULES FOR MEN'S COMPETITIONS V12