RULES AND CONDITIONS OF PLAY FOR

HERTFORDSHIRE GOLF UNION COMPETITIONS

These Rules and Conditions are effective from 1st January 2010

Section 1 - General

1.1 These general rules apply to the following Hertfordshire Golf Union (HGU) competitions:

1. County Championship

2. Hertfordshire Salver

3. Colts Championship

4. Boys Championship

5. Seniors Championship

6. Champion Club

7. Junior Champion Club

8. Seniors Champion Club

9. Inter Club Foursomes

11. Seniors Challenge Trophy

12. Members Cup

13. Boys Intermediate Championship

14. Men’s Order of Merit (MOOM)

15. Boy’s Order of Merit (BOOM)

1.2 The Rules, Appendices and Decisions referenced in these rules are those to be found in the current Rules of Golf and Decisions on the Rules of Golf published by R&A Rules Limited.

1.3 All competitions shall be played in accordance with the current Rules of Golf and of Amateur Status as laid down by R&A Rules Limited and such Local Rules as shall be agreed by the HGU Championship Committee.

1.4 Unless otherwise indicated all competitions are scratch competitions and the winners of stroke play events are those with the lowest gross scores. Handicap allowances in accordance with the current CONGU® Unified Handicapping System shall apply to any competition or prizes based on net scores.

1.5 All stroke play competitions played under medal play conditions will be qualifying competitions for handicap purposes and the terms and conditions of the current CONGU® Unified Handicapping System shall apply.

1.6 All competitors must have an active handicap as defined by the CONGU® http://www.englishgolfunion.org/showpage.asp?code=0001000200090017

1.7 All e-mail correspondence with the County Secretary should include a “read receipt” request as proof that it has been received.

Section 2 - Entry Qualifications

2.1 Entrants must

a. be of male gender (except where otherwise stated in Part III - Rules and Conditions applying to Specific Competitions)

b. be a member of a golf club affiliated to the HGU, which they have designated as their home club, or have been born in the County and be a member of a Member Club of another County Union or of an Artisan Club affiliated to it

2.2 Entrants must not, in the previous 12 months,

a. have represented any other County

b. taken part in any County level competition organised by another County

2.3 Entrants, from the date of applying to enter until the closure of the competition must

a. be of Amateur Status as defined by R&A Rules Limited

b. hold an active CONGU® Handicap.

2.5 Entrants must meet such other requirements as may be stipulated in the Conditions for the applicable competition in Part III - Rules and Conditions Applying to Specific Competitions.

2.5 The entrant’s home club must have signed up to the Central Database of Handicaps

Section 3 - Entry Requirements

3.1 Applications must be in writing (e-mail is acceptable subject to clause 1.7 above) and give all the information requested. Applications other than those for team competitions must be signed by the entrant. All applications must be countersigned by the Secretary of the entrant’s golf club or such other officer of the club as the County Secretary shall approve and be accompanied by the specified entry fee unless a special arrangement has been agreed with the County Secretary to accept payment by electronic transfer or by invoice.

Section 4 - Competitor Information

4.1 A competitor shall be required to provide the County Secretary with:

a. his full name and his Identity Number;

b. exact handicap at the time of entry

c. his age at the preceding 1^st January (if the conditions of competition impose an age limit )

d. such other information as the Championship Committee may require.

4.2 The HGU reserves the right to hold information supplied by a player or by his club on his behalf on any media it shall decide for the purpose of assisting in the administration of the competition and the HGU.

Section 5 - Ballots

5.1 Unless the rules of a competition state otherwise the following procedure shall be adopted if the number of approved entries for a stroke play competition exceeds the number of places available:

a. If the competitor, or team, who last won the competition, has submitted an approved entry the competitor or team shall have an automatic place.

b.Balloting out those entrants with the highest exact handicaps shall fill all remaining places. Drawing of lots will decide where more than one entrant has the same exact handicap.

c. An appropriate number of those entrants balloted out shall be placed on a reserve list to fill any vacancies that may occur.

Section 6 - Withdrawn Entries

6.1 An entrant who has made an application to enter a competition and wishes to withdraw must inform the HGU in writing (e-mail is acceptable subject to clause 1.7 above). Entry fees will be refunded if notification in writing is received before the closing date for entries.

6.2 After the closing date for entries, entry fees will be refunded to those entrants balloted out of the competition, who do not subsequently fill a vacancy.

6.3 A competitor who has been allotted a place in a competition and subsequently withdraws must inform the HGU as soon as possible and must confirm the withdrawal in writing (e-mail is acceptable subject to clause 1.7 above) within three working days stating the reason for withdrawal. A competitor who thus withdraws from a competition will have their entry fee refunded provided that a valid replacement can be found for them.

6.4 If a competitor who has been allotted a place in a competition either:

a. fails to meet the requirements of 6.3 above, or

b. withdraws less than three working days before the start of the said competition, or

c. withdraws at any time during a stroke play competition, or

d. fails to show at the tee for his scheduled start for any round of a stroke play competition,

the Championship Committee may bar him from entry to such future competitions, as it deems appropriate.

Section 7 - Presentations

7.1 The Committee in charge of a competition shall endeavour to announce the results as soon as possible after all the scores are reported and to present awards and prizes as soon as is practical thereafter.

7.2 On the last or only day of a stroke play competition competitors are requested to bring with them a change of clothing including jacket shirt and tie into which to change after they have completed their round.

7.3 In a demonstration of good sportsmanship competitors are requested to remain at the venue for the announcement of results and the presentations.

7.4 The Championship Committee reserves the right not to make a presentation to a competitor who is inappropriately dressed or to withhold a material prize if a competitor has chosen not to be present to receive it.

Part II - Conditions of Play Applying to All Competitions

Section 1 - The Committee

1.1 On any day of a competition, the Committee in charge of the competition shall be the HGU Championship Committee or a representative number thereof.

1.2 The Chairman of the Committee in charge of the competition shall be the Chairman of the Championship Committee or such other person as he shall authorise to deputise for him in his absence. A quorum shall be three.

1.3 The decision of the Committee shall be final.

Section 2 - The Stipulated Round

2.1 The HGU Championship Committee shall decide the course at which a competition shall be played

2.2 Play shall where possible be from the Championship or Medal tees unless the HGU Championship Committee shall decide otherwise

2.3 A stipulated round may start at such hole or holes as the Committee shall decide.

Section 3 - Starting Times

3.1 The Committee reserves the right to fix and where necessary alter starting times.

3.2 Players are required to be at their starting point no later than ten minutes before their scheduled starting time to allow for any briefing by the Starter in stroke play or referee in match play.

3.3 If a player arrives at his starting point, ready to play, within five minutes after his starting time in the absence of circumstances that warrant waiving the penalty of disqualification as provided in Rule 33-7, the penalty for failure to start on time is loss of the first hole in match play or two strokes at the first hole in stroke play. The penalty for lateness beyond five minutes is disqualification.

3.4 Order of Play - For the stroke play competitions, as far as is practical, competitors shall be drawn to play in descending order of handicap in groups of three with no playing group comprising two competitors from the same club.

Section 4 - Practice

4.1 As a courtesy to green-keeping staff preparing the course, practise on the course on any day of a stroke play or a match play competition is prohibited except in areas designated for practice by the Local Rules. Players should take special note that areas which might normally be made available for practice by the club, may not be similarly available under the Local Rules for the competition (Rule 7-1 and the accompanying Note apply). The penalty for practising in breach of this Condition is disqualification.

Section 5 - Performance Enhancing Drugs

5.1 A player shall not knowingly make use of any drug to enhance his performance. Attention is drawn to the list of prohibited drugs issued by UK Sport. A player infringing this condition or, if asked to do so, refusing to take a test, may be disqualified. For a list of banned drugs see http://www.uksport.gov.uk/assets/File/2009_Prohibited_List_ENG_Final_20_Sept_08.pdf

Section 6 - Equipment

6.1 For all HGU Championships and Tournaments the Rules covering the use of Clubs, Balls and Tees are those described in the current Rules of Golf

6.2 The HGU permits the use of a distance-measuring device (see Section 12 below).

Section 7 - Caddies

7.1 Caddies are permitted in all competitions. However, certain restrictions may apply to those competitions where all the players are juniors, see Part III - Rules and Conditions Applying to Specific Competitions.

7.2 The penalty for a breach of a Condition restricting caddies shall be the same as that in Rule 6-4 for having more than one caddie.

Section 8 – Markers

8.1 A competitor’s scores shall be recorded by a fellow-competitor in the same playing group. Caddies may not act as markers.

8.2 A competitor may not act as marker to more than one fellow-competitor.

8.3 A marker must record the scores of only one fellow-competitor or side on a scorecard and his own check scores.

8.4 A competitor whose scores are recorded in breach of 8.1 or 8.2 of these Conditions may be disqualified.

Section 9 - Conduct

9.1 Players and their caddies must ensure that their dress does not breach the dress code of the host club. If shorts are worn then they must be tailored and they must be worn with predominantly white socks that are at least ankle length.

9.2 Players and their caddies are required to conduct themselves in accordance with the Rules of Etiquette. The Committee will not tolerate anti-social behaviour. The Committee may disqualify a player if it considers he has been in serious breach of the Rules of Etiquette or in the case of a breach by a caddie may require him to leave the course.

9.3 Any mobile telephone carried must be switched off and may not be used during play of the stipulated round other than to assist in responding to an emergency on the course or to contact the Committee. A player in breach of this Condition may be disqualified.

9.4 The use of any form of music player or media device during play is prohibited. A player in breach of this Condition may be disqualified.

Section 10 – Pace of Play Conditions

Out of consideration for opponents and fellow-competitors, players should always be ready to play when it is their turn and endeavour to keep pace with the group ahead. Detailed rules covering the control of pace of play can be found in Part IV – Pace of Play.

Section 11 - Transportation

11.1 Players and their caddies shall walk at all times during a stipulated round unless permission to ride had been granted by the Championship Committee prior to the start of the competition. The penalty for breach of this Condition is disqualification. Exception: A player may accept a ride offered by a member of the Committee when proceeding under Rule 20-5.

11.2 The Championship Committee will consider a request to ride from a player (but not from a caddie) who has a disability which prevents him walking the course provided the request is made in writing no later than the date the player applies to enter the competition and provided that the player meets the definition of disabled as set out in the Disability Discrimination Act 1995. Should permission be granted by the Championship Committee, the player will normally be restricted to using a single-seater ride-on golf cart.

11.3 Where the host club has two-seater golf carts for hire these are normally all reserved for use by Championship officials. If a player is permitted to ride under Condition 11.2 above and uses a two- seater golf cart, only the player his equipment and his caddie may be carried by the golf cart. If another player his equipment or caddie is carried by the golf cart the player will be in breach of Condition 11.1 above.

Section 12 – Distance Measuring Devices (DMD) (14-3)

12. For Competitions run by the HGU a player may obtain distance information by using a device that measures distance only. If, during a stipulated round a player uses a distance measuring device that is designed to gauge or measure other Conditions that might affect his play (e.g. gradient, wind speed, temperature etc.) the player is in breach of Rule 14-3, for which the penalty is disqualification, regardless of whether any such additional function is actually used.

Section 13 - Adverse Weather Conditions

13.1 In the event of adverse weather conditions or a dangerous situation arising during a stroke play competition, the senior member of the Championship Panel of Rules Officials present shall be responsible for any suspension and resumption of play.

13.2 If in the opinion of the Committee it becomes impossible to complete an event in accordance with the Conditions thereof because of adverse weather or playing conditions the Committee shall be empowered to vary such Conditions to the extent necessary to achieve a result.

Section 14 - Submission of Results

14.1 The Committee shall establish a manned Recorder’s Area to which all results shall be reported. Where necessary it shall provide adequate signage to assist players to return their results and score cards to that point.

14.2 Where a match has been accompanied by a Referee, he shall report the result direct to the Recorder. Otherwise both sides must report together to the Recorder’s Area immediately on completion of their match and report the result. Any outstanding claim should be resolved before the sides leave the Recorder’s Area.

14.3 In a stroke play competition, all competitors within a group must report to the Recorder’s Area together immediately on completion of the last hole. At the Recorder’s Area scorecards will be checked and signed. Competitors must report any play of a second ball under Rule 3-3 or any ball played from a wrong place under Rule 20-7 and settle any doubtful points. Once a competitor has left the Recorder’s Area, his scorecard is deemed to have been returned.

14.4 A competitor who fails to return his scorecard to the Recorder’s Area within twenty minutes of leaving the last putting green may be disqualified.

14.5 If the Recorder’s Area is not being manned by a member of the Championship Panel of Rules Officials where possible one should be summoned to resolve any matters relating to the Rules of Golf.

Section 15 - Resolution of Ties

Unless the Conditions of a particular competition state otherwise ties shall be resolved in the

following manner:

15.1 In match play if a match is all square after eighteen holes, additional holes shall be played until one side wins a hole. The play of additional holes shall start at the hole where the match started.

15.2 If there is a tie for winner of a scratch stroke play Championship, the competitors with the joint lowest scores shall play in a play-off over holes selected by the Committee in a stipulated order until one competitor scores less at a hole than his fellow-competitor(s).

15.3 The Committee shall determine the holes to be played in a stroke play play-off before commencement of play of the final round.

15.4 The groupings for a play-off and the order of play shall be decided by lot by the Committee.

15.5 If there is a tie for a place (second, third, etc) of a scratch stroke play event for which an award is to be made, the tie shall be resolved by the matching of score cards as described in Condition 15.7 below.

15.6 If there is a tie for the winner or places of a handicap stroke play event or award, the winner and places shall be determined by the matching of score cards as described in Condition 15.7 below.

15.7 In the matching of scorecards, where a competition is over more than one round, the competitor with the lowest score for the last round shall be the winner. If the tying competitors have the same scores for the last or only round, the winner shall be determined on the basis of the last 9 holes, then the last 6 then the last 3 and finally on the last hole. For a scratch event the gross scores shall be matched: for a handicap event the net scores shall be matched by deducting the appropriate portion of the competitor’s playing handicap, without rounding, from his total gross score for the holes being matched. For example, when matching the last nine holes, half of the competitor’s handicap is deducted, if matching the last six holes, one-third of the competitor’s handicap is deducted, and so on. In a multiple tee start, the last nine holes shall be deemed to be holes 10-18 and the last six holes, holes 13-18 irrespective of the hole at which a competitor started.

15.8 If the method described in Condition 15.7 above does not decide a winner or a place then the result will be decided on the last 6, 3 or 1 holes of the first 9 holes of the last or only round

15.9 If the method described in Condition 15.8 above does not decide a winner or a place then joint winners or places shall be announced and each competitor rewarded in equal measure.

Section 16 – The Closure of Competition

16.1 For the purposes of Rule 2-5 a match is deemed to have been officially announced once the result of the match has been recorded on an open results sheet and that sheet has been publicly displayed, or the winner has teed off at the start of the next round, or at the commencement of a presentation ceremony, whichever occurs first. Where matches are played individually at various courses, a match is deemed to have been officially announced once the result of the match has been communicated or despatched to the County Secretary.

16.2 For the purposes of Rule 34-1b a stroke play competition is deemed to be closed at the commencement of a presentation ceremony or, for a stroke play qualifying round followed by match play, when the player has teed off in his first match.

Section 17 – Prizes

17.1 The Championship Committee and the Secretary will decide the values of prizes in all competitions.

Pace of Play

The maximum time allotted for the completion of 18 holes by a group of three competitors playing stroke play will vary from course to course but is normally between 3 hours 40 minutes and 4 hours 15 minutes. Referees and Rules Official, if present, will be able to advise the exact time for the round.

a. The first match or group will be considered “out of position” if, at any time during the round, the match or group’s cumulative time exceeds the time allowed for the number of holes played. A following match or group will be considered “out of position” if (a) it is taking more time than the time allowed and (b) it reaches the teeing ground of a par 3 hole and the preceding match or group has cleared the next teeing ground, it fails to clear the teeing ground of a par 4 hole before the preceding match or group clears the putting green or it fails to arrive at the teeing ground of a par 5 hole before the preceding match or group reaches the putting green. Both (a) and (b) must apply for a group to be “out of position”.

b. When present, Referees walking with matches and Rules Officials on the course will be responsible for monitoring the pace of play. A match or group “out of position” will first be advised informally and must endeavour to make up the lost ground over the next two holes.

c. If a Rules Official or Referee is concerned that a group is not responding and remains out of position, by agreement with the Chief Rules Official and taking into account any difficulties the match or group has had, a first formal warning may be given to the match or group.

d. A group or match having received a first formal warning will be monitored and their play timed to determine the cause and which players appear to be responsible for the slowness in pace.

e. A second formal warning may then be given to the players requiring them thereafter to play within a maximum time per shot of 40 seconds with an extra 10 seconds for the first player to play from the teeing ground of a par 3 hole; the second shot on par 4s and par 5s and from on or near the putting green of any hole. The timing will start when a player has reached his ball, has had a few seconds to select his club and is able to play without interference. On the putting green some allowance will be made for the repair of ball marks and the removal of loose impediments.

f. Timing will cease when the match or group is back in position.

g. In match play, after the second formal warning a player who exceeds the maximum time allowed for any stroke will receive a final third warning. If he exceeds the maximum time again he shall incur a penalty of loss of hole and shall be disqualified under Rule 6-7 for any further breach of these pace of play conditions.

In stroke play, after the second formal warning a competitor who exceeds the maximum time allowed for any stroke will receive a final third warning. If he exceeds the maximum time again he shall incur a penalty of one stroke; a further two stroke penalty for a subsequent breach and shall be disqualified under Rule 6-7 for any further breach of these pace of play conditions.

Parents and Spectators - Code of Conduct

During competitions parents should not get at all involved with their child or with his game or his playing partner(s) or their game(s) including giving any rulings.

(If they wish to spectate then it is recommended that they walk ahead of the game and act as “ball spotters” for all players.)

a. Stay at least 25 metres from players at all times during play, and do not encroach onto tees or greens. This guideline may be dispensed with when helping to search for a ball or handing over refreshments but they must be mindful of any discussions with players.

b. Do not converse with players at any time whilst the play is in progress – applause and gentle encouragement are fine though.

c. Show equal respect and appreciation for good shots to all players.

d. Do not make any contact (other than the usual pleasantries) with any of your son’s playing partners either before or during the game.

e. Ensure all players including your child are given some ‘space’ before tee-off to compose their thoughts.