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Terms of Competition 2024

 

TERMS OF COMPETITON

FOR MIDDLESEX GOLF COMPETITIONS

These Terms of Competition are effective from 1st January 2024

Contents

Part I – General Terms Applying to All Competitions. 4

Section 1 – General 4

Section 2 – Entry Qualifications. 4

Section 3 – Entry Requirements. 4

Section 4 – Competitor Information. 5

Section 5 – Ballots. 5

Section 6 – Withdrawn Entries. 6

Section 7 – Prizes and Presentations. 6

Part II – Terms Applying to all Competitions. 7

Section 1 – The Committee. 7

Section 2 – The Stipulated Round. 7

Section 3 – Starting Times. 7

Section 4 – Practice. 7

Section 5 – Performance Enhancing Drugs. 7

Section 6 – Equipment 7

Section 7 – Caddies. 8

Section 8 – Team Captains, Team Managers and Advice Givers. 8

Section 9 – Markers (Stroke Play) 8

Section 10 – Conduct 8

Section 11 – Pace of Play. 9

Section 12 – Transportation. 9

Section 13 – Adverse Weather 9

Section 14 – Submission of Results. 10

Section 15 – Resolution of Ties. 10

Section 16 – The Closure of Competition. 11

Section 17 – Modifications for Players with Disabilities. 11

Part III – Terms and Conditions Applying to Specific Competitions. 12

County Championships. 12

Section 1 – MIDDLESEX GOLF Junior Champion Club. 12

Section 2 – MIDDLESEX GOLF Under 14s’ & Under 13s’ Championships. 14

Section 3 – MIDDLESEX GOLF Under 16s’ Championship. 15

Section 4 – MIDDLESEX GOLF Eamonn Kneafsey Championships (U35, U26, & U21s) 16

Section 5 – MIDDLESEX GOLF SCHOOL’S Individual Championship. 17

Section 6 – MIDDLESEX GOLF SCHOOL’S Team Championship. 18

Section 7 – MIDDLESEX GOLF Friern League. 19

Section 8 – MIDDLESEX GOLF Jim Robert’s Cup. 21

Section 9 – MIDDLESEX GOLF MEN’S County Championship. 22

Section 10 – MIDDLESEX GOLF MEN’S Team Stroke Play Championship (Champion Club) 24

Section 11 – MIDDLESEX GOLF WOMEN’S County Championship. 25

Section 12 – MIDDLESEX GOLF Mid-Amateur Championship. 27

Section 13 – MIDDLESEX GOLF Mid-Amateur Team Stroke Play Championship. 28

Section 14 – MIDDLESEX GOLF MEN’S Seniors’ Championship. 29

Section 15 – MIDDLESEX GOLF MEN’S Seniors’ Team Stroke Play Championship. 30

Section 16 – MIDDLESEX GOLF WOMEN’S Seniors’ Championship. 31

Section 17 – MIDDLESEX GOLF Handicap Championship. 32

Section 18 – MIDDLESEX GOLF Handicap Team Championship. 33

Section 19 – MIDDLESEX GOLF Mixed Open Championship. 34

Section 20 – MIDDLESEX GOLF MEN’S Coronation Challenge Bowl 35

Section 21 – MIDDLESEX GOLF WOMEN’S Laidlay Shield. 36

Section 22 – MIDDLESEX GOLF Three Club Challenge. 37

Section 23 – MIDDLESEX GOLF Under 18’S Championship. 38

County Knockouts and Match Play Tournaments. 39

Section 24 – MIDDLESEX GOLF MEN’S Singles Match Play Championship (George Gowland Salver) 39

Section 25 – MIDDLESEX GOLF WOMEN’S Singles Match Play Tournament 40

Section 26 – MIDDLESEX GOLF MEN’S Seniors’ Match Play Championship. 42

Section 27 – MIDDLESEX GOLF MEN’S Club Team Match Play Championship (The Frank Rowse Trophy) 43

Section 28 – MIDDLESEX GOLF WOMEN’S Interclub Scratch Trophy (5-a-side) 45

Section 29 – MIDDLESEX GOLF MEN’S Sixes. 47

Section 30 – MIDDLESEX GOLF MEN’S President’s Foursomes. 49

Section 31 – MIDDLESEX GOLF WOMEN’S Foursomes Knockout Tournament 51

Section 32 – MIDDLESEX GOLF MIXED Winter Match Play Championship. 53

Section 33 – MIDDLESEX GOLF Fourball Better-ball Handicap Knockout 55

County Meets. 57

Section 34 – MIDDLESEX GOLF WOMEN’S Spring Meeting. 57

Section 35 – MIDDLESEX GOLF MEN’S Spring Meeting. 58

Section 36 – MIDDLESEX GOLF WOMEN’S Seniors’ Summer Meeting. 59

Section 37 – MIDDLESEX GOLF WOMEN’S Autumn Meeting. 60

Section 38 – MIDDLESEX GOLF MEN’S Autumn Meeting. 61

County Awards and Merits. 62

Section 39 – MIDDLESEX GOLF MEN’S Order of Merit 62

Section 40 – MIDDLESEX GOLF Junior Order of Merit 63

Section 41 – MIDDLESEX GOLF WOMEN’S Most Reduced Handicap (Mackenzie Salver) 64

Section 42 – MIDDLESEX GOLF JUNIOR BOY’S Most Improved Junior Golfer of the Year 65

Section 43 – MIDDLESEX GOLF JUNIOR GIRLS’ Most Reduced Handicap (Rita Evans Salver) 66

 

Part I – General Terms Applying to All Competitions

Section 1 – General

1.1      These general terms apply to the all Middlesex Golf (MIDDLESEX GOLF) competitions.

1.2      The Rules, Committee Procedures and Interpretations referenced in these MIDDLESEX GOLF Terms Conditions of Competitions are those to be found in the current Rules of Golf and in the Official Guide to the Rules of Golf published by R&A Rules Limited.

1.3      All competitions will be played in accordance with the current Rules of Golf and of Amateur Status as laid down by R&A Rules Limited, England Golf’s Championship and Matches Local Rules (Hard Card) and any Local Rules approved by the MIDDLESEX GOLF Tournament Committee.  In the event that the England Golf Hard Card is in conflict with these Terms of Competition, then these Terms of Competitions shall take preference. 

1.4      Unless otherwise indicated, all competitions are played off scratch and the winners are those with the lowest gross scores.

1.5      Handicap allowances in accordance with the current CONGU® guidance on the World Handicapping System as applied withing GB&I will apply to any competition or prizes based on nett scores.

1.6      All stroke play competitions will be qualifying for handicap purposes and the terms and conditions of the current CONGU® guidance on the World Handicapping System as applied withing GB&I will apply.

Section 2 – Entry Qualifications

2.1      Entrants must be Amateur Golfers, as defined by R&A Rules Limited, from the date of applying to enter until the closure of the competition.

2.2      From the date of entry until the closure of the competition, entrants must hold a World Handicap System Handicap.

  1. i) Any reference to “HANDICAP” elsewhere in this document means a World Handicap System HANDICAP INDEX.

Entrants must also:

  1. ii) Be a member of a golf club affiliated to MIDDLESEX GOLF and which is their Home Club for handicap purposes; and

iii)     Must not have represented another county within the same calendar year.

2.3      A player may not represent more than one club in any one calendar year.

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

2.5      Breach of any of the above in team match play competition will result in the team being disqualified. Also refers to 3.3 below.

2.6      All entries shall be subject to the approval of the Championship Committee, which reserves the right to accept, refuse, or cancel an entry without giving reason for its decision. The Committee’s decision shall be final. Where required, any entry fee will be refunded.

Section 3 – Entry Requirements

3.1      Applications must be submitted through Golf Genius, MIDDLESEX GOLF’S event registration  portal, and provide all the information requested. Applications other than those for team competitions must be signed by the entrant. All applications for team competitions when representing a club must be countersigned by the Secretary of the entrants’ golf club or by an officer of the club that has been approved by the County Secretary, or the Competition Organiser where appropriate for that competition. Applications should be accompanied by the appropriate entry fee unless a special arrangement has been agreed with the County Secretary to accept payment by electronic transfer or by invoice.

3.2      Applications for team competitions must be submitted by the Secretary of the entrants’ golf club to the County Secretary on an official entry form unless a special arrangement has been agreed with the County Secretary to accept an entry by facsimile or electronic mail.

3.3      If an entrant belongs to more than one golf club their entry must be submitted through the club that is affiliated to MIDDLESEX GOLF and which is their Home Club for handicap purposes. Refer to 2.5 above.

3.4      Applications must be received by the County Secretary of MIDDLESEX GOLF, or the Competition Organiser where appropriate for that competition, by 12 noon on the specified closing date for entries. Incomplete entries and entries received after the closing date will not be accepted. In the event of a competition being under-subscribed the County Secretary, or the Competition Organiser where appropriate for that competition, may at their sole discretion extend the closing date to accommodate an incomplete or late entry.

3.5      In the event of a competition being over-subscribed entrants with the highest exact handicaps will be balloted out.

3.6      Entries are subject to the approval of the Tournament Committee.

3.7      A player is considered to be representing the Middlesex golf club through which their entry is submitted.

3.8      All Clubs with participating entrants in match play competitions where it is specified that rounds be played on neutral courses must make their courses available to host matches. The Tournament Committee will select neutral courses for these matches.

Section 4 – Competitor Information

4.1      A competitor is required to provide the County Secretary, or the Competition Organiser where appropriate for that competition, with:

  1. i) The competitor’s full name, email address, home address and telephone number;
  2. ii) A telephone number at which the competitor can be contacted on the morning of the start of the competition;

iii)     The competitor’s date of birth (if under the age of eighteen years on the day of the start of the competition or if the terms of the competition impose an age limit);

  1. iv) The competitor’s exact handicap at the time of entry and their Central Database of Handicaps (CDH) number;
  2. v) The name and address of the competitor’s next of kin, together with an appropriate telephone number at which the person can be contacted in the event of an emergency during the period of the competition;
  3. vi) Any medical condition of which it would be prudent to advise the Tournament Committee; and

vii)    Such other information as the Tournament Committee may require.

4.2      On the day of a competition, players should take special care to report their current handicap, particularly if it may have changed as a result of a competition played only a short time before the MIDDLESEX GOLF competition.

4.3      MIDDLESEX GOLF reserves the right to hold information supplied by a player, or by their club on their behalf, on any media for the purpose of assisting in the administration of the competition and MIDDLESEX GOLF.

Section 5 – Ballots

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

  1. i) If the competitor who last won the competition has submitted an approved entry, they will have an automatic place.
  2. ii) All remaining places will be filled by balloting out those entrants with the highest exact handicaps. Where more than one entrant has the same exact handicap, places will be decided by lot.

iii)     An appropriate number of those entrants balloted out will 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 MIDDLESEX GOLF in writing. Entry fees will be refunded only if notification in writing is received before the closing date for entries.

6.2      No entry fees will be refunded after the closing date once the starting times have been published on the MIDDLESEX GOLF website. Entry fees will only be refunded to those entrants who have been balloted out of the competition and 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 MIDDLESEX GOLF as soon as possible and must confirm the withdrawal in writing within three working days stating the reason for withdrawal.

6.4      The Tournament Committee may exclude from entry to a future competition any competitor who has been allotted a place in a MIDDLESEX GOLF competition but who:

  1. i) fails to meet the requirements of 6.3 above; or
  2. ii) withdraws less than three working days before the start of the said competition; or

iii)     withdraws at any time during a stroke play competition; or

  1. iv) fails to show at the tee for their scheduled start for any round of a stroke play competition.

Section 7 – Prizes and Presentations

7.1      In all competitions the values of prizes or vouchers presented in lieu of prizes will be decided by the Tournament Committee taking into account the income from entry fees.

7.2      In accordance with the Rules of Amateur Status, where prizes take the form of vouchers these may only be exchanged for goods or services. A voucher, or any residual balance after the purchase of goods or services, may not be redeemed for cash.

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

7.4      Competitors are requested to remain at the venue for the announcement of results and the presentations.

7.5      The Tournament Committee reserves the right not to make a presentation of a material prize to a competitor who is not present to receive it after the conclusion of the competition.

 

Part II – Terms Applying to all Competitions

Section 1 – The Committee

1.1      On any day of a competition, the Committee in charge of the competition will be the MIDDLESEX GOLF Tournament Committee or a representative number of the Tournament Committee, together with members of the MIDDLESEX GOLF Tournament Panel of Rules Officials, Starters, Recorders and other persons so authorised by the Tournament Committee. The Chairman of the Committee in charge of the competition will be the Chairman of the Tournament Committee or such other person authorised to deputise in his or her absence.

1.2      In respect of Rule 20 of the Rules of Golf and any other Rule requiring the Committee in charge of the competition to act as a whole, a quorum will be three. The decision of the Committee is final.

Section 2 – The Stipulated Round

2.1      The MIDDLESEX GOLF Tournament Committee will decide the course at which a competition is to be played.

2.2      Play will normally be from ‘White’ or ‘Red’ tee markers where appropriate unless the MIDDLESEX GOLF Tournament Committee decides otherwise.

2.3      A stipulated round may start at any hole or holes agreed by the Committee.

Section 3 – Starting Times

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

3.2      Players are requested to be at their starting tee ten minutes before their scheduled starting time.

3.3      A competitor in stroke play arriving at their starting tee after their scheduled start time may be subject to penalty under Rule 5.3a of the Rules of Golf. The Chairman of the Tournament Committee or the Chief Rules Official will normally deal with possible breaches of Rule 5.3a. A competitor who has been advised that they arrived at their starting tee after their appointed start time should ensure a ruling is obtained from the Chairman of the Tournament Committee or the Chief Rules Official before they return their scorecard.

Section 4 – Practice

4.1      Practice on the course on the day of a stroke play competition is prohibited. Exception: All recognised practice areas within the bounds of the course may be used by players for practice on any day of the competition. The penalty for a breach of this Term will be that as stated in Rule 5.2 of the Rules of Golf.

Section 5 – Performance Enhancing Drugs

5.1      A player must not knowingly make use of any drug to enhance their performance. MIDDLESEX GOLF follows the UK-Anti Doping Rules adopted by England Golf. A player infringing this Term may be disqualified.

 

Section 6 – Equipment

6.1      The Committee reserves the right to prohibit the use of an item of equipment that it believes may not conform to the terms laid out in Rule 4 of the Rules of Golf.

Section 7 – Caddies

7.1      Caddies are permitted in all competitions. However, certain restrictions may apply to those competitions where some or all of the players are restricted by age, see Part III – Rules and Terms Applying to Specific Competitions.

7.2      The penalty for a breach of a Term restricting caddies will be the same as that in Rule 10.3a(2) of the Rules of Golf for having more than one caddie.

Section 8 – Team Captains, Team Managers and Advice Givers

8.1      Team Managers, Team Captains and others closely connected with a team may offer advice to a player only if they have been identified as the “Advice Giver” for that team in accordance with Rule 24.4 of the Rules of Golf. The Advice Giver:

  1. i) Must be identified to the Committee before giving advice;
  2. ii) Must be an amateur golfer; and

iii)     Must give advice in person, rather than by radio, telephone or other electronic means.

8.2      If advice is given by someone other than the nominated Advice Giver (including a Team Manager or Team Captain if they have not been identified as the Advice Giver), Rule 10.2 of the Rules of Golf will apply.

Section 9 – Markers (Stroke Play)

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

9.2      Competitors within a playing group should exchange scorecards at the first teeing ground. A competitor may not act as marker to more than one fellow-competitor.

9.3      A marker should record the score of only one fellow-competitor or side on a scorecard (in addition to their own score).

9.4      A competitor whose scores are recorded in breach of 9.1 or 9.2 of these Terms will be disqualified.

Section 10 – Conduct

10.1    Players and their caddies must dress appropriately for the course and conditions and ensure that their dress does not breach the dress code of the host club. The Committee reserves the right to disqualify a player if they or their caddie is dressed in a manner that may cause offence to the host club.

10.2    Players and their caddies are required to conduct themselves in accordance with the England Golf Code of Conduct Policy which is in operation. The Committee may disqualify a player if it considers they have been in serious breach of the Standards of Player Conduct, or in the case of a breach by a caddie, may require the caddie to leave the course.  In very serious cases of the breach of the above policy, the Committee reserves the right to carry out further actions through a disciplinary panel that could affect the player(s) entry into future competitions. 

10.3    A player should take appropriate measures to ensure that any mobile telephone they carry during a stipulated round does not distract other players and that it is used with discretion. If the Committee considers that, as a result of not adhering to this Term, the player has been in serious breach of the Standards of Player Conduct it reserves the right under Rule 20 of the Rules of Golf to disqualify the player or in the case of a breach by their caddie to require the caddie to leave the course.

10.4    Players should note the allowed and prohibited use of audio and video equipment as stated in Rule 4.3a(4) of the Rules of Golf

Section 11 – Pace of Play

11.1    A round of golf is meant to be played at a prompt pace in accordance with Rule 5.6 of the Rules of Golf. The Committee Reserves the right to apply England Golf’s Pace of Play Policy to any MIDDLESEX GOLF stroke play or match play competition.

Section 12 – Transportation

12.1    Players and their caddies may not ride on any form of transportation during a stipulated round unless authorised by the Tournament Committee prior to the start of the competition. 

Exception: When proceeding under Rule 14.6 of the Rules of Golf a player may accept a ride offered by a Rules Official officiating at the competition.

12.2    If a player has a disability that prevents them walking the course, the Tournament Committee will consider a request to use a golf cart during a stipulated round, 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 criteria set out in the Equality Act 2010.

12.3    Where the host club has two-seater golf carts for hire these are normally all reserved for use by tournament officials. If a player is permitted to ride under Term 12.2 above and uses a two-seater golf cart, only the player, their equipment and their caddie may be carried by the golf cart. If another player, their equipment or caddie is carried by the golf cart that player will be in breach of Term 12.1 above.

12.4    Penalty for a breach of this Term:

Match play – At the conclusion of the hole at which the breach is discovered, the state of the match is adjusted by deducting one hole for each hole at which a breach occurred; maximum deduction per round – Two holes.

Stroke play – Two strokes for each hole at which any breach occurred; maximum penalty per round – Four strokes.

Match or stroke play – In the event of a breach between the play of two holes, the penalty applies to the next hole. Use of any unauthorised form of transportation must be discontinued immediately upon discovery that a breach has occurred. Otherwise, the player is disqualified.

Section 13 – Adverse Weather

  • 1 In the event of adverse weather or a dangerous situation arising during a stroke play competition, the senior member of the Tournament Panel of Rules Officials present will be responsible for any suspension and resumption of play. That person will be responsible for the overall safety of competitors on the course and be the judge as to when a dangerous situation exists.
  • 2 It is in the interests of all players and their caddies to familiarise themselves with the procedures for the suspension and resumption of play published with the Local Rules for the event and which are in line with the recommendations in Model Local Rule J-1
  • Discontinue Play Immediately: One prolonged blast on an air horn.
  • Discontinue Play: Three consecutive blasts on an air horn, repeated.
  • Resume Play: Two short blasts on an air horn, repeated.

The penalty for breach of these procedures is disqualification.

13.3    If in the opinion of the Committee it becomes impossible to complete an event due to adverse weather or playing conditions, the Committee has the authority to vary the Terms of the Competition to the extent necessary to enable the competition to be concluded. 

            Note: The Committee will base their decisions on the advice laid out in Committee Procedures, Section Committee Procedures, Section 5A(8) and 6E(4) in the Official Guide to the Rules of Golf.

 

Section 14 – Submission of Results

14.1    For stroke play competitions the Committee will establish a manned Scorecard Return Point accessible from the course to which all scores must be reported. 

14.2    In a stroke play competition, all competitors within a group must report, as a group, to the Scorecard Return Point immediately on completion of the last hole. At the Scorecard Return Point scorecards will be checked and signed. Competitors must report any instances where a second ball was played under Rule 20.1c(3) of the Rules of Golf or any ball played from a wrong place under Rule 14.7 of the Rules of Golf. Players should also raise any issues that may require clarification before leaving the Scorecard Return Point. Once a competitor has left the Scorecard Return Point, their scorecard is considered to have been returned. 

14.3    A competitor who fails to return their scorecard to the Scorecard Return Point within ten minutes of leaving the last putting green will be disqualified.

14.4    If the Scorecard Return Point is not being manned by a member of the Tournament Panel of Rules Officials, where possible one should be summoned to resolve any matters relating to the Rules of Golf.

14.5    Where a match has been accompanied by a Referee, they will report the result direct to the Recorder. Otherwise both sides must report together to the Recorder immediately on completion of their match and report the result. Any outstanding claim should be resolved with the Committee before the result is reported.

Section 15 – Resolution of Ties

Unless the Terms of a particular competition state otherwise, ties will be resolved in the following manner:

15.1    In handicap match play competitions, if a match is all square after eighteen holes additional holes will be played until one side wins a hole. The play of additional holes will start at the 1st tee and handicap strokes will be allowed as in the prescribed round (see Rule 3.2a(4), Rule 5.1 of the Rules of Golf and Committee Procedures, Section 5A(6) of the Official Guide to the Rules of Golf). In scratch match play competitions, extra holes to resolve a tie will start at the hole where the match started.

15.2    If there is a tie for winner of a scratch stroke play event, the competitors with the joint lowest scores will play in a hole-by-hole play-off over holes selected by the Committee in a stipulated order until one competitor scores less at a hole than their fellow-competitor(s) (see Committee Procedures, Section 5A(6) of the Official Guide to the Rules of Golf). Play must be to the Rules as they apply to stroke play and competitors must hole out to remain in contention. The Committee will not require the completion of a scorecard during a play-off.

15.3    The Committee will 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 will 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 will be resolved by the reverse order in which the competitors lost in a play-off to determine the winner. If this does not resolve the tie or if the competitors were not in a play-off, the tie will be resolved by the matching of scorecards as described in Term 15.8 below.

15.6    If course conditions, weather conditions or any other circumstances make it impossible to play or complete the play of a scratch stroke play event play-off, the tie will be resolved by the matching of scorecards as described in Term 15.8 below.

15.7    If there is a tie for the winner or places of a handicap stroke play event or award, the winner will be determined by the matching of scorecards as described in Term 15.8 below.

15.8    In the matching of scorecards, where a competition is over more than one round, the competitor with the lowest score for the last round will be considered to be the winner. If competitors have the same scores for the last or only round, the winner will be determined on the basis of the last nine holes, then the last six then the last three and finally on the last hole.

  • For a handicap event where the stroke allocation is not used the nett scores will be matched by deducting the appropriate portion of the competitor’s Playing Handicap, without rounding, from their 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 (see Committee Procedures, Section 5A(6) of the Official Guide to the Rules of Golf).
  • For a handicap event where the stroke allocation is used. such as stableford, the points scored on the last nine holes will be matched, if the same, the points scored on the last six holes will be matched and so on (see Committee Procedures, Section 5A(6) of the Official Guide to the Rules of Golf).
  • For the avoidance of doubt, in a multiple tee start, the last nine holes will be holes 10-18 and the last six holes will be holes 13-18 irrespective of the hole at which a competitor started.

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

Section 16 – The Closure of Competition

16.1    For the purposes of Rule 20.1b(3) of the Rules of Golf the result of a match is deemed to have been officially announced once it has been made public by the County Secretary or a member of the MIDDLESEX GOLF Tournament Committee acting on his or her behalf.

16.2    For the purposes of Rule 20.2e(2) of the Rules of Golf, 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 their first match.

Section 17 – Modifications for Players with Disabilities

17.1    In respect of Rule 25 of the Rules of Golf, MIDDLESEX GOLF will follow England Golf’s guidance for determining player eligibility in all MIDDLESEX GOLF competitions. 

17.2    Any player who considers themselves eligible for Rule 25 must apply to the County Secretary no less than 4 weeks prior to the closing date of the competition as set out in Part I – General Rules Applying to All Competitions, Section 3.

 

Part III – Terms and Conditions Applying to Specific Competitions

County Championships

Section 1 – MIDDLESEX GOLF Junior Champion Club

1.1    Qualifications

  1. i) Each golf club affiliated to MIDDLESEX GOLF may enter one or more teams of two or three competitors (male, female or mixed).
  2. ii) Entrants must be under the age of 18 at 00:00 hours on 1st January preceding the Championship.

iii)      On the date that their entry for the Championship is submitted, competitors must hold a handicap of 36.4 or lower. Players with handicaps greater than the limit may not enter.

1.2    Maximum Entry

Each affiliated club has the right to enter at least one team. There is no maximum number of teams that a club can enter. However;

  1. i) There will be a maximum of 72 players. If more than 72 players enter AND each club entered is only represented with one team, the competitors will be based on a first come first serve basis.
  2. ii) If the maximum of 72 players is exceeded and a club(s) have multiple teams entered, the club(s) with the most teams entered must withdraw a team(s) of their choice.

1.3 Format

  1. i) The Championship is an 18-hole stableford competition, played off handicap allowance. The team’s score will comprise of the two best scores of the three competitors over the 18 holes.
  2. ii) Players are free to choose the set of tees they play from but they must play from a set of tees that have been rated for their gender.

iii)      Players may employ a caddie, but the caddie must be under the age of 18 on the day of the Championship.

  1. iv) The Committee reserves the right to prevent a person from being employed or continuing to be employed as a caddie if the competitor is unable to verify that the caddie meets the term above by providing verification from the Secretary of the competitor’s golf club or other evidence acceptable to the Committee.

1.4    Order of Play

As far as is practical, competitors will be drawn to play in descending order of handicap in groups of three with no playing group comprising two competitors from the same club.

1.5    Prizes and Vouchers

  1. i) The winning team will be the one with the highest aggregate stableford score over the 18 holes, with the best two of the three scores counting.
  2. ii) The winning team will receive the trophy and will also receive a memento to retain.

iii)      If there is a tie, the team’s third score will count and the tie will be decided on the aggregate total of all three scores over the 18 holes (if a team has no third score to add to the aggregate, then that team will default to losing the tie). If a tie still exists, the winner will be decided on the aggregate total over the last 9, 6, 3 or 1 hole (all three scores will count). If a tie still exists, the winner will be decided on the aggregate total over the first 9, 6, 3 or 1 hole (all three scores will count).

  1. iv) The winning team will be expected to accept the invitation of England Golf to play in the Junior Champion Club Tournament normally held in August of the same year. However, if at any time during that same year a member(s) of the winning team ceases to be a member of a golf club affiliated to MIDDLESEX GOLF, and therefore does not have a club affiliated to MIDDLESEX GOLF as their Home Club for handicap purposes, the invitation will be withdrawn and offered instead to a person nominated by the winning club and that fully meets the tournament requirements.

          This condition is subject to change depending on the T&Cs of the England Golf Junior Champion Club Tournament.

 

Section 2 – MIDDLESEX GOLF Under 14s’ & Under 13s’ Championships

2.1    Qualifications

  1. i) Entrants can be male and female under the age specified (14 or 13) at 00:00 hours on 1st January preceding the Championship.
  2. ii) There is no handicap limit.

2.2    Maximum Entry

The maximum number of competitors is 36 when the competition is to be played over a 9-hole course, otherwise the maximum is 72. If the number of approved entries exceeds the number of places available, Part I – General Rules Applying to All Competitions, Section 5 will apply.

2.3    Format

  1. i) The Championship will be a Maximum Score play event, as set out in Rule 21.2 of the Rules of Golf, played over 18 holes, or a 9-hole course when possible. The maximum number of strokes on any hole is a gross triple bogey, i.e. 6 on a par 3, 7 on a par 4 and 8 on a par 5.
  2. ii) Players must not have a caddie during the round.

2.4    Order of Play

As far as is practical, competitors will be drawn to play in descending order of handicap in groups of three with no playing group comprising two competitors from the same club.

2.5    Prizes and Vouchers

  1. i) Prizes will be awarded within the following three age categories: competitors aged under 14; competitors aged under 13 and competitors aged under 10. The categories will be based on competitors’ ages on 1st January preceding the Championship.
  2. ii) A competitor can win more than one trophy but may not receive more than one prize.

iii)      The winner of the under 14 category will be the competitor with the lowest gross score for the round. The player will receive the trophy for the category and the player will also receive a memento to retain.

  1. iv) The winner of the under 13 category will be the competitor aged under 13 with the lowest gross score for the round. The player will receive the trophy for the category and the player will also receive a memento to retain.
  2. v) The winner of the under 10 category will be the competitor aged under 10 with the lowest gross score for the round. The player will receive a memento to retain.
  3. vi) The competitor in each age category with the lowest nett score will receive a memento to retain.

vii)     Other prizes may be awarded at the discretion of the Tournament Committee.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Section 3 – MIDDLESEX GOLF Under 16s’ Championship

3.1    Qualifications

  1. i) Entrants can be male or female and must be under the age of 16 at 00:00 hours on 1st January preceding the Championship.
  2. ii) On the date that their entry for the Championship is submitted, they must hold a handicap of 28.4 or lower for boys and 36.4 or lower for girls. Players with handicaps greater than the limit may not enter.

3.2    Maximum Entry

The maximum number of competitors is 72. If the number of approved entries exceeds the number of places available, competitors nominated to represent their Club in the MIDDLESEX GOLF Junior Champion Club Tournament will have automatic places. In all other respects, Part I – General Rules Applying to All Competitions, Section 5 will apply.

3.3    Format

  1. i) The Championship will be a stroke play event, played over 18 holes.
  2. ii) Players must not have a caddie during the round.

3.4    Order of Play

As far as is practical, competitors will be drawn to play in descending order of handicap in groups of three with no playing group comprising two competitors from the same club.

3.5    Prizes and Vouchers

  1. i) The winner will be the competitor with the lowest gross score for the 18 holes will receive the trophy and will also receive a memento to retain.
  2. ii) The competitor with the lowest nett score for the 18 holes will receive a memento to retain.

iii)      A competitor can win more than one trophy, but may not receive more than one prize

  1. iv) Other prizes may be awarded at the discretion of the Tournament Committee.

 

Section 4 – MIDDLESEX GOLF Eamonn Kneafsey Championships (U35, U26, & U21s)

4.1    Qualifications

  1. i) Entrants can be male or female and must be aged under 35, under 26 and under 21 at 00:00 hours on 1st January preceding the Championship.
  2. ii) On the date that their entry for the Championship is submitted, they must hold a handicap of 10.4 (under 35) and 14.4 (under 26 and under 21) or lower. Players with handicaps greater than the limit may not enter.

4.2    Maximum Entry

The maximum number of competitors is 72. If the number of approved entries exceeds the number of places available, competitors nominated to represent their Club in the MIDDLESEX GOLF Junior Champion Club Tournament will have automatic places. In all other respects, Part I – General Rules Applying to All Competitions, Section 5 will apply.

4.3    Format

  1. i) The Championship will be a stroke play event, played over 36 holes.
  2. ii) Players may employ a caddie, but the caddie for a competitor who is under 18 must be under the age of 18 on the day of the Championship.

iii)      The Committee reserves the right to prevent a person from being employed or continuing to be employed as a caddie if the competitor is unable to verify that the caddie meets the term above by providing verification from the Secretary of the competitor’s golf club or other evidence acceptable to the Committee.

4.4    Order of Play

As far as is practical, competitors will be drawn to play in descending order of handicap in groups of three with no playing group comprising two competitors from the same club.

4.5    Prizes and Vouchers

  1. i) Prizes will be awarded within each of three age categories: competitors aged under 35; competitors aged under 26 and competitors aged under 21. The categories will be based on competitors’ ages on 1st January preceding the Championship. 
  2. ii) A competitor can win more than one trophy but may not receive more than one prize.

iii)      The winner of the under 35 category will be the competitor with the lowest aggregate gross score for the 36 holes and will receive the trophy for the category and the player will also receive a memento to retain.

  1. iv) The winner of the under 26 category will be the competitor aged under 26 with the lowest aggregate gross score for the 36 holes. The player will also receive the trophy for the category and the player will also receive a memento to retain.
  2. v) The winner of the under 21 category will be the competitor aged under 21 with the lowest aggregate gross score for the 36 holes. The player will also receive the trophy for the category and the player will also receive a memento to retain
  3. vi) The competitor with the lowest aggregate nett score for the 36 holes will each receive a memento to retain.

vii)     Other prizes may be awarded at the discretion of the Tournament Committee.

 

Section 5 – MIDDLESEX GOLF SCHOOL’S Individual Championship

5.1    Qualifications

  1. i) Entrants can be male and female must be under the age of 18 at 00:00 hours on 1st January preceding the Championship.
  2. ii) On the date that their entry for the Championship is submitted, they must hold a handicap of 40.4 or lower. Players with handicaps greater than the limit may not enter.

iii)      Entrants must be currently enrolled in education within the County of Middlesex.

  1. iv) Entrants are not required to be a member of a club affiliated to MIDDLESEX GOLF.

5.2    Maximum Entry

The maximum number of competitors is 72. If the number of approved entries exceeds the number of places available, Part I – General Rules Applying to All Competitions, Section 5 will apply.

5.3    Format

  1. i) The Championship will be a stroke play event played over 18 holes.
  2. ii) Players may employ a caddie, but the caddie must be under the age of 18 on the day of the Championship.

iii)      The Committee reserves the right to prevent a person from being employed or continuing to be employed as a caddie if the competitor is unable to verify that the caddie meets the term above by providing verification from the Secretary of the competitor’s golf club or other evidence acceptable to the Committee.

5.4    Order of Play

As far as is practical, competitors will be drawn to play in descending order of handicap in groups of three with no playing group comprising two competitors from the same club.

5.5    Prizes and Vouchers

  1. i) Prizes will be awarded within the following two age categories: competitors aged under 18; competitors aged under 16. The categories will be based on competitors’ ages at 00:00 hours on 1st January preceding the Championship.
  2. ii) A competitor can win more than one trophy but may not receive more than one prize.

iii)      The winner of the under 18 category will be the competitor with the lowest gross score for the 18-holes. The player will receive the trophy for the category and the player will also receive a memento to retain.

  1. iv) The winner of the under 16 category will be the competitor aged under 16 with the lowest gross score for the 18 holes. The player will receive the trophy for the category and the player will also receive a memento to retain. The competitor with the lowest nett score for the 18 holes will receive a memento to retain.
  2. v) The four boys with the lowest scores will be expected to represent Middlesex at the South of England School’s Championship normally held in May/June of the same year.
  3. vi) The three girls with the lowest scores will be expected to represent Middlesex at the South of England School’s Championship normally held in May/June of the same year.

vii)     The boy and girl from the under 16 category with the lowest scores will be expected to represent Middlesex at the Under 16 National Schools Championships. However; the English School’s Golf Association apply their own criteria of entry for this event which the players will have to meet.

 

Section 6 – MIDDLESEX GOLF SCHOOL’S Team Championship

6.1    Qualifications

Each school may enter a team of two or three competitors each of whom must qualify for acceptance into the concurrent School’s Individual Championship. The team must be nominated on, or before, the day of the qualifying stroke play round for the MIDDLESEX GOLF School’s Individual Championship.

6.2    Maximum Entry

There is no maximum number of teams that a school can enter.

6.3    Format

The Championship is an 18-hole stroke-play competition and runs concurrently with the 18-hole stroke-play competition for the MIDDLESEX GOLF School’s Individual Championship. The team’s score will comprise of the two lowest scores of the three competitors over the 18 holes.

6.4    Order of Play

The order of play will be determined by the order of play for the MIDDLESEX GOLF School’s Individual Championship

6.5    Prizes and Vouchers

  1. i) The winning team will be the one with the lowest aggregate gross score over the 18 holes, with the lowest two of the three scores counting.
  2. ii) The winning team will receive the trophy and the winning team will also receive a memento to retain and a voucher.

iii)      If there is a tie, the team’s third score will count and the tie will be decided on the aggregate total of all three scores over the 18 holes (if a team has no third score to add to the aggregate, then that team will default to losing the tie). If a tie still exists, the winner will be decided on the last 9, 6, 3 or 1 hole (all three scores will count). If a tie still exists, the winner will be decided on the first 9, 6, 3 or 1 hole (all three gross scores will count). 

  1. iv) The winning team will be expected to accept the invitation of England Golf to play in the National Schools Team Championships normally held in July of the same year

 

Section 7 – MIDDLESEX GOLF Friern League

7.1    Qualifications

  1. i) Any golf club affiliated to the MIDDLESEX GOLF Friern League may enter a team.
  2. ii) Any junior who is a member of more than one club affiliated to the Friern League may only play for the club that is their Home Club for handicap purposes.

However, if a player’s Home Club is not affiliated to the Friern League but they are an Away Member of a club affiliated to the Friern League they will be eligible to play.

iii)      Entrants must be under the age of 18 at 00:00 hours on 1st January preceding the Championship.

  1. iv) On the date of the match, competitors must hold a handicap of 36.4 or lower. Players with handicaps greater than the limit may play in that match.

7.2    Maximum Entry

On years when the number of teams entered in the league falls below 16, clubs may enter a second team. The second team will always be placed in a different league table to the first team.

7.3    Format

  1. i) The format of the competition is six 18-hole singles matches played off handicap.
  2. ii) Each club will play both home and away matches against all other teams in their league.

iii)      If a club enters more than one team, players must only play for one team for the duration of the season.  

  1. iv) Players are free to choose the set of tees they play from but they must play from a set of tees that have been rated for their gender.
  2. v) In matches where two different sets of tees are used, players will use the stroke index on the card used by forward most tee.
  3. vi) The order of the team must be finalised after all players have chosen the set of tees they wish to play from and their playing handicap from that tee has been calculated. The order of the team must be in ascending order of handicap, i.e. the player with the lowest Playing Handicap must play first, second lowest plays in the second match, etc.

vii)     The winning team will be awarded five (5) points, with two (2) points each for a draw and no points for a losing team.

viii)    Players may not employ a caddie, except in exceptional circumstances and upon agreement of both team managers.

  1. ix) Spectators are permitted but must keep a distance of more than 25 metres at all times unless a player has any of the protected characteristics set out in the Equality Act 2010 and requires them to be supervised at a closer distance.
  2. x) If a club withdraws from the league at any time during the season, then all points awarded at matches against all teams already completed will be voided.
  3. xi) After all matches in the league are completed the teams that progress from each league will be the club with the highest number of points. In the event of a tie, the winner will be the club with the greater number of individual matches won over both legs against the team they are tied with.

xii)     In order to play in the final, a player must have at least six scores posted on their WHS scoring history since the beginning of the Friern League.     

xiii)    The first semi-final will be the winner from league ‘A’ who will play the runner-up in league ‘B’. The second semi-final match will be the winner from league ‘B’ who will play the runner-up in league ‘A’.

7.4    Order of Play

  1. i) The lowest handicap player from each team will play against each other followed by the next lowest handicap pair and so on.
  2. ii) If a match is played with either team comprising less than six players, the order of play will be as in appendix ‘7A’

iii)      In the event of the final score being equal, the Team Captains will each nominate a member of their team who has already played that day to play a hole-by-hole play-off singles match starting from the first hole and played in accordance with Part II – Terms of Play Applying to All Competitions, Term 15.1.

  1. iv) It is the responsibility of each club to arrange the individual matches they should be played at weekends or during school holidays. Deviation from this must be by mutual agreement.

7.5    Prizes and Vouchers

          The winning team will receive the trophy and will also receive a memento to retain. 

Appendix 7A

3 players Vs 6 Players

Match

Team 1 Players

 

Team 2 Players

1

1

Vs

1 & 2

2

2

Vs

3 & 4

3

3

Vs

5 & 6

3 players Vs 5 Players

Match

Team 1 Players

 

Team 2 Players

1

1

Vs

1 & 2

2

2

Vs

3 & 4

3

3

Vs

5

3 players Vs 4 Players

Match

Team 1 Players

 

Team 2 Players

1

1

Vs

1 & 2

2

2

Vs

3

3

3

Vs

4

4 players Vs 6 Players

Match

Team 1 Players

 

Team 2 Players

1

1

Vs

1 & 2

2

2

Vs

3 & 4

3

3

Vs

5

4

4

Vs

6

4 players Vs 5 Players

Match

Team 1 Players

 

Team 2 Players

1

1

Vs

1 & 2

2

2

Vs

3

3

3

Vs

4

4

4

Vs

5

5 players Vs 6 Players

Match

Team 1 Players

 

Team 2 Players

1

1

Vs

1 & 2

2

2

Vs

3

3

3

Vs

4

4

4

Vs

5

5

5

Vs

6

 

Section 8 – MIDDLESEX GOLF Jim Robert’s Cup

8.1    Qualification 

  1. i) Each golf club affiliated to MIDDLESEX GOLF may enter one team of four competitors comprising of one adult aged over 18 and three juniors (male, female or mixed) aged under 18 at 00:00 hours on 1st January preceding the Championship.
  2. ii) The adult competitor should be the club’s junior organiser or their representative.

iii)      Entrants must hold a handicap of 40.4 or lower on the day of entry. Competitors with handicaps greater than the limit may not enter. 

8.2    Maximum Entry 

There will be a maximum of 64 players. If more than 64 players enter the competitors will be based on a first come first serve basis.  

8.3    Format

The competition consists of 18 holes Stableford in teams of four with each player receiving full handicap allowance. The team’s 18-hole score is based on the two best Stableford point scores on each hole.

8.4    Order of play 

As far as is practical, competitors will start at the tee time that they submitted their name against when entering. 

8.5    Prizes and Vouchers

  1. i) The winning team will be the one with the highest aggregate Stableford score over the 18 holes, with the best two of the four scores counting.
  2. ii) The winners will receive the trophy and they will also receive a memento to retain.

iii)      If there is a tie, the winners will be determined on the basis of the team’s combined score over the last 9 holes. If a tie still exists, the winner will be decided on the last 6, 3 or 1 hole. If a tie still exists, the winner will be decided on the first 9, 6, 3 or 1 hole. 

 

Section 9 – MIDDLESEX GOLF MEN’S County Championship

9.1    Qualifications

  1. i) Entrants must be male and hold a handicap of 8.4 or lower on the date that their entry for the Championship is submitted. Players with handicaps greater than the limit may not enter.
  2. ii) As authorised under 6 of the Middlesex Golf General Conditions, an entry may be refused if, in the opinion of the Championship Committee, a players Handicap Index is not reflective of their playing ability. This decision may be based on but is not limited to:
  3. a) a handicap record (most recent 20 scores) that contains more than 10 (ten) General Play scores,
  4. b) an incomplete handicap record where fewer than 20 scores have been returned.

9.2    Maximum Entry

The maximum number of competitors is 72.  If the number of approved entries exceeds the number of places available, Part I – General Rules Applying to All Competitions, Section 5 will apply.  

9.3    Format

  1. i) The County Championship is a three-day event. All competitors will play a 36-hole qualifier on the first day. The 16 players returning the lowest aggregate scores in qualifying will enter the match play knock out stage played over the second and third days. 
  2. ii) A tie for the last match play place(s) will be decided in accordance with Part II – Terms of Play Applying to All Competitions, Section 15.

iii)      The 16 qualifying players will compete in a singles match play event over 18 holes on the morning of the second day. The winning eight players will compete in a singles match play event over 18 holes on the afternoon of the second day. The winning four players will compete in a singles match play event over 18 holes on the morning of the third day. The two finalists will compete in singles match play event over 18 holes on the afternoon of the third day.

9.4    Order of Play

  1. i) For the stroke play rounds, as far as is practical, competitors will be drawn to play in descending order of handicap in groups of three with no playing group comprising two competitors from the same club.
  2. ii) For the match play stage of the Championship the places in the draw will be determined by the Qualifying Scores from the stroke play rounds as recommended under Committee Procedures, Section 5F(1) of the Official Guide to the Rules of Golf.

iii)      In each match, the player that has the honour at the first teeing ground is determined by the order of the draw as required under Rule 6.4a(1) of the Rules of Golf.

9.5    Prizes and Vouchers

  1. i) The winner will receive the trophy and he will also receive a memento to retain and a voucher. He will be expected to accept the invitation of England Golf to play in the England Golf Men’s County Champion of Champions Tournament normally held at The National Golf Centre, Woodhall Spa in September of the same year. However, if at any time during that same year the winner ceases to be a member of a golf club affiliated to MIDDLESEX GOLF, and therefore does not have a club affiliated to MIDDLESEX GOLF as their Home Club for handicap purposes, the invitation will be withdrawn and offered instead to the next placed person that fully meets these requirements. Middlesex Golf Reserves the right to amend this condition subject to any changes in the terms of competition of the England Golf Men’s County Champion of Champions Tournament.
  2. ii) The two losing semi-finalists will each receive a voucher.

iii)      At the close of the stroke play qualifying rounds on the first day additional awards in the form of vouchers may be awarded at the discretion of the Tournament Committee.

Note: Any player getting through to the knockout stages of the county championship will be awarded order of merit points. (See Section 32 – MIDDLESEX GOLF Order of Merit)

 

Section 10 – MIDDLESEX GOLF MEN’S Team Stroke Play Championship (Champion Club)

10.1  Qualifications

Each golf club affiliated to MIDDLESEX GOLF may enter a maximum of three teams comprising of three competitors each, all of whom must qualify for acceptance into the concurrent Amateur Championship. The team must be nominated on, or before, the day of the qualifying stroke play rounds for the MIDDLESEX GOLF County Championship.

10.2  Maximum Entry

A maximum of three teams from each affiliated club, each comprising of three competitors.

10.3  Format

The Championship will be a stroke play event, played over 36 holes and run concurrently with the 36-hole stroke play qualifying rounds for the MIDDLESEX GOLF County Championship.

10.4  Order of Play

The order of play will be determined by the order of play for the qualifying rounds for the MIDDLESEX GOLF County Championship.

10.5  Prizes and Vouchers

  1. i) The winning team will be the one with the lowest aggregate gross score over the 36 holes.
  2. ii) The winning team will receive the trophy and the winning team will also receive a memento to retain and a voucher. The winning club will be expected to accept the invitation of England Golf to play in the English Champion Club Tournament normally held in September of the same year. However, if at any time during that same year a member(s) of the winning team ceases to be a member of a golf club affiliated to MIDDLESEX GOLF, and therefore does not have a club affiliated to MIDDLESEX GOLF as their Home Club for handicap purposes, the invitation will be withdrawn and offered instead to a person nominated by the winning club and that fully meets the tournament requirements.

          This condition is subject to change depending on the T&Cs of the England Golf Champion Club Tournament.

iii)      The runners-up will receive a voucher.

  1. iv) If there is a tie, the winner will be decided on the aggregate total over the last 18 holes played. If a tie still exists, the winner will be decided on the aggregate score over the last 9, 6, 3 or 1 hole. If a tie still exists, the winner will be decided on the aggregate score over the first 9, 6, 3 or 1 hole.

Section 11 – MIDDLESEX GOLF WOMEN’S County Championship

11.1  Qualifications

  1. i) Entrants must be female and hold a handicap of 14.4 or lower on the date that their entry for the Championship is submitted. Players with handicaps greater may enter, but their inclusion is subject to approval by the Championship Committee in accordance with 6 of the Middlesex Golf General Conditions,
  2. ii) As authorised under 6 of the Middlesex Golf General Conditions, an entry may be refused if, in the opinion of the Championship Committee, a players Handicap Index is not reflective of their playing ability. This decision may be based on but is not limited to:
  3. a) a handicap record (most recent 20 scores) that contains more than 10 (ten) General Play scores,
  4. b) an incomplete handicap record where fewer than 20 scores have been returned.

11.2  Maximum Entry 

The maximum number of competitors is 21.  If the number of approved entries exceeds the number of places available, Part I – General Rules Applying to All Competitions, Section 5 will apply.  

11.3  Format

  1. i) The County Championship is a two-day event. All competitors will play a 36-hole qualifier on the first day. The  players finishing first, second, third and fourth after the 36-hole qualifier, will enter the match-play knockout stage for the overall Championship played over the second day. The players finishing fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth after the 36-hole qualifier will enter the match play knockout stage for the Silver Plate played over the second day. 
  2. ii) Ties for the last match play place(s) in both competitions will be decided in accordance with Part II – Terms Applying to All Competitions, Section 15.

iii)      For the overall Championship the four qualifying players will compete in a match play event over 18 holes on the morning of the second day. The two finalists will compete in a singles match play event over 18 holes on the afternoon of the second day.

iv)    For the Silver Plate the four qualifying players will compete in a singles match play event over 18 holes on the morning of the second day. The two finalists will compete in a singles match play event over 18 holes on the afternoon of the second day.

11.4  Order of Play

  1. i) For the stroke play rounds, as far as is practical, competitors will be drawn to play in descending order of handicap in groups of three with no playing group comprising two competitors from the same club.
  2. ii) For the match play stage of the Championship and the Silver Plate the places in the draw will be determined by the Qualifying Scores from the stroke play rounds as recommended under Committee Procedures, Section 5F(1) of the Official Guide to the Rules of Golf.

iii)      In each match, the player that has the honour at the first teeing ground is determined by the order of the draw as required under Rule 6.4a(1) of the Rules of Golf.

11.5  Prizes and Vouchers

  1. i) The winner will receive the trophy and she will also receive a memento to retain and a voucher. She will be expected to accept the invitation of England Golf to play in the England Golf Women’s County Champion of Champions Tournament normally held at The National Golf Centre, Woodhall Spa in September of the same year. However, if at any time during that same year the winner ceases to be a member of a golf club affiliated to MIDDLESEX GOLF, and therefore does not have a club affiliated to MIDDLESEX GOLF as their Home Club for handicap purposes, the invitation will be withdrawn and offered instead to the next placed person that fully meets these requirements.

This condition is subject to change depending on the T&Cs of the England Golf Women’s County Champion of Champions Tournament.

ii)     The runner-up will receive a voucher.

iii)      The two losing semi-finalists will each receive a voucher.

iv)    The winner of the Silver Plate will receive the trophy and she will also receive a memento to retain and a voucher.

v)   The runner up will receive a voucher.

vi)   The two losing semi-finalists will each receive a voucher.

Section 12 – MIDDLESEX GOLF Mid-Amateur Championship

12.1  Qualifications

Entrants can be male or female and must be aged 35 or over and must hold a handicap of 15.4 or lower on the date that his or her entry for the Championship is submitted. Players with handicaps greater than the limit may not enter.

12.2  Maximum Entry

The maximum number of competitors is 72. If the number of approved entries exceeds the number of places available, Part I – General Rules Applying to All Competitions, Section 5 will apply.

12.3  Format

The Championship will be a stroke play event played over 36-holes.

12.4  Order of Play

As far as is practical, competitors will be drawn to play in descending order of handicap in groups of three with no playing group comprising two competitors from the same club.

12.5  Prizes and Vouchers

  1. i) No competitor may be awarded more than one prize.
  2. ii) The winner will be the competitor with the lowest aggregate gross score for the 36 holes. They will receive the trophy and will also receive a memento to retain and a voucher.

iii)      The runner-up will receive a voucher.

  1. iv) The two competitors with the lowest aggregate nett scores for the 36 holes will receive vouchers.
  2. v) Other prizes may be awarded at the discretion of the Committee.

Section 13 – MIDDLESEX GOLF Mid-Amateur Team Stroke Play Championship

13.1  Qualifications

Each golf club affiliated to MIDDLESEX GOLF may enter a team of three or four competitors (male, female or mixed) each of whom must qualify for acceptance into the concurrent MIDDLESEX GOLF Mid-Amateur Championship. The team must be nominated on, or before, the day of the MIDDLESEX GOLF Mid-Amateur Championship.

13.2  Maximum Entry

A maximum of three teams of three or four competitors from each affiliated club.

13.3  Format

The Championship is a stroke play event, played over 36 holes and run concurrently with the 36-hole stroke play competition for the MIDDLESEX GOLF Mid-Amateur Championship. The team’s score will comprise of the three lowest scores of the four competitors over the 36 holes.

13.4  Order of Play

The order of play will be determined by the order of play for the MIDDLESEX GOLF Mid-Amateur Championship.

13.5  Prizes and Vouchers

  1. i) The winning team will be the one with the lowest aggregate gross score over the 36 holes, with the lowest three of the four scores counting.
  2. ii) The winning team will receive the trophy and the winning team will also receive a memento to retain and a voucher.

iii)      The runners-up will receive a voucher.

  1. iv) If there is a tie, the team’s fourth score will count and the winner will be decided on the aggregate total of all four scores over the 36 holes (if a team has no fourth score to add to the aggregate, then that team will default to losing the tie). If a tie still exists, the winner will be decided on the aggregate total over the last 18 holes played (all four scores count). If a tie still exists, the winner will be decided on the aggregate total of the last 9, 6, 3 or 1 hole (all four scores will count). If a tie still exists, the winner will be decided on the first 9, 6, 3 or 1 hole (all four scores will count).

Section 14 – MIDDLESEX GOLF MEN’S Seniors’ Championship

14.1  Qualifications

Entrants must be male and aged 55 and over and must hold a handicap of 14.4 or lower on the date that his entry for the Championship is submitted. Players with handicaps greater than the limit may not enter.

14.2  Maximum Entry

There is no maximum number of competitors for this Championship. However, the committee reserves the right to restrict the numbers. If the number of approved entries exceeds the number of places available Part I – General Rules Applying to All Competitions, Section 5 will apply.

14.3  Format

The Championship is a 36-hole stroke play event played over two days. All entrants will play 18 holes in the qualifying round on day one. The lowest gross scoring 15 players and ties will progress to play the remaining 18 holes on day two.

14.4  Order of Play

As far as is practical on the first day, competitors will be drawn to play in descending order of handicap in groups of three with no playing group comprising two competitors from the same club. On the second day the order will be in reverse order of qualifying.

14.5  Prizes and Vouchers

  1. i) No competitor may be awarded more than one prize.
  2. ii) The winner will be the competitor with the lowest aggregate gross score for the 36 holes. He will receive the trophy and he will also receive a memento to retain and a voucher. The winner will be expected to accept the invitation of England Golf to play in the England Golf Men’s Senior County Champion of Champions Tournament normally held at The National Golf Centre, Woodhall Spa in September of the same year. However, if at any time during that same year the winner ceases to be a member of a golf club affiliated to MIDDLESEX GOLF, and therefore does not have a club affiliated to MIDDLESEX GOLF as their Home Club for handicap purposes, the invitation will be withdrawn and offered instead to the next placed person that fully meets these requirements.

This condition is subject to change depending on the T&Cs of the England Golf Men’s Senior County Champion of Champions Tournament.

iii)      The runner-up will receive a voucher.

  1. iv) The competitor aged at least 55, but under 60, with the lowest gross score for the first 18 holes will receive a voucher.
  2. v) The competitor aged at least 60, but under 65, with the lowest gross score for the first 18 holes will receive a voucher.
  3. vi) The competitor aged at least 65, but under 70 with the lowest gross score for the first 18 holes will receive a voucher.

vii)     The competitor aged over 70 with the lowest gross score for the first 18 holes will receive a voucher.

viii)    The two competitors with the lowest nett scores for the first 18 holes will receive vouchers.

  1. ix) Other prizes may be awarded at the discretion of the Tournament Committee.

Section 15 – MIDDLESEX GOLF MEN’S Seniors’ Team Stroke Play Championship

15.1  Qualifications

Each golf club affiliated to MIDDLESEX GOLF may enter a team of three or four male competitors each of whom must qualify for acceptance into the concurrent MIDDLESEX GOLF Seniors’ Championship. The team must be nominated on, or before, the day of the MIDDLESEX GOLF MEN’S Seniors’ Championship.

15.2  Maximum Entry

A maximum of two teams of three or four competitors from each affiliated club.

15.3  Format

The Championship is a stroke play event, played over 18 holes and runs concurrently with day one of the 36-hole stroke play competition for the MIDDLESEX GOLF MEN’S Seniors’ Championship. The team score will comprise of the three lowest scores of the four competitors from the first day.

15.4 Order of Play

The order of play will be determined by the order of play for the MIDDLESEX GOLF MEN’S Seniors’ Championship.

15.5  Prizes and Vouchers

  1. i) The winning team will be the one with the lowest aggregate gross score over the 18 holes, with the lowest three of the four scores counting.
  2. ii) The winning team will receive the trophy and the winning team will also receive a memento to retain and a voucher.

iii)      The runners-up will receive a voucher.

  1. iv) If there is a tie, the team’s fourth score will count and the tie will be decided on the aggregate total of all four scores over the 18 holes (if a team has no fourth score to add to the aggregate then that team will default to losing the tie). If a tie still exists, the winner will be decided on the aggregate total over the last 9, 6, 3 or 1 hole (all four scores will count). If a tie still exists, the winner will be decided on the aggregate total over the first 9, 6, 3 or 1 hole (all four scores will count).

Section 16 – MIDDLESEX GOLF WOMEN’S Seniors’ Championship

16.1  Qualifications

Entrants must be female and aged 50 and over and must hold a handicap of 24.4 or lower on the date that her entry for the Championship is submitted. Players with handicaps greater than the limit may not enter.

16.2  Maximum Entry

There is no maximum number of competitors for this Championship. However, the committee reserves the right to restrict the numbers. If the number of approved entries exceeds the number of places available Part I – General Rules Applying to All Competitions, Section 5 will apply.

16.3  Format

The Championship is a 36-hole stroke play event played over two days. All entrants will play 18 holes in the qualifying round on day one. The lowest gross scoring 6 players and ties will progress to play the remaining 18 holes on day two.

16.4  Order of Play

As far as is practical on the first day, competitors will be drawn to play in descending order of handicap in groups of three with no playing group comprising two competitors from the same club. On the second day the order will be in reverse order of qualifying.

16.5  Prizes and Vouchers

  1. i) No competitor may be awarded more than one prize.
  2. ii) The winner will be the competitor with the lowest aggregate gross score for the 36 holes. She will receive the trophy and she will also receive a memento to retain and a voucher. The winner will be expected to accept the invitation of England Golf to play in the England Golf Women’s Senior County Champion of Champions Tournament normally held at The National Golf Centre, Woodhall Spa in September of the same year. However, if at any time during that same year the winner ceases to be a member of a golf club affiliated to MIDDLESEX GOLF, and therefore does not have a club affiliated to MIDDLESEX GOLF as their Home Club for handicap purposes, the invitation will be withdrawn and offered instead to the next placed person that fully meets these requirements.

This condition is subject to change depending on the T&Cs of the England Golf Women’s Senior County Champion of Champions Tournament.

iii)      The runner-up will receive a voucher.

  1. iv) The two competitors with the lowest nett scores for the 36 holes will receive vouchers.
  2. v) Other prizes may be awarded at the discretion of the Tournament Committee.

Section 17 – MIDDLESEX GOLF Handicap Championship

17.1  Qualifications

Entrants can be male or female and must be aged 18 and over and must hold a handicap of 9.5 or higher on the date that his entry for the Championship is submitted. Players with handicaps lower than the limit may not enter.

17.2  Maximum Entry

There will be a maximum of 72 players. If more than 72 players enter the competitors will be based on a first come first serve basis.  

17.3  Format

The Championship will be played over 18 holes of stableford, played off handicap allowance. 

17.4  Order of Play

As far as is practical, competitors will be drawn to play in descending order of handicap in groups of three with no playing group comprising two competitors from the same club.

17.5  Prizes and Vouchers

  1. i) The winner will be the competitor with the highest stableford score for the 18 holes.
  2. ii) The winner will receive the trophy and they will also receive a memento to retain and a voucher.

iii)      The runner-up will receive a voucher.

Section 18 – MIDDLESEX GOLF Handicap Team Championship

18.1  Qualifications

Each golf club affiliated to MIDDLESEX GOLF may enter a team of three or four competitors (male, female or mixed) each of whom must qualify for acceptance into the concurrent MIDDLESEX GOLF Handicap Championship. The team must be nominated on, or before, the day of the MIDDLESEX GOLF Handicap Championship.

18.2  Maximum Entry

A maximum of three teams of three or four competitors from each affiliated club.

18.3  Format

The Championship is an 18-hole stableford competition and runs concurrently with the 18-hole stableford competition for the MIDDLESEX GOLF Handicap Championship. The team’s score will comprise of the three best scores of the four competitors over the 18 holes.

18.4  Order of Play

The order of play will be determined by the order of play for the MIDDLESEX GOLF Handicap Championship.

18.5  Prizes and Vouchers

  1. i) The winning team will be the one with the highest aggregate stableford score over the 18 holes, with the best three of the four scores counting.
  2. ii) The winning team will receive the trophy and the winning team will also receive a memento to retain and a voucher.

iii)      The runners-up will receive a voucher.

  1. iv) If there is a tie, the team’s fourth score will count and the tie will be decided on the aggregate total of all four scores over the 18 holes (if a team has no fourth score to add to the aggregate, then that team will default to losing the tie). If a tie still exists, the winner will be decided on the last 9, 6, 3 or 1 hole (all four scores will count). If a tie still exists, the winner will be decided on the first 9, 6, 3 or 1 hole (all four gross scores will count).

Section 19 – MIDDLESEX GOLF Mixed Open Championship

19.1  Qualifications

  1. i) This competition is open to any golfer (with or without MIDDLESEX GOLF affiliation) with a handicap limit of 28.4 for men and 36.4 for women. Part I, section 2 entry requirements do not apply.

iii)      A pair must consist of one male and one female.

19.2  Maximum Entry

The maximum number of competitors is 64.  If the number of approved entries exceeds the number of places available, Part I – General Rules Applying to All Competitions, Section 5 will apply.  

19.3  Format

The Championship is an 18-hole Four-ball Better Ball stableford played off handicap. The pair’s score will comprise of the best stableford score of the two competitors on each of the 18 holes. 

19.4  Order of Play

Order of play will be arranged by the County Secretary or Competition Organiser. 

19.5  Prizes and Vouchers

  1. i) The winning pair will be the one with the highest aggregate stableford score over the 18 holes, with the best score of the two scores counting on each hole.
  2. ii) The winning pair will receive the trophy. The winning pair will also receive a memento to retain and a voucher.

iii)      The runners-up will receive a voucher.

Section 20 – MIDDLESEX GOLF MEN’S Coronation Challenge Bowl

20.1 Qualifications

Each golf club affiliated to MIDDLESEX GOLF may enter a team of three male competitors. At least one must have a handicap of less than 12.4 and at least one with a handicap 12.5 or above on the date that the team’s entry is submitted. It is encouraged that a club should hold a qualifying medal or Stableford competition as the basis for selecting players for the MIDDLESEX GOLF MEN’S Coronation Bowl. If a qualifying competitor is unable to play in the MIDDLESEX GOLF MEN’S Coronation Bowl, his place may be taken by the next highest placed competitor from that qualifying competition as long as the handicap requirements described above are still met.

20.2  Maximum Entry

A maximum entry is one team of three competitors from each affiliated club.

20.3  Format

The MIDDLESEX GOLF MEN’S Coronation Bowl is a 36-hole stableford competition, played off handicap allowance with all competitors scores counting.

20.4  Order of Play

As far as is practical, competitors will be drawn to play in descending order of handicap in groups of three with no playing group comprising two competitors from the same club.

20.5  Prizes and Vouchers

  1. i) The winning team will be the one with the highest aggregate stableford score over the 36 holes.
  2. ii) The winning team will receive the Coronation Challenge Bowl and they will also receive a memento to retain and a voucher.

iii)      The runners-up will receive a voucher.

  1. iv) If there is a tie, the winner will be decided on the aggregate total over the last 18 holes played. If a tie still exists, the winner will be decided on the aggregate total over the last 9, 6, 3 or 1 hole. If a tie still exists, the winner will be decided on the aggregate total over the first 9, 6, 3 or 1 hole.
  2. v) The competitor with the highest aggregate stableford score over the 36 holes will receive a memento to retain and a voucher.

Section 21 – MIDDLESEX GOLF WOMEN’S Laidlay Shield

21.1  Qualifications

Clubs affiliated to MIDDLESEX GOLF may nominate a team between five and seven players to represent the club, each of whom must qualify for acceptance into the concurrent MIDDLESEX GOLF Women’s Silver Meeting, Bronze Meeting, and the first round of the Stroke Play Qualifier for the County Championship. Players may be nominated irrespective of handicaps. 

21.2  Format

  1. i) The MIDDLESEX GOLF WOMEN’S Laidlay Shield is an 18-hole team aggregate stableford competition, played off handicap allowance with the four best competitor’s scores counting.
  2. ii) As the first round of the Stroke Play Qualifier for the County Championship is medal play, the equivalent Stableford score will be calculated.

iii)      A competitor playing in County Champion must have that score used, even if that player competes in one of the other two counting competitions.

21.3  Prizes and Vouchers

  1. i) The winning team will be the one with the highest aggregate total of the four best scores.
  2. ii) The winning club will receive a memento and the Laidlay Shield to retain for the year.

Section 22 – MIDDLESEX GOLF Three Club Challenge

22.1  Qualifications

Entrants can be male or female and must be aged 18 and over and must hold a handicap of 40.4 or lower on the date that their entry for the Championship is submitted. Players with handicaps higher than the limit may not enter.

22.2  Maximum Entry

The maximum number of competitors is 36 when the competition is to be played over a 9-hole course, otherwise the maximum is 72.

22.3  Format

  1. i) The competition consists of 18 holes Stableford, played over a 9-hole course whenever possible.
  2. ii) Players shall only carry three clubs, consisting of any combination.

22.4  Order of Play

As far as is practical, competitors will be drawn to play in descending order of handicap in groups of three with no playing group comprising two competitors from the same club.

22.5  Prizes and Vouchers

  1. i) The winner will be the competitor with the highest Stableford score for the 18 holes.
  2. ii) The winner will receive the trophy and will also receive a memento to retain and a voucher.

iii)      The runner-up will receive a voucher. 

Section 23 – MIDDLESEX GOLF Under 18’S Championship 

23.1  Qualifications

  1. i) Entrants can be male or female and must be aged under 18 at 00:00 hours on 1st January preceding the Championship.
  2. ii) On the date that their entry for the Championship is submitted, they must hold a handicap of 18.4 or lower. Players with handicaps greater than the limit may not enter.

23.2  Maximum Entry

The maximum number of competitors is 72. If the number of approved entries exceeds the number of places available, competitors nominated to represent their Club in the MIDDLESEX GOLF Junior Champion Club Tournament will have automatic places. In all other respects, Part I – General Rules Applying to All Competitions, Section 5 will apply.

23.3  Format

  1. i) The Championship will be a stroke play event, played over 36 holes.
  2. ii) Players may employ a caddie, but the caddie must be under the age of 18 on the day of the Championship.

iii)      The Committee reserves the right to prevent a person from being employed or continuing to be employed as a caddie if the competitor is unable to verify that the caddie meets the term above by providing verification from the Secretary of the competitor’s golf club or other evidence acceptable to the Committee.

23.4  Order of Play

As far as is practical, competitors will be drawn to play in descending order of handicap in groups of three with no playing group comprising two competitors from the same club.

23.5  Prizes and Vouchers

  1. i) The winner of the Boys and Girls categories will be the male or female competitor with the lowest aggregate gross score for the 36-holes. The player will win the trophy for their overall category and the player will also receive a memento to retain. The winners of the Boys and Girls categories will be expected to accept the invitation of England Golf to play in either the Boys’ County Champion of Champions or Girl’s County Champion of Champions tournament normally held in September of the same year. However, if at any time during that same year the winner ceases to be a member of a golf club affiliated to MIDDLESEX GOLF, and therefore does not have a club affiliated to MIDDLESEX GOLF as their Home Club for handicap purposes, the invitation will be withdrawn and offered instead to the next placed person that fully meets these requirements.
  2. ii) The male and female competitor with the lowest aggregate nett score in each category for the 36 holes will receive a memento to retain.

iii)      Other prizes may be awarded at the discretion of the Tournament Committee.

 

County Knockouts and Match Play Tournaments

Section 24 – MIDDLESEX GOLF MEN’S Singles Match Play Championship (George Gowland Salver)

24.1  Qualifications

  1. i) Entrants must be male and hold a handicap of 12.4 or lower on the date that their entry for the event is submitted. Players with handicaps greater than the limit may not enter.

24.2  Maximum Entry

  1. i) The maximum number of players is 64. If the number of approved entries exceeds the number of places available, Part I – General Rules Applying to All Competitions, Section 5 will apply.
  2. ii) The top 3 men from the preceding year’s Men’s Order of Merit will be automatically entered into the second round.

24.3  Format

  1. i) The Championship is a singles knockout 18-hole match play competition played off scratch. Each round prior to the semi-finals will be determined by lot drawn by the County Secretary in the presence of at least one other member of the Tournament Committee or member of the Executive Committee. The first player drawn in any pair will be the top-named player on the draw sheet and will be considered to be the “Home Player”. The player drawn as his opponent will be the bottom-named player on the draw sheet and will be considered to be the “Away Player”.
  2. ii) All matches are to be played on neutral courses selected by the County Secretary.

iii)      It is the responsibility of the Home Player in each round to establish contact with the host club to establish availability of dates.

  1. iv) In the event of a match being all square after 18 holes, extra holes will be played in accordance with Part II – Terms of Play Applying to All Competitions, Term 15.1.
  2. v) Each match will start at or before 3:00pm on the date specified as the Closing Date for the round unless an earlier date has been mutually arranged between the two players.
  3. vi) The result of each match must be reported to the County Secretary as soon as possible after the completion of the match no later than noon on the Monday after the closing date. Otherwise, both players will be disqualified.

vii)    The semi-finals and final match must be played on the same day and will be played on a course selected by the Tournament Committee which will whenever possible be a neutral course. In addition, the semi-finals and final match will be played on a date and at a time determined by the Tournament Committee.

viii)    The Tournament Committee will endeavour to appoint referees for the semi-final and final.

  1. ix) Following any match other than the semi-finals and final, any claim under Rule 20.1b(2) of the Rules of Golf must be reported on the day to the County Secretary, or if he or she is not available, to the Chief Rules Official or to a member of the Tournament Panel of Rules Officials for a ruling.

24.4  Order of play

The “Away Player” will have the honour on the first teeing ground. For the semi-final and final matches, the order of play will be decided by lot.

24.5  Prizes and Vouchers      

  1. i) The winner will be presented with the George Gowland Salver and he will also receive a memento to retain and a voucher.
  2. ii) The runner-up will receive a voucher.

iii)      The two losing semi-finalists will each receive a voucher.

Note: Any player reaching the last 16 or better will be awarded order of merit points. (See Section 32 – MIDDLESEX GOLF Order of Merit)

Section 25 – MIDDLESEX GOLF WOMEN’S Singles Match Play Tournament

25.1  Qualifications

Entrants must be female and hold a handicap of 30 or lower on the date that their entry for the event is submitted. Players with handicaps greater than the limit may not enter.

25.2  Maximum Entry

  1. i) The maximum number of players is 64. If the number of approved entries exceeds the number of places available, Part I – General Rules Applying to All Competitions, Section 5 will apply.

25.3 Format

  1. i) The tournament is a knockout singles 18-hole match play competition, played off the current handicap on the day of the match. Each round prior to the semi-finals will be determined by lot drawn by the County Secretary in the presence of at least one other member of the Tournament Committee. The first player drawn in any pair will be the top-named player on the draw sheet and will be considered to be the “Home Player”. The player drawn as her opponent will be the bottom-named player on the draw sheet and will be considered to be the “Away Player”.
  2. ii) In the event of a match being all square after 18 holes, extra holes will be played in accordance with Part II – Terms Applying to All Competitions, Term 15.1.

iii)     All matches will be played on a neutral course determined by the County Secretary. If both players belong to the same club, they may agree to play on their own course. 

  1. iv) The “Home Player” must contact her opponent. Three dates are to be offered, one of which should be at a weekend. If the second named player has not been contacted 21 days before the play by date, she then becomes responsible for contacting her opponent and offering three dates, one of which should be at a weekend. If two players are unable to agree a date or time, the match shall be played at 2pm on the last day of that particular round. If only one player is present at that time, she shall be awarded the match provided she has obtained proof of attendance from either the professional or Club Secretary Manager (of that club). This should be forwarded to the Competition Organiser immediately.
  2. v) The result of each match must be reported to the County Secretary by email without delay after the completion of the match or no later than noon on the Monday after the closing date. Otherwise both players will be disqualified. Players given a “walkover” must inform the Competition Organiser immediately.
  3. vi) Players should note the date of the semi-finals and final match and be available to play if they progress to this stage. The semi-finals and final match must be played on the same day and will be played on a course selected by the Tournament Committee which will whenever possible be a neutral course. In addition, the semi-finals and final match will be played on a date and at a time determined by the Tournament Committee that is mutually acceptable to the four players.

vii)     Following any match other than a semi-final or final match, any claim under Rule 20.1b(2) of the Rules of Golf must be reported on the day to the County Secretary or if he is not available, to the Chief Rules Official or to a member of the Tournament Panel of Rules Officials for a ruling.

25.4 Order of play

The “Away Player” will have the honour on the first teeing ground. For the semi-final and final matches, the order of play will be decided by lot.

25.5  Prizes and Vouchers      

  1. i) The winner will be presented with the trophy and she will also receive a memento to retain and a voucher.
  2. ii) The runner-up will receive a voucher.

iii)      The two losing semi-finalists will each receive a voucher.

 

Section 26 – MIDDLESEX GOLF MEN’S Seniors’ Match Play Championship

26.1  Qualifications

Entrants must be male and aged 55 and over at 00:00 hours on 1st January preceding the Championship and must hold a handicap of 14.4 or lower on the date that their entry for the Championship is submitted. Players with handicaps greater than the limit may not enter.

26.2  Maximum Entry

The maximum number of players is 64. If the number of approved entries exceeds the number of places available, Part I – General Rules Applying to All Competitions, Section 5 will apply.

26.3  Format

  1. i) The Championship is a singles knockout 18-hole match play competition, played off scratch. Each round prior to the final will be determined by lot drawn by the County Secretary in the presence of at least one other member of the Tournament Committee or member of the Executive Committee. The first player drawn in any pair will be the top-named player on the draw sheet and will be considered to be the “Home Player”. The player drawn as his opponent will be the bottom-named player on the draw sheet and will be considered to be the “Away Player”.
  2. ii) All matches are to be played on neutral courses selected by the County Secretary.

iii)      It is the responsibility of the player drawn first in each round to establish contact with the host club to establish availability of dates.

  1. iv) In the event of a match being all square after 18 holes, extra holes will be played in accordance with Part II – Terms of Play Applying to All Competitions, Term 15.1.
  2. v) Each match will start at or before 3:00pm on the date specified as the Closing Date for the round unless an earlier date has been mutually arranged between the two players.
  3. vi) The result of each match must be reported to the County Secretary as soon as possible after the completion of the match or the result posted on the county website no later than noon on the Monday after the closing date. Otherwise, both players will be disqualified.

vii)    The final match will be played on a course selected by the Tournament Committee which will whenever possible be a neutral course. In addition, the final match will be played on a date and at a time determined by the Tournament Committee that is mutually acceptable to the two players.

viii)    The Tournament Committee will endeavour to appoint referees for the semi-final and final matches.

  1. ix) Following any match other than the semi-finals and final, any claim under Rule 20.1b(2) of the Rules of Golf must be reported on the day to the County Secretary, or if he or she is not available, to the Chief Rules Official or to a member of the Tournament Panel of Rules Officials for a ruling.

26.4  Order of play

The “Away Player” will have the honour on the first teeing ground. For the semi-final and final matches, the order of play will be decided by lot.

26.5  Prizes and Vouchers      

  1. i) The winner will be presented with the Senior Knockout Trophy and he will also receive a memento to retain and a voucher.
  2. ii) The runner-up will receive a voucher.

 

Section 27 – MIDDLESEX GOLF MEN’S Club Team Match Play Championship (The Frank Rowse Trophy)

27.1  Qualifications

  1. i) A team from an affiliated club will consist of eight male players. Different players may be selected by the club for each round. For each round the Team Captain may nominate a squad of up to ten players from whom the players in the four foursome matches and the eight singles matches must be selected in advance (see 16.4 below).
  2. ii) Any player competing in this Championship is not eligible to compete in the MIDDLESEX GOLF Middlesex Sixes during the same calendar year.

iii)      It is a term of entering that a team when drawn as the “Home Team” in any round, apart from the semi-final and final, must be in a position to play the matches on their course and to offer the “Away Team” a courtesy practice round prior to the matches and meet the cost of any green fees that may be due.

27.2  Maximum Entry

A maximum of one team from each affiliated club.

27.3  Format

  1. i) The Championship is a team knockout match play competition played off scratch. Each round comprises four foursome matches over 18 holes followed by eight singles matches over 18 holes, all played on the same day. Each round prior to the semi-finals will be determined by lot drawn by the County Secretary in the presence of at least one other member of the Tournament Committee or member of the Executive Committee. The first team drawn in any pair will be the top-named team on the draw sheet and will be considered to be the “Home Team”. The team drawn as their opponent will be the bottom-named team on the draw sheet and will be considered to be the “Away Team”.
  2. ii) The first team drawn in any pair will be the top-named team on the draw sheet and will considered to be the “Home Team”. The team drawn as their opponent will be the bottom-named team on the draw sheet and will be considered to be the “Away Team”. The “Home Team” must contact their opponents three weeks prior to the Closing Date for each round. Failure to do so will result in the loss of the right to play at their home club.

iii)      The Tournament Committee will set the dates on which each round should be played, and the dates will be published in the MIDDLESEX GOLF calendar for the year. 

  1. iv) Matches will begin at or before 11:00am on the dates set except that, should the teams in matches other than a semi-final or final round play on a mutually agreed earlier date and time, the results will be accepted. An extension of time will only be considered if both teams are present on the due date, but the course is or becomes unplayable due to adverse weather and the matches cannot be completed before darkness falls.
  2. v) The semi-final rounds will each be played on the course of the other semi-final’s “Home Team”.

The final will normally be played on the course of the Club that hosted the previous year’s MIDDLESEX GOLF County Championship. In the event of this course being that of one of the finalists, the Tournament Committee will arrange another neutral venue.

  1. vi) Matches that are all square after 18 holes are considered to be halved. Additional holes are not played to determine a winner.

vii)    In the event of the final score being equal, the Team Captains will each nominate a member of their team who has already played that day in either the foursomes or the singles, to play a hole-by-hole play-off singles match starting from the first hole and played in accordance with Part II – Terms of Play Applying to All Competitions, Term 15.1.

viii)   If a breach of Rule 1-3b(1) of the Rules of Golf occurs between sides in a match or a valid claim made under the final paragraph of Rule 20.1b(2) of the Rules of Golf is upheld, resulting in a draw between the teams the provisions of (ix) will apply. If a hole-by-hole play-off has already taken place, the result of the play-off will be disregarded.

  1. ix) The results of a round must be reported to the County Secretary as soon as possible after the completion of the last match. If no result has been reported by noon on the Monday following the date set for the round both teams will be disqualified.
  2. x) Following any match other than a semi-final or final match, any claim under Rule 20.1b(2) of the Rules of Golf must be reported on the day to the County Secretary, or if he or she is not available, to the Chief Rules Official or to a member of the Tournament Panel of Rules Officials for a ruling.
  3. xi) The Tournament Committee will endeavour to appoint a Rules Official to be present at the semi-final and final matches.

27.4  Order of play

  1. i) Team Captains will exchange their team’s playing order at least fifteen minutes before the first starting time of a round.
  2. ii) After the exchange of teams’ playing orders by the Team Captains, the order may not be changed. Substitutes are permitted in the foursomes should a player or players be unavailable. Substitution other than from the original ten nominees is permitted only for the singles matches and only then by agreement between the two Team Captains.

iii)      For all rounds preceding the semi-final and final, the “Away Team” will have the honour on the first teeing ground for all four foursomes matches with the “Home Team” having the honour in all eight singles matches. In the semi-final and final rounds, the order of play from the first tee will be decided once by lot and the result will apply to all four foursomes matches with the other Team having the honour in all eight singles matches.

27.5  Prizes and Vouchers

          The winning team will receive on behalf of their club the Frank Rowse Inter-club Trophy (the Sabre Cup) and the team will also each receive a memento to retain.

 

Section 28 – MIDDLESEX GOLF WOMEN’S Interclub Scratch Trophy (5-a-side)

28.1 Qualification

  1. i) A team from an affiliated club will consist of five female players. Different players may be selected by the club for each round.
  2. ii) Any player who is a member of more than one club affiliated to MIDDLESEX GOLF may only play for the club that is their Home Club for handicap purposes.

28.2 Maximum Entry

A maximum of two teams from each affiliated club.

28.3 Format

  1. i) Teams compete in one of three divisions; divisions one, two, or three. Divisions will contain no more than six teams.
  2. ii) Each club will play one home or away match against all other teams in their division. Whether teams play home or away will be determined by lot by the County Secretary.

iii)     The divisional matches will be played between March and August. No matches can be played prior to or after this period. Matches must be played on a weekend within the designated window set by the County Secretary. Clubs will play no more than one match per calendar month. Each match, except the final, will start at or before 2:00pm on the last Sunday of the month or on an earlier weekend mutually arranged between the two teams.

  1. iv) The format of the competition is five 18-hole singles matches played off scratch from the same set of tees. The team winning the most individual matches wins the overall match.
  2. v) The winning team will be awarded one point and the losing team will receive zero points. If a match is halved both teams will receive half a point.
  3. vi) A minimum of three players may constitute a team. The opposing team will receive the individual match points for any player that is not fielded. Hence, if a team cannot field at least three players their opponents will receive a walkover, consisting of one match point and five individual match points.

vii)    The results of a match must be reported to the County Secretary as soon as possible after the completion of the match.

viii)   If a league has an even number of teams an equal number of home and away matches will not be possible. Therefore, teams that have more home matches than away matches in the current year will be drawn more away matches than home matches in the following year as far as possible.

  1. ix) If a club enters two teams the five lowest handicap women that are available and willing to represent the club must be nominated for the club’s ‘A’ team. Those who are nominated in the ‘A’ team must play in a minimum of two matches during the league stage. If a player fails to do so, the ‘A’ team will be deducted 1 match point. A player nominated in the ‘A’ team must not represent the ‘B’ team. If a player does so, the ‘B’ team will be deducted 1 match point.
  2. x) If a player from the ‘B’ team represents the ‘A’ team twice in one season year they are no longer able to represent the ‘B’ team.
  3. xi) After all matches in the league are completed the two teams that progress to the final from each division will be the clubs with the highest number of match points. In the event of a tie, the winner will be the club with the greater number of individual matches won. If there is still a tie, the winner will be the club with the greater number of individual matches won in the final three matches of the season.

xii)     The teams winning divisions two and three will be promoted to divisions one and two respectively. The teams finishing in last place in divisions one and two will be relegated to divisions two and three respectively.

xiii)    In the final, in the event of a match being all square after 18 holes, extra holes will be played in accordance with Part II – Terms of Play Applying to All Competitions, Term 15.1.

28.4 Order of play

  1. i) Team Captains will exchange their team’s playing order at least fifteen minutes before the first starting time of a round.
  2. ii) Teams must play in handicap order with the lowest handicap woman playing in the first match and the highest handicap woman in the last match.

iii)     After the exchange of teams’ playing orders by the Team Captains, the order may not be changed.

  1. iv) For all rounds preceding the final, the “Away Team” will have the honour on the first teeing ground. In the final, the order of play from the first tee will be decided by lot.

28.5 Prizes and Vouchers

  1. i) The winning team will receive on behalf of their club the division one, two, or three Trophy and the team will also receive a salver to retain.
  2. ii) The runners-up will receive a salver.

Section 29 – MIDDLESEX GOLF MEN’S Sixes

29.1  Qualifications

  1. i) A team from an affiliated club will consist of six male players none of whom may have played in the MIDDLESEX GOLF MEN’S Club Team Match Play Championship (The Frank Rowse Trophy) or the MIDDLESEX GOLF MEN’S Presidents Foursomes during the same calendar year.
  2. ii) Entrants must be male and aged 18 and over at 00:00 hours on 1st January preceding the Championship

iii)      On the day that a round is played, two players must have a handicap of not less than 5.5; two players must have a handicap of not less than 10.5 and two players must have a handicap of not less than 15.5. 

  1. iv) Different players may be selected by the club for each round.
  2. v) It is a term of entering that a team when drawn as the “Home Team” in any round, apart from the semi final and final, must be in a position to play the matches on their course and to offer the “Away Team” a courtesy practice round prior to the matches and meet the cost of any green fees that may be due.

29.2  Maximum Entry

A maximum of one team from each affiliated club.

29.3  Format

  1. i) The Championship is a team knockout four-ball match play, played off handicap. Each round will comprise three four-ball matches played over 18 holes on the same day. One match will comprise players with handicaps in the range 5.5 to 10.4; one match will comprise players with handicaps in the range 10.5 to 15.4 and one match will comprise players with handicaps in the range 15.5 to 20.4. A player may play in a match of a handicap range lower than his own handicap but must play off the maximum handicap for that match.
  2. ii) Each round prior to the semi-finals will be determined by lot drawn by the County Secretary in the presence of at least one other member of the Tournament Committee or member of the Executive Committee. The first team drawn in any pair will be the top-named team on the draw sheet and will considered to be the “Home Team”. The team drawn as their opponent will be the bottom-named team on the draw sheet and will be considered to be the “Away Team”. The “Home Team” must contact their opponents three weeks prior to the Closing Date for each round. Failure to do so will result in the loss of the right to play at their home club.

iii)     Players will receive a handicap allowance of 90% of their Course Handicap. After handicap allowances have been applied the player with the lowest Playing Handicap plays off zero strokes relative to the other players. The other players receive the difference between their own Playing Handicap and that of the player with the lowest Playing Handicap. 

  1. iv) Each round except the semi-final and final rounds will start at or before 2:00pm on the closure date specified or on an earlier date and time mutually arranged between the two teams.
  2. v) A semi-final will be played on a neutral course which will normally be that of a side playing in the other semi-final or on a neutral course nominated by the Tournament Committee. The Tournament Committee will endeavour to appoint County Rules Officials to be present for the semi-final rounds.
  3. vi) The final round will be played over 18 holes on an agreed date on a neutral course nominated by the Tournament Committee. The agreed date and neutral course will normally be the same as for the final of the MIDDLESEX GOLF MEN’S Presidents Foursomes.

vii)     If a match is all square after 18 holes extra holes will be played in accordance with Part II – Terms of Play Applying to All Competitions, Term 15.1.

viii)    The team that wins the most matches will go through to the next round.

  1. ix) If a breach of Rule 1-3b(1) of the Rules of Golf between sides in a match results in a draw between the teams, a hole-by-hole play-off, in accordance with Part II – Terms Applying to All Competitions, Term 15.1 will be played between the sides which comprise players with handicaps in the range 6 to 10 until one side wins a hole. If they were the sides disqualified, then the play-off will be between the sides that comprised players with handicaps in the range 11 to 15. In the event of a breach of Rule 1-3b(1) of the Rules of Golf between sides in a match resulting in a draw between the teams, not coming to light until a later date, the teams may field substitutes in the play-off with appropriate handicaps that meet the required qualifications (see 16.1).
  2. x) Where a “Home Team” has difficulty in arranging to play the matches on their own course, it may request to play them on the other team’s course. If the matches are to be played on other than the course of the “Home Team”, the “Home Team” must expect to pay any green fees due.
  3. xi) Any claim under Rule 20.1b(2) of the Rules of Golf must be reported on the day to the County Secretary, or if he or she is not available, to the Chief Rules Official or to a member of the Tournament Panel of Rules Officials for a ruling.

xii)     The results of a round must be reported to the County Secretary as soon as possible after the completion of the last match.  If no result has been reported by noon on the Monday following the date set for the end of the round both teams will be disqualified.

xiii)    The Tournament Committee will endeavour to appoint County Rules Officials to be present for the final.

29.4  Order of play

  1. i) The sides playing in the handicap range 15.5 to 20.4 will play each other in the first match.
  2. ii) The sides playing in the handicap range 10.5 to 15.4 will play each other in the second match.

iii)      The sides playing in the handicap range 5.5 to 10.4 will play each other in the third match.

  1. iv) The “Away Team” will have the honour on the first teeing ground. In the semi-final and final rounds, the order of play from the first tee will be decided once by lot and the result will apply to all three matches.

29.5  Prizes and Vouchers      

          The winning team will receive on behalf of their club the Trophy and the team will also receive a memento to retain. 

Section 30 – MIDDLESEX GOLF MEN’S President’s Foursomes

30.1  Qualifications

  1. i) A team from an affiliated club will consist of six male players.
  2. ii) It is a term of entering that a team, when drawn as the “Home Team” in any round, must be in a position to play the matches on their course.

iii)     Any player competing in this Championship is not eligible to compete in the MIDDLESEX GOLF MEN’S Middlesex Sixes during the same calendar year. 

30.2  Maximum Entry

A maximum of one team from each affiliated club. 

30.3  Format

  1. i) The Championship is a team knockout foursomes match play competition, played off scratch. Each round comprises three foursomes matches over 18 holes, apart from Round Two which comprises of two legs.
  2. ii) The order of the draw will be determined by lot drawn by the County Secretary in the presence of at least one other member of the Tournament Committee or member of the Executive Committee. The first team drawn in any pair will be the top-named team on the draw sheet and will be considered to be the “Home Team”. The team drawn as their opponent will be the bottom-named team on the draw sheet and will be considered to be the “Away Team”. With the exception of the second round (see28.3 iii) the “Home Team” must contact their opponents three weeks prior to the Closing Date for each round. Failure to do so will result in the loss of the right to play at their home club.

iii)      In Round Two the first leg will be played on the course of the “Home Team” with the second leg on the course of the “Away Team”. All other rounds except the semi-final and final rounds will be played on the course of the “Home Team”.

  1. iv) Where a “Home Team” has difficulty in arranging to play the matches on their own course, it may opt to play them on a neutral course acceptable to the “Away Team” or on the course of the “Away Team”. If the matches are to be played on other than the course of the “Home Team”, the “Home Team” must expect to pay any green fees due.
  2. v) It is a term of entering that a team when drawn as the “Home Team” in any round, apart from the semi final and final, must be in a position to play the matches on their course and to offer the “Away Team” a courtesy practice round prior to the matches and meet the cost of any green fees that may be due.
  3. vi) Each round except the semi-final and final rounds, and each leg of Round Two will be played at or before 2:00pm on the closure date specified or on an earlier date and time mutually arranged between the two teams.

vii)     A semi-final will be played on a neutral course which will normally be that of a side playing in the other semi-final or on a neutral course nominated by the Tournament Committee. The Tournament Committee will endeavour to appoint County Rules Officials to be present for the semi-final rounds.

viii)    The final will be played on a neutral course nominated by the Tournament Committee. The Tournament Committee will endeavour to appoint County Rules Officials to be present for the final. The agreed date and neutral course will normally be the same as those for the final of the MIDDLESEX GOLF MEN’S Middlesex Sixes.

  1. ix) In the event of a match being all square after 18 holes, extra holes will be played in accordance with Part II – Terms of Play Applying to All Competitions, Term 15.1.
  2. x) Any claims to be made under Rule 20.1b(2) of the Rules of Golf must be reported on the day to the County Secretary, or if he or she is not available, to the Chief Rules Official or to a member of the Tournament Panel of Rules Officials for a ruling.
  3. xi) The team that wins the most matches in a round, or over the two legs of Round Two, will go through to the next round.

xii)     In the event of each team having won three matches in Round Two the Team Captains will nominate one of their three sides who have played in the second leg to play a hole-by-hole play-off, in accordance with Part II – Terms of Play Applying to All Competitions, Term 15.1.

xiii)    If a breach of Rule 1-3b(1) of the Rules of Golf between sides in a match results in a draw between the teams, the Team Captains will nominate one of their two sides not subject to disqualification, to play a hole-by-hole play-off, in accordance with Part II – Terms of Play Applying to All Competitions, Term 15.1. In the event of a breach of Rule 1-3b(1) of the Rules of Golf between sides in a match resulting in a draw between the teams, not coming to light until a later date, the teams may field substitutes in the play-off that meet the required qualifications.

xiv)    If a breach of Rule 1-3b(1) of the Rules of Golf between sides in a match or a valid claim made under the final paragraph of Rule 20.1b(2) of the Rules of Golf is upheld, results in a draw between the teams after there has been a hole-by-hole play-off in Round Two (see xii) the result of the hole-by-hole play-off will be ignored.

  1. xv) The results of a round must be reported to the County Secretary as soon as possible after the completion of the last match. If no result has been reported by noon on the Monday following the date set for the end of the round both teams will be disqualified.

30.4  Order of play

  1. i) Team Captains will exchange their team’s playing order at least fifteen minutes before the first starting time of a round. After the exchange of teams’ playing orders by the Team Captains, the order may not be changed, but substitutes may be permitted.
  2. ii) After the exchange of teams’ playing orders by the Team Captains, the order may not be changed.

iii)     For all rounds preceding the semi-final and final, the “Away Team” will have the honour on the first teeing ground. In the semi-final and final rounds, the order of play from the first tee will be decided once by lot and the result will apply to all three matches.

30.5  Prizes and Vouchers

          The winning team will receive on behalf of their club the Presidents Jug and the team will also receive a memento to retain. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Section 31 – MIDDLESEX GOLF WOMEN’S Foursomes Knockout Tournament 

31.1 Qualification

  1. i) An affiliated club can enter up to a maximum of three teams. Players do not need to be nominated in advance, however, should a club enter more than one team, a player must only play for one of them. All clubs entering the competition should ensure that their players are aware of the Finals date and be available to play should their team progress to this stage.
  2. ii) Entrants must hold a handicap of 36.4 or lower. Players with handicaps greater than the limit may not enter.

31.2 Maximum Entry

  1. i) A maximum of three teams may be nominated from each affiliated club.
  2. ii) Up to four players may be nominated for each team entered before the start date of the competition. The representative pair that competes in each round must be selected from this pool of players.

31.3  Format

  1. i) The tournament is a knockout foursomes match play competition, played off handicap. Each round comprises of matches over 18 holes.
  2. ii) Players will receive a handicap allowance of 50% of their combined team Course Handicaps. After handicap allowances have been applied the team with the lowest combined team handicap plays off zero strokes relative to the other team. The other team receives the difference between their own combined team handicap and that of the team with the lowest combined team handicap.   

iii)     The order of the draw will be determined by lot drawn by the County Secretary in the presence of at least one other member of the Tournament Committee or member of the Executive Committee. The first team drawn will be the top-named team on the draw sheet and will be considered to be the “Home Team”.  The team drawn as their opponent will be the bottom-named team on the draw sheet and will be considered to be the “Away Team”.

  1. iv) All matches will be played on a neutral course determined by the Tournament Committee.
  2. v) It is the responsibility of the “Home Team” to establish contact with the Club hosting the match to establish availability of dates.
  3. vi) It is a term of entering that a team when drawn as the “Home Team” in any round, apart from the semi final and final, must be in a position to play the matches on their course and to offer the “Away Team” a courtesy practice round prior to the matches and meet the cost of any green fees that may be due.

vii)    The first named club in the draw must contact the opposing club. Three dates are to be offered, one of which should be at a weekend. If the second named club has not been contacted 21 days before the play by date, it then becomes the 2nd club’s responsibility for contacting their opponents and offering three dates, one of which should be at a weekend.

viii)    If any two clubs are unable to agree on a date or time the match shall be played at 2.00pm on the last day of that particular round on the course selected by the Tournament Committee. If one club is present at that time, they shall be awarded the match, provided they have obtained proof of evidence of attendance from the Professional or Club Secretary/Manager (of that club).  This must be forwarded to the County Secretary immediately.

  1. ix) The semi-finals and final will be played on a neutral course and on a date nominated by the Tournament Committee. The Tournament Committee will endeavour to appoint County Rules Officials to be present for the final.
  2. x) The winners of each match shall send the result by email to the County Secretary without delay. A team given a “walkover” should inform the County Secretary by email immediately.
  3. xi) Any dispute or query will be settled by the Tournament Committee, whose decision is final

31.4 Order of play

The “Away Team” will have the honour on the first teeing ground.  For the semi-final and final matches, the order of play will be decided by lot.

 

Section 32 – MIDDLESEX GOLF MIXED Winter Match Play Championship

32.1 Qualifications

  1. i) The Championship is open to any golfer with a MIDDLESEX GOLF affiliation with a handicap limit of 28.4 for men and 36.4 for women on the date that their entry for the event is submitted.
  2. ii) A pair must be aged 18 or over at 00:00hrs on 1st January of the year of the Championship.

iii)      A pair must consist of one male and one female.

  1. iv) It is a term of entering a team, when drawn as the “Home Pair” in any round, must be in a position to play the matches on their course.

32.2 Maximum Entry

There is no maximum number of competitors for this Championship, but the committee reserves the right to restrict the numbers.

32.3 Format

  1. i) The Championship shall run over the winter period from November through to April.
  2. ii) The Championship is a Greensomes knockout 18-hole match play competition, played off Greensomes Handicap (60% lower handicap + 40% higher handicap) + adjustment. As there will most likely be more than one set of tees being used in the match, the adjustment is 50% of the difference between the Course Rating for your tees in use and the lowest Course Rating being utilised in the group.

iii)      After handicap allowances have been applied the team with the lowest combined team handicap plays off zero strokes relative to the other team. The other team receives the difference between their own combined team handicap and that of the team with the lowest combined team handicap.

  1. iv) Men and women must play from the furthest tees of the day that are available to them. The indices from the women’s tees that are available to them must be used to determine where shots apply. To ensure the safety of players, the order of play on each hole is determined by whoever’s tees are the furthest back. Therefore, there may be occasions where both women play before their partners.
  2. v) The order of the draw will be determined by lot drawn by the County Secretary. The first pair drawn will be the top-named pair on the draw sheet and will be the “Home Pair”. The pair drawn as their opponent will be the bottom-named pair on the draw sheet and will be the “Away Pair”.
  3. vi) Should the condition of the “Home Pair’s” course not be suitable for the match to be played, then the match can either be played at the “Away Pair’s” course or a neutral course selected by the Tournament Committee.

vii)     The pair that reports the result of their match first will receive the advantage of being the top pair, and thus have “home” advantage in the next round. 

viii)    Each round except the final round will start at or before 11:00am on the closure date specified or on an earlier date and time mutually arranged between the two teams

  1. ix) The final will be played over 18 holes on a date and on a neutral course nominated by the Tournament Committee.
  2. x) In the event of a match being all square after 18 holes, extra holes will be played in accordance with Part II – Terms of Play Applying to All Competitions, Term 15.1.
  3. xi) The result of each match must be reported to the County Secretary as soon as possible after the completion of the match. If no result has been reported by noon on the Monday following the date set for the end of the round both pairs will be disqualified.

xii)     Following any match other than the semi-finals and final, any claim under Rule 20.1b(2) of the Rules of Golf must be reported on the day to the to the Chief Rules Official or to a member of the Tournament Panel of Rules Officials for a ruling.

32.4 Order of play

  1. i) The “Away Pair” will have the honour on the first teeing ground. For the semi-final and final matches, the order of play will be decided by lot.

          But competitors must heed to the following safety precaution …

  1. ii) In the interest of safety, on each hole the players teeing off from the forward most tees must stand safely aside and allow all players to tee off from tee that are further back, regardless of honour.

32.5 Prizes and Vouchers

  1. i) The winners will be presented with the Winter Match Play Championship Trophy. They will also receive a memento to retain and a voucher.
  2. ii) The runners-up will receive a voucher.

 

Section 33 – MIDDLESEX GOLF Fourball Better-ball Handicap Knockout

33.1  Qualifications

  1. i) A pair must consist of two players from the same affiliated club whose handicaps must not be less than 5.5 or greater than 36.4.
  2. ii) Entrants must be aged 18 and over at 00:00 hours on 1st January preceding the Championship.

iii)      A pair can either be both males or both females or male and female.

  1. iv) It is a term of entering that a team, when drawn as the “Home Pair” in any round, must be in a position to play the matches on their course.

33.2  Maximum Entry

There is no maximum number of pairs from each affiliated club.

33.3  Format

  1. i) The Championship is a fourball knockout 18 hole match play competition played off the current Playing Handicap (90% Handicap Allowance) on the day of the match.
  2. ii) After handicap allowances have been applied the player with the lowest Playing Handicap plays off zero strokes relative to the other players. The other players receive the full difference between their own Playing Handicap and that of the player with the lowest Playing Handicap.   

          The Playing Handicaps of each member of the group are calculated by the following calculation – (Course Handicap x Handicap Allowance) + Adjustment. Handicap Allowance is 90% for 4BBB. If there are more than one set of tees being used in the match, the adjustment is the difference between the CR for your tees and the lowest CR being utilised in the group.

iii)      The individual player scores using the Stroke Index appropriate for the tee they are playing from

  1. iv) Pairings may not be changed once the deadline for the draw has passed. As per Rule 23.4 of the Rules of Golf, ‘The side may be represented by one partner during all or any of a round’. If a pair is represented by only one player, the handicap strokes are calculated as if all four players are present as per clarification 23.4/1.
  2. v) The order of the draw will be determined by lot drawn by the County Secretary. The first pair drawn will be the top-named pair on the draw sheet and will be the “Home Pair”. The pair drawn as their opponent will be the bottom-named pair on the draw sheet and will be the “Away Pair”.
  3. vi) Should the condition of the “Home Pair’s” course not be suitable for the match to be played, then the match can be played at the “Away Pair’s” course.

vii)     The pair that reports the result of their match first will receive the advantage of being the top pair, and thus have “home” advantage in the next round.   

viii)    Each round except the final round will start at or before 2:00pm on the closure date specified or on an earlier date and time mutually arranged between the two teams.

  1. ix) If a match is all square after 18 holes extra holes will be played in accordance with Part II – Terms of Play Applying to All Competitions, Term 15.1.
  2. x) The final round will be played over 18 holes on an agreed date on a neutral course nominated by the Tournament Committee. The agreed date and neutral course will normally be the same as for the final of the MIDDLESEX GOLF MEN’S Senior KO.
  3. xi) The results of a round must be reported to the County Secretary as soon as possible after the completion of the last match. If no result has been reported by noon on the Monday following the date set for the end of the round both teams will be disqualified.

xii)     The Tournament Committee will endeavour to appoint County Rules Officials to be present for the final.

xiii)    Following any match other than the final, any claim under Rule 20.1b(2) of the Rules of Golf must be reported on the day to the Chief Rules Official or to a member of the Tournament Panel of Rules Officials for a ruling.

33.4  Order of play

  1. i) The “Away Pair” will have the honour on the first teeing ground. For the final match, the order of play will be decided by lot.
  2. ii) In the interest of safety and pace of play, on each hole the players teeing off from the forward most tees must stand safely aside and allow all players teeing off from further back to hit first.

33.5  Prizes and Vouchers      

  1. i) The winning pair will receive on behalf of their club the Trophy and the pair will also receive a memento to retain and a voucher.
  2. ii) The runners-up will receive a voucher.

County Meets

Section 34 – MIDDLESEX GOLF WOMEN’S Spring Meeting

34.1  Qualifications

  1. i) Entrants with a handicap of 20.4 or lower on the date of the competition will compete for the Silver Spring Meeting
  2. ii) Entrants with a handicap between 20.5 and 40.4 on the date of the competition will compete for the Bronze Spring Meeting.

iii)      Players with handicaps greater than the limit of 40.4 may not enter. 

34.2  Maximum Entry 

The maximum number of competitors is 72.  If the number of approved entries exceeds the number of places available, places will be allocated to entrants based on date order of their submitted entry.   

34.3  Format

The Tournament will be played over 18 holes of stableford, played off handicap allowance. 

34.4  Order of Play

As far as is practical, competitors will play on the tee times they submitted their name against when entering. 

34.5  Prizes and Vouchers

  1. i) The winner will be the competitor with the highest stableford score for the 18 holes.
  2. ii) The winner will receive the trophy and they will also receive a memento to retain and a voucher.

iii)      The runner-up will receive a voucher.

  1. iv) If there is a tie, the winners will be determined on the basis of the team’s combined score over the last 9 holes. If a tie still exists, the winners will be decided on the last 6, 3 or 1 hole. If a tie still exists, the winners will be decided on the first 9, 6, 3 or 1 hole.

Section 35 – MIDDLESEX GOLF MEN’S Spring Meeting

35.1  Qualifications

Entrants must be male and aged 18 and over at 00:00 hours on 1st January preceding the Championship and must hold a handicap of 40.4 or lower on the date that their entry is submitted. Players with handicaps greater than the limit may not apply.

35.2  Maximum Entry 

The maximum number of competitors is 64.  If the number of approved entries exceeds the number of places available, places will be allocated to entrants based on date order of their submitted entry.   

35.3  Format

The Spring Meeting consists of 18-holes Four-ball Better stableford played off handicap. The pair’s score will comprise of the best stableford score of the two competitors on each of the 18 holes.

35.4  Order of Play

As far as is practical, competitors will play on the tee times they submitted their name against when entering. 

35.5  Prizes and Vouchers

  1. i) The winners of the Spring Meeting will be the one with the highest aggregate stableford score over the 18 holes, with the best score of the two scores counting on each hole.
  2. ii) The winners will receive the trophy and they will also receive a memento to retain and a voucher.

iii)      The runners-up will receive a voucher. 

  1. iv) If there is a tie, the winners will be determined on the basis of the team’s combined score over the last 9 holes. If a tie still exists, the winners will be decided on the last 6, 3 or 1 hole. If a tie still exists, the winners will be decided on the first 9, 6, 3 or 1 hole.  

Section 36 – MIDDLESEX GOLF WOMEN’S Seniors’ Summer Meeting

36.1  Qualification 

Entrants must be female and aged 50 and over at 00:00 hours on 1st January preceding the Championship. and must hold a handicap of 40.4 or lower on the date that their entry is submitted. Players with handicaps greater than the limit may not enter.

36.2  Maximum Entry 

The maximum number of competitors is 64. If the number of approved entries exceeds the number of places available, places will be allocated to entrants based on date order of their submitted entry.   

36.3 Format

The Senior’s Summer Meeting consists of 18-holes Four-ball Better Ball stableford played off handicap. The pair’s score will comprise of the best stableford score of the two competitors on each of the 18 holes

36.4 Order of play 

Competitor’s may choose their partners or partners can be arranged by either the County Secretary or the Competition Organiser. Order of play will be arranged by the County Secretary or Competition Organiser. 

36.5  Prizes and Vouchers

  1. i) The winners of the Senior’s Summer Meeting will be the one with the highest aggregate stableford score over the 18 holes, with the best score of the two scores counting on each hole.
  2. ii) The winning pair will receive the trophy and they will also receive a memento to retain and a voucher.

iii)      The runners-up will receive a voucher. 

  1. iv) If there is a tie, the winners will be determined on the basis of the team’s combined score over the last 9 holes. If a tie still exists, the winners will be decided on the last 6, 3 or 1 hole. If a tie still exists, the winners will be decided on the first 9, 6, 3 or 1 hole.  

Section 37 – MIDDLESEX GOLF WOMEN’S Autumn Meeting

37.1  Qualification 

Entrants for the Women’s Autumn Meeting must be female and have handicaps from plus to 40.4. Competitors should enter in teams of four. Players with handicaps greater than the limit may not enter. 

37.2  Maximum number of Entries 

The maximum number of competitors is 64. If the number of approved entries exceeds the number of places available, places will be allocated to entrants based on date order of their submitted entry.

37.3  Format

The Autumn Meeting consists of 18 holes stableford in teams of four with each player receiving full handicap allowance. The team’s 18-hole score is based on the two best stableford point scores of the four competitors on each hole.

37.4  Order of play 

As far as is practical, competitors will start on the hole that they submitted their name against when entering. 

37.5  Prizes and Vouchers

  1. i) The winners of the Autumn Meeting will be the one with the highest aggregate stableford score over the 18 holes, with the best two of the four scores counting on each hole.
  2. ii) The winning team will receive the trophy and they will also receive a memento to retain and a voucher.

iii)      The runners-up will receive a voucher. 

  1. iv) If there is a tie, the winners will be determined on the basis of the team’s combined score over the last 9 holes. If a tie still exists, the winners will be decided on the last 6, 3 or 1 hole. If a tie still exists, the winners will be decided on the first 9, 6, 3 or 1 hole.

Section 38 – MIDDLESEX GOLF MEN’S Autumn Meeting

38.1  Qualification 

Entrants for the Men’s Autumn Meeting must be male and have handicaps from plus to 40.4. Players with handicaps greater than the limit may not enter.  Competitors should enter in teams of four.

38.2  Maximum number of Entries 

The maximum number of competitors is 64. If the number of approved entries exceeds the number of places available, places will be allocated to entrants based on date order of their submitted entry.

38.3  Format

The Autumn Meeting consists of 18 holes stableford in teams of four with each player receiving full handicap allowance. The team’s 18-hole score is based on the two best stableford point scores of the four competitors on each hole.

38.4  Order of play 

As far as is practical, competitors will start on the hole that they submitted their name against when entering. 

38.5  Prizes and Vouchers

  1. i) The winners of the Autumn Meeting will be the one with the highest aggregate stableford score over the 18 holes, with the best two of the four scores counting on each hole.
  2. ii) The winning team will receive the trophy and they will also receive a memento to retain and a voucher.

iii)      The runners-up will receive a voucher. 

  1. iv) If there is a tie, the winners will be determined on the basis of the team’s combined score over the last 9 holes. If a tie still exists, the winners will be decided on the last 6, 3 or 1 hole. If a tie still exists, the winners will be decided on the first 9, 6, 3 or 1 hole.

 

 

 

County Awards and Merits

Section 39 – MIDDLESEX GOLF MEN’S Order of Merit

MIDDLESEX GOLF MEN’S Order of Merit will consist of Club Stroke Play events and two County Match play qualifying competitions, which are defined on the Middlesex Golf website.

Below are the types of event with the corresponding Men’s Order of Merit Points.

Rank

Event

Scheduled

WAGR

Order of Merit Points

1

Gowland & County Champs

N/A

Counting

Tier I

3

54-holes

Weekend

Counting

Tier II

4

36-holes

Weekend

Non-Counting

Tier III

5

18-holes

Weekend

Non-Counting

Tier IV

6

36-holes or 18-holes

Weekday

Non-Counting

Tier V

Gowland & Middlesex County Championship Order of Merit Points

Finish

Winner

Runner-Up

Semi-Final

Quarter-Final

Last-16

Tier I

50

40

30

15

10

Club Open Order of Merit Points

 

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

5th

6th

7th

8th

9th

10th

Tier II

40

30

20

15

12

10

8

6

4

2

Tier III

30

20

15

12

10

8

6

4

2

1

Tier IV

20

15

12

10

8

0

0

0

0

0

Tier V

15

12

10

0

0

0

0

0

0

0

Points in these competitions will be awarded to competitors who are home members from an affiliated Middlesex club in each event.

Middlesex Player Rewards

  1. i) The top 3 competitors in the Order of Merit will all receive a voucher.
  2. ii) The top 3 competitors will also receive free entry and a bye into the round-of-32 in the following year’s Gowland Salver.

Section 40 – MIDDLESEX GOLF Junior Order of Merit

Points for the Order of Merit are awarded on a sliding scale for all competitions based upon the number of MIDDLESEX GOLF players entering. Positions will be defined by their place amongst U18 MIDDLESEX GOLF Juniors only as follows:

No of MIDDLESEX GOLF Players                          No of Positions Awarded

 54+                                                                                            10

47-53                                                                                         9

40-46                                                                                         8

33-39                                                                                         7

26-32                                                                                         6

25 and under                                                                           5

After each qualifying competition the MIDDLESEX GOLF web site will be updated with scores. In the event of ties, points for places tied are split equally amongst the players.

For both County Championships and Junior Opens, points are given for the best scores which could be either nett or Stableford scores depending on the basis of the competition.

The winners will be the players who are U14 and U18 with the highest aggregate points after all counting events have been played.

The best score in the respective Middlesex U18s Championship resolves the tie.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Section 41 – MIDDLESEX GOLF WOMEN’S Most Reduced Handicap (Mackenzie Salver)

This competition is open to all women. The winner is the lady with the best overall exact reduction in handicap from 1st October to 30th September the following year. To be eligible for this competition, entrants must have a handicap of 36.4 or lower on 1st October. Any new member who joins partway through the competition year is eligible to play subject to their handicap being 36.4 or lower.

Section 42 – MIDDLESEX GOLF JUNIOR BOY’S Most Improved Junior Golfer of the Year

This competition is open to all junior boys and girls who are under 18 as at 1st January of competition year. Nominations accepted from Middlesex Clubs by 31st October of each year.

Section 43 – MIDDLESEX GOLF JUNIOR GIRLS’ Most Reduced Handicap (Rita Evans Salver)

The competition is open to all junior girls who are under 18 as at 1st January of the competition year. The winner is the junior girl with the best overall exact reduction in handicap from 1st October to 30th September the following year. To be eligible for this competition, entrants must have a handicap of 36.4 or lower on 1st October. Any new member who joins partway through the competition year is eligible to play subject to their handicap being 36.4 or lower.