Acceptable Scores
From the start of the Winter League on Sunday 27th of October the ability to submit acceptable scores will be turned off. Which means the Club will no longer accept general play scores and cards for handicap until further notice.
Delays
During the Winter League if the start of a Saturday Competition is delayed because of a Course Closure for more than an hour then:
- the scores will NOT count for the Winter League.
- the competition will be played as a sweep.
- If there are over 40 entries the normal section prizes will be paid out
- Under this amount the prizes will be in proportion to the entries
Playing Conditions
From the start of the Winter League
- Fairway – Fairway Mats are compulsory *.
- Rough – Lift, Clean and Place within 6”
Until we move to the Winter Tee Boxes, we would encourage members to use the mat on the tee boxes e.g. Par 3s, where you may take a divot. We would also encourage all golfers to use the mat for causal rounds.
Bunkers
From Sunday 27th of October all bunkers will be declared no play zones.
Winter Local Rules
Compulsory Use of Fairway Mat
When a player’s ball lies in a part of the general area cut to fairway height or less and a putter is not being used for the stroke, the ball must be lifted, placed on and played from an Astroturf, or similar type of, mat. The mat must be placed as near as possible to where the ball originally lay, and the ball must be placed on the mat. The ball may be cleaned when lifted.
If a ball when placed rolls off the mat, the player must try to place it a second time. If the ball again does not stay on the mat, the mat must be moved to the nearest spot, not nearer the hole, where the ball will come to rest on the mat when placed. If the player accidentally causes the ball on the mat to move before a stroke is made, there is no penalty and the ball must be placed again on the mat.
If a tee is used to secure the mat into the ground, the ball must not be placed on the tee.
Penalty for not using the Fairway Mats will be disqualification from the competition and the entry fee will not be refunded.
Repeated failure to use the Fairway Mats will result in a suspension from all Club Competitions until the start of the Summer Competitions. For casual rounds all golfers are encouraged to use a mat.
Bunkers [Back on Line Relief]
All bunkers are no play zones and the player must drop the original ball or another ball (see
Rule 14.3) outside that bunker, keeping the spot of the original ball between the hole and the spot where the ball is dropped (with no limit on how far back the ball may be dropped).
The spot on the line where the ball first touches the ground when dropped creates a relief area that is one club-length in any direction from that point, but with these limits:
Limits on Location of Relief Area:
- Must not be nearer the hole than the spot of the original ball, and
- May be in any area of the course except the same bunker, but
- Must be in the same area of the course that the ball first touched when dropped.
Once the ball is back in play, the player may then take further preferred lie relief.
Saturday Winter League
Dates
From Saturday 2nd of November through to Saturday 16th of March 2024
Entry
Entry into the Winter League will be £10.
Members are asked to put the entrance fee into the envelopes provided, write their name clearly on the outside of the envelope and place into the Match & Handicap slot of the cabinet.
Competition
Each week the Winter League will be played over a fourteen hole course as directed by the Match & Handicap committee although this will be dependent on the number of playable holes on the course. Entrance fee each week is £5.
Prizes
Weekly prizes will be awarded for 1st, 2nd and 3rd in three handicap sections. The sections will be amended each week to create an even split as possible.
There will be no weekly team prizes.
Overall Scoring – Winter League Trophy
2/3 of the competitions played will count to your final score. The Winter League Trophy will be presented to the member with the highest final score.
Vouchers will also be issued for the three highest scores in three divisions. The divisions will be based on members handicap index as of 16th October. With the split to be determined once all the entries are in to create an even split.
Team Competition
A team will be made up of 4 players with 3 scores counting towards the team’s weekly total. With 2/3 of the team’s weekly totals counting towards the team’s final score. Vouchers will be issued for the three highest scoring teams.
Saturday Tee Times
Tee Times will be allocated based on the current summer start sheet. Members who are not competing in the Winter League will not be allocated a tee time.
The Match & Handicap Committee would like to remind everyone they are still required to cancel their Saturday tee time before 5:30pm on the Friday night.
Counting Competitions
If a competition is cancelled or not completed, then the number of counting weeks will be reduced accordingly. A competition will not count towards the overall total if 25% of the members due to play are unable to complete their round.
Delayed Starts / Hole Closures
Match & Handicap committee will decide on how the competition will be played with the emphasis on enabling everyone to complete their round with the minimal amount of delay to start times. If the Winter League competition is ‘cancelled’ but course is playable the club will hold a sweep competition.
Tees
These competitions will be played off the Blue Tee until we move to the Winter Mats.
Winter Sunday Trophy – Fourteen Holes
From Sunday 27th of October through to Tuesday of 12th March 2024.
Members will be able to enter the Competition from Sunday through to Tuesday
Members must enter the Sunday Competition for their score to count.
2/3 of the 14 Hole competitions played will count to your final score. With the Winter Sunday trophy being awarded to the member with the highest points total.
These competitions will be played off the Blue Tee until we move to the Winter Mats.
Winter Midweek Trophy – Fourteen Holes
From Wednesday 30th of October to Friday of 15th March 2024.
Members will be able to enter the Competition from Wednesday to Friday.
Members must enter the Midweek Competition for their score to count.
2/3 of the 14 Hole competitions played will count to your final score. With the Winter Midweek trophy being awarded to the member with the highest points total.
These competitions will be played off the Blue Tee until we move to the Winter Mats.
Winter 60 Plus Trophy – Fourteen Holes
From Monday 28th of October to Friday 15th of March 2024.
Members will be able to enter the Competition from Monday to Friday.
Members must enter the 60 Plus Competition for their score to count.
2/3 of the 14 Hole competitions played will count to your final score. With the Winter 60 Plus trophy being awarded to the member with the highest points total.
These competitions will be played off the Blue Tee until we move to the Winter Mats.
Model Local Rule E-2 & E-3
E-2 Cleaning Ball
When a player’s ball lies in the general area, the ball may be lifted, cleaned, and replaced without penalty. The player must mark the spot before lifting the ball (see Rule 14.1) and the ball must be replaced on its original spot (see Rule 14.2).
E-3 Preferred Lies
When a player’s ball lies in the general area cut to fairway height or less, the player may take free relief once by placing the original ball or another ball in and playing it from this relief area:
Reference Point:
Spot of the original ball.
Size of Relief Area Measured from Reference Point:
6 inches from the reference point, but with these limits:
Limits on Location of Relief Area:
It must not be nearer the hole than the reference point and must be in the general area.
In proceeding under this Local Rule, the player must choose a spot to place the ball and use the procedures for replacing a ball under Rules 14.2b(2) and 14.2e.
The penalty for breach of these Local Rule is the General Penalty
Rules Explained
E-2 Cleaning Ball
When a player’s ball lies in the general area which is previously called through the green the ball may be lifted, cleaned, and replaced on its original spot without penalty. [See full wording above]
E-3 Preferred Lies
When a player’s ball lies on the fairway only the player may take free relief by lifting, cleaning, and placing a ball within six inches of the original spot. [See full wording above]
Winter League Handicaps
For the 2024 / 2025 Winter Competitions the following handicaps will be used:
18 Hole Competitions
Course Handicap = Handicap Index rounded to nearest integer
Playing Handicap = 70% of your Course Handicap
14 Hole Competitions
Course Handicap = Handicap Index rounded to nearest integer
Playing Handicap = 70% of your Course Handicap
9 Hole Competitions
Course Handicap = Half of your Handicap Index rounded to nearest integer
Playing Handicap = 70% of your Course Handicap
Members who consistently score two better than handicap [20 pts, 30pts or 38pts] will be subject to a handicap review and a reduction applied. These reductions will remain on your scoring record and will NOT be removed at the end of the Winter.