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Competition Conditions 2

WINTER LEAGUE RULES 2025/26

a)      Entries and Entry Fee – the entry fee (£15.00 per team) must be paid on the day of completing the entry form.  All teams must supply a telephone number when completing the entry.

b)     Groups –. Teams will be grouped at the discretion of the committee and can be any combination of Men/Ladies/Juniors

c)      Dates – Dates will be published on the Internet and the club notice board.  All matches must be played on the appointed dates unless agreed by the committee.

d)     Format – four-ball better ball match play: 2 points will be awarded for a win and 1 point for a half.

e)      Handicaps – handicaps will be capped at 23 (for men/juniors) and 30 (for Ladies) although all members with a WHS handicap are eligible to enter.  Ladies will receive an additional 2 to their HI after capping and prior to calculation of the Course Handicap.

f)       The handicap allowance is 9/10 the difference from the lowest handicap (then rounded). Strokes are to be taken from the lowest scheduled player even if the player is a no-show.

g)     Tees – yellow tees are to be used throughout the competition for men & juniors with ladies playing off the red tees. Mens stroke indices are to be used for both men and ladies.

h)     Course Closed – If 12 holes or more are open the match must be played.  If the course is closed, the match will be re-organised by the committee. If the course is closed during play, results of matches in a completed group will stand. In a partially played match, if at least 12 holes have been played, the score when the course was closed will stand as the result.  If this is not possible then the result will be declared as halved. Please note: - This rule only applies for the group matches, quarter-final, Semi-final and Final matches will be suspended and recommenced at an agreed new date and played to a conclusion from the hole the match was suspended.

i)       Unavailability of Both Players – when neither player is available, the opponents must be notified by 9:00pm the preceding evening. In either case, notified or not, the opponents may claim the match without playing.   The results sheet should be annotated “walk over” and a 3&2 win will be declared.

j)       Substitutes – if a player is unavailable a substitute may be used, the team starts one down.  Substitutes must not have entered as players in any of the other winter league groups.  Both players may not be substituted.  Substitutes are not allowed after the league stages.  Each substitute may only be used up to 2 times per team. Teams are not allowed to use substitutes for more that 50% of their games.

k)      If a substitute is used and the permanent player has not arrived in time for the tee time then the match should commence with the substitute only (The handicap difference will be taken off the lowest player even if they have not arrived). If by the time the match reaches the 3^rd tee the permanent player has still not arrived, then the opponents at their discretion can claim a 3&2 Walkover at this point. However, if contact has been made with the permanent player and the opponents are both in agreement, then the permanent player may join later into the match.

l)       Match Results – the results sheet for all league matches must be completed within 1 hour of completion of the last match of the day. 

m)    Preferred lies are permitted on fairways. The ball may be lifted, cleaned and dropped when in the rough but not in a penalty area. In a bunker the ball may be lifted, the sand raked and then dropped from knee height.

n)     Disputes – all disputes arising from these rules must be communicated in writing to the ‘Chairman of the Competition Committee’.

o)     Rules of golf – Excluding above, all rules of golf to be adhered to at all times during the winter league.

16/1/2025