Playing Rules/Handicaps

General Competition Rules

Handicaps.

Each player is expected to play off their full handicap for each competiton. There is a handicap limit of 24 for all players. From the launch of the Society, a player will play off their club handicap. Where a player is not a member of a club, then they will be given a handicap by the Competitions/Handicaps Committee.

The Society handicap will change with each competition. This will be calculated by the CONGU handicap system being applied to the results of the competition. A standard scratch score for each competition will be calculated with each player's handicap adjusted according to how they performed in the competition.

Those players that have club handicaps will in effect have two handicaps, a Society handicap and a club handicap. Those players will always play off their lowest handicap. Players with just a Society handicap will always play off their current Society handicap.

Handicap changes under clause 23 (General Play)

A General Play change is a manual adjustment of a player’s handicap. These manual adjustments are required to be made when the player’s "Home Club considers that a player’s Exact Handicap is too high, or too low, and does not reflect his current playing ability". These changes will be made by the Competitions/Handicaps Committee at the end of each year. Where a player has an official club handicap, they will not be subject to changes under this clause.

Competitions

There are four main competitions during the calendar year. The final event of the year will be played at Royal Winchester Golf Club just before Christmas. Each competition is stableford format with the player gaining the highest number of points over 18 holes declared the winner. All players will play from the same tees (decided on the day) and should complete each hole by "putting out" (no gimmes).

Where there is a tie in scores, the player with the highest number of points on the back nine will be the winner. If this is still equal then it will be the back 6, then the back 3, then back 2, then the last hole. If this is still does not produce a winner then the person with the lowest exact handicap will be declared the winner. If the exact handicaps are the same then the prize will be shared.

As well as the four main individual competitions, an 'Order of Merit' will be calculated with the player gaining the highest number of points over the year crowned 'Straggler of the Year'. Points will be awarded in the four main competitions only. The points awarded will be based on 50 points for first place then 49 for second place and so on. If their are tied places then the average of the points scored will be applied to each player.

Winners and Prizes

For each of the main events, there will be prizes for the top three players. These prizes will be cash and based on the number of players playing in that competition.

As well as the winners of the competition, there will also be other spot prizes, for example, best front-nine, best back-nine, longest drive, nearest the pin, etc.

There will also be the annual 'Straggler of the Year' award based on the 'Order of Merit' scores and Division 2 for handicaps 20+, along with a wooden spoon for the "Struggler" of the year.

Other prizes will be awarded as appropriate.

Further Information

Any questions relating to competitions or handicaps should be directed to the Competitions Secretary.