Match Rules.
1. Rules and Conditions.
a) All players must be a member of the participating Golf Club with an active CONGW (handicap Dec 2011).
b) Players are only available for selection to the team representing their nominated home club as defined by the Handicapping Scheme of the Council of National Golf Unions.
c) No player may represent more than one Golf Club during one season.
2. Eligibility and Conditions of Selection.
a) All players must have a current playing handicap in accordance with the Standard Scratch Score as currently implemented by the Council of National Golf Unions.
b) All team players eligible to play shall have playing handicaps 15 to 28 inclusive (Nov' 2008). Maximum allowance for matches will be 28 with Ύs of the handicap difference from the lowest handicap player in each case, up to a maximum of seven shots/strokes (Nov' 2008).
c) If the Captain of the Clubs Rabbits section has a reduction in handicap below 16 during his year of office, he alone may still play in league matches off his new handicap (exception to rule 3(d)).
d) If a non-eligible player is playing in a match, the game in which that player played shall be awarded to the opposing team.
e) Juniors will be permitted to play in league matches provided:
1. They have reached 16 years of age as at 1st. April of that current season.
2. They are restricted to two juniors per team.
3. They will not be permitted to play together.
3. Conditions of Play.
a) The format for matches will be four-ball better ball played on a home and away basis.
b) Teams shall consist of a minimum of 12 players (6 pairs) per Club. The maximum shall be agreed by the respective captains concerned. The results of games played between one player of one side and two players of the other side, shall be counted in the final match result only if there is an odd number of players in the team concerned. A team shall not be allowed to split an even number of pairings to form two games of a 3 ball format to make up the number of teams competing.
c) The Captains will communicate the number of players to the no later than 8.00pm on Thursday prior to the match.(2011)
d) If a Club fails to field the minimum of 12 players, or the agreed number, they then concede the points for the games not played.
e) Tee off times shall be between 1 and 2 pm or as agreed between the respective Captains.
f) The tees to be used for the match shall be specified by the home Captain.
g) A match will be abandoned when instructed by an Official of the Club where the match is being played eg: torrential rain, fog, and/or high wind: wind alone will not prevent a match from being played.
h) When the greens become water logged or partially water logged, it will be agreed between both Captains that the match be abandoned.
i) When it has been agreed to abandon a match for any of the above reasons, every effort must be made by the respective Captains to arrange a replay date. If agreement cannot be reached, the President/Chairman and Secretary of the league will adjudicate on all the issues and come to a decision which will be final.
j) When the Officers referred to have considered all the facts why a replay date cannot be considered within a specified period, the match will then be declared an honourable half.
4. Match Scoring.
The points awarded for matches shall be as follows:
Home Win - 3 points
Home Half - 1 point
Away Win - 4 points
Away Half - 2 points
In the event of a tie in either Pool at the conclusion of the season, then the final position will be determined by an accumulation of games won or/and halved in the following order: -
1. The most away wins.
2. The most away halves.
3. The most home wins.
4. The most home halves.
The team to amount the most wins and halves in accumulation first will be adjudged the higher placed team. (Dec'.2006)
If both teams are still tied then a play off will be held at a neutral course. The venue to be decided by a draw of courses excluding the course of the Clubs concerned, or a course agreed mutually between the teams concerned.
5. Administrative Matters.
a) Match results are to be sent to the Secretary by the Winning Captain and in the event of a halved match by the Away Captain by no later than seven days following the match.
b) In the event of the result not being received by the Secretary on or before the deadline, no points will be awarded to the offending team. (Verbal notification will not be accepted).
c) All postponed matches MUST be notified to the Secretary forthwith.
d) The Secretary will provide each club with a monthly Pool Progress Report.
e) Each club will send a list of Pool fixtures to the Secretary before the commencement of the season, together with the name, address and telephone number of the current Captain.
f) Copies of the current edition of these rules are to be sent to each Club Captain by the Secretary annually.
g) Secretarial expenses agreed at the Annual General Meeting will be paid by each of the participating clubs before 31st. March 2003. Currently at £30.00(2009) per team per season).
h) The Annual General Meeting of the league will be held no later than the first week of December each year.
i) The rules can be altered or amended at the AGM or at any special meeting called for the purpose. Propositions for amendment must be seconded by another club and submitted in writing to the Secretary at least 28 days before the meeting. The proposed amendment(s) to be published in the Agenda for the meeting and circulated to each club 14 days before the meeting.
j) Minutes of all general meetings of the league are to be sent to each participating Club Captain by the following March at the latest.
k) The Executive Committee, whose decision will be final, will determine any matter not specifically covered in the rules.
l) These rules and conditions can be altered or amended at the Annual General Meeting of E.G.M. called specifically for an amendment of the rules.
m) No business shall be transacted at any general or Special meeting unless a quorum of seven Members Clubs are present.
6. Pool Format
Pool A will consist of seven teams. The top five teams from the previous seasons table plus the top two teams from Pool B.
Pool B will consist of eight teams. The bottom six teams from the previous seasons table plus the bottom two in Pool A will be moved to Pool B.
There will be two trophies awarded to the winners of the respective Pools, i.e. The Rowley Jones Cup for Pool A and Three Counties Summer League Pool B cup.
7. Dress Code
In almost all Clubs a dress code is obligatory. Therefore when matches are being arranged, visiting Captains will be told of the dress code within the host Club, which must be strictly adhered to.
8. New Club Applications
When a new Club applies for membership into the league, the following criteria will apply: -
a) A copy letter of the application will be circulated to all Captains within the league.
b) The Club making the application will be visited by the Officers of the League and the Captain will be supplied with a copy of The Rules showing the format he will be expected to follow.
c) In due course the application will be considered by the full membership at the next Annual General Meeting before final acceptance.