Competition Terms and Conditions
General
The Club competitions, generally played on Saturdays and Sundays, with some exceptions such as on bank holidays and during the Week of Golf; are played in accordance with the Rules of Golf as approved by R&A Rules Limited and Local Rules approved by the Competition & Handicap Committee.
Prizes
The prizes awarded are specified in the Timesheet on the website, and on the Entry Sheet posted for the day of the competition. For sponsored competitions, the prizes and prize levels are agreed with the sponsor; for Club sponsored competitions, the prizes and prize levels are set by the Competition & Handicap Committee.
Competition Entry Requirements
Most of the competitions are open for visitors to enter as well as Rowany members. Visitors wishing to enter a competition must be a member of a golf club, and have a valid WHS Handicap Index.
Use of Buggies
There is at present no restriction to players using a buggy in a competition.
Gender
Players who were born male may not compete for any prizes awarded to ladies.
Course Unplayable
During a competition if the course becomes unplayable, the competition shall be cancelled and may be re-scheduled if it is feasible to do so.
Age Limits
Any age limit or playing category restrictions – such as juniors – will be stipulated on the Timesheet on the website and on the Entry Sheet posted for the day of the competition.
Player Status
Players may hold amateur or professional status.
Handicap Limits
General the maximum Handicap Index will be 54. However, some competitions may have lower Handicap Indexes, which will be stipulated on the Timesheet on the website and on the Entry Sheet posted for the day of the competition.
Membership Status
Only members who have paid, or have arranged to pay their annual subscription, may enter competitions.
Competition Entry Process
Please see the separate Competition Entry Process for details as to how to enter a competition.
Playing Handicap Allowances
For individual events, the norm will be 95% of a player’s Course Handicap. However, sponsors and the Club may wish to deviate from this and accordingly Handicap Allowances will be stipulated on the Timesheet on the website and on the Entry Sheet posted for the day of the competition.
Number and Order of Holes in a Round
Unless otherwise states, all rounds in competitions will commence from the first tee.
Stroke Index Allocation
Stroke Index allocation will be made by the Competition & Handicap Committee and will be stipulated on the Score Cards.
Teeing Areas
The tees to be used will be stipulated on the Timesheet on the website and on the Entry Sheet posted for the day of the competition.
Match Play
Where a tie is all square after 9 or 18 holes as applicable, the tie will be decided by ‘sudden death’ play-off commencing on the first tee.
In order to enter match play competitions members must have submitted 20 18-hole counting scores or equivalent. They can play in the qualifying round but not in the knock-out stage of the Rowany Trophy, nor can they play in The Falcon Cup.
Stroke Play
Where there is a tie for a prize place, the result shall be decided by countback. The ClubV1 software which the Club uses, complies with the EnglandGolf requirements which are, for 18-hole competitions, the last 9, 6, 3 or 1 holes of the round. If a tie still arises it shall be decided on the last 9, 6, 3 or 1 holes of the first nine holes of the round. Should this still not resolve the situation then the Competition & Handicap Committee may decide that the prize will be shared. For 9-hole competitions the countback shall be last 6, 3, and then by individual holes back from hole 9.
Boy Juniors can enter club competitions if they have submitted 20 counting scores, play off the same tees as the men, play with at least TWO adults of whom one is not family and cannot also enter for the Junior prize in the same competition.
Girl Juniors can enter club competitions if they have submitted 20 counting scores, play off the same tees as the ladies, play with at least TWO adults of whom one is not family and cannot also enter for the Junior prize in the same competition.
Score Cards
Players are requested to enter their scores by using the Touch Screen prior to depositing their card in the box to the left of the Touch Screen in The Driscoll Room. When entry via the Touch Screen is for some reason not possible, the player must deposit their card in the box to the right of the Touch Screen.
A score card is deemed to be returned when it is deposited in either box by the Touch Screen. Cards must be returned promptly after play.
Where a player regularly does not return his or her score card, they may be subject to sanction by the Competition & Handicap Committee.
Changing Competition Terms
Competition terms shall only be changed once the competition is in progress where there are exceptional circumstances warranting a change. Such changes may only be sanctioned by the Competition & Handicap Committee. In general, the CH&C preference would be to abandon a competition, and re-schedule, rather that change the Terms while the competition is in progress.
In stroke play there is no set guidance for when the C&HC should cancel a round. The proper action depends on the circumstances of each case and is left to the judgement of the committee.
In match play, a match should not be cancelled once play has begun as both players in a match are playing in the same conditions, without one having an advantage over the other. If the players stop play by agreement as allowed in Rule 5.7a or the C&HC feels that conditions are such that play should be suspended, the match should resume from where it was suspended.