League Rules – Silsoe Golf League

League Rules

Each team will comprise of 2 players and all teams will play each other once during a season of matches.
Wherever possible, all fixtures should be played with all team members attending i.e. a team of 2 players against the opposing team of 2 players.
If it is clear that a player cannot make a scheduled fixture, the player or player’s partner must inform their opponents by email at least 48 hours in advance of the fixture, that they wish to reschedule the match to another date. However, it is desirable that the team considering cancelling the match should play the match 2 on 1.

If the team proposing to cancel the match at short notice choose not to play the game as stated in the current rule and request the match to be rescheduled this can be requested on the following basis:
- With agreement from the opposing team, the match may be rescheduled but with the cancelling team both playing the rescheduled match with a 1 stroke penalty.
- If the opposing team decline to reschedule the match, the opposing team have the option of claiming the match as per the current ‘Conceded games’ rule and doing so by e-mailing the committee and copying the cancelling team within 3 days of the cancelled match. The email should state why it is not practical to reschedule the match.
- Potential reason for agreeing to reschedule:
  - injury or illness occurring within the last 48 hours
  - match was already planned as 2 on 1, or 1 on 1, where the cancelling team is the 1.
- Potential reasons for disagreeing to reschedule may include:
  - opposing team already behind on games
  - assessment of difficulty rescheduling a match as already well into the season
- If the cancelling team wish to appeal the disagreement/claimed match they must do so via email to the committee within 3 days copying the opposing team on the appeal and stating reasons for cancellation.
- No scoring will be entered for the match until after communication of the outcome of the appeal is communicated to both teams. If the appeal is successful, the match can then be rescheduled with the cancelling team both playing with a 1 stroke penalty.

It is acceptable to pre-arrange a 2 on 1 or 1 on 1 match to ensure fixtures are played on a time.
The SGL Committee will monitor those teams who are not playing fixtures on time.
Matches should be played as soon as possible after the scheduled time.
Teams will not be allowed to replace or substitute players once the season has commenced, unless there are mitigating circumstances as agreed by the Silsoe Golf League Committee.
Matches are to be played over 9 holes. The Thursday evening venue will be decided prior to the start of the season. Rescheduled matches may be played on any course if agreed by all the players concerned.
The SGL handicap will be an individual’s 9 hole handicap.
Make sure the correct handicap is used. This is the handicap that appears on the web site on the day of play. Incorrect use of handicaps will void your score.
All new members will start with a handicap of 3 with the proviso that they are monitored weekly and that a realistic handicap is put in place at the earliest opportunity.
All other members handicaps will be set at the start of the league and will remain fixed throughout the playing season.
The maximum SGL handicap of any player will be 11. Players should play to the handicap that appears on the web site on the evening of play.
The match format is Fourball Best Ball. (Played in pairs with each golfer playing his own ball). The lowest score recorded by any individual golfer, based on handicaps, wins the hole for his team.
Shots received will be taken from the player with the lowest Handicap of those players participating in the match. Example: Player A has the better handicap of 4. An opposing player has a handicap of 9. The opposing player will receive 5 shots over Player A which will apply to the appropriate 5 hardest ‘index’ holes from the 9 played.
Each team should elect a scorer prior to the match.
After the 9 holes are completed, the team winning the most holes will be awarded 3 points.
In the event of a draw each team will be awarded 2 points.
If the losing team has lost the match by one hole, they will be awarded 1 point.
The total number of holes won by each team must be recorded on the card and it is the responsibility of the scorer to hand or email the completed and signed scorecard to the handicap secretary within 48 hours of the match being completed.
Conceded games will be considered as follows: 2 points and 3 holes to the winner, 0 points and 0 holes to the loser. A conceded game is applicable if one team fails to make a scheduled fixture and has not contacted the opposing team to re-schedule the match.
In cases of adverse weather conditions, the teams can elect to play a lesser number of holes to decide the match or abandon the match and reschedule.
At the end of the season, the team amassing the most points will be declared the winners. In the event of a tie, the team winning the most holes during the season will be declared the winners. If teams are still level on points and holes, then teams will have a play-off over 9 holes to decide the winners.
As regards the fixture list, members should ensure that they do not fall too far behind the planned fixture dates. The designated ‘Free Weeks’ should be used to complete any un-played matches unless the Committee decide to use ‘Free Weeks’ to run a competition. Rearranged matches can of course be played at other times appropriate to the other team members.
Don’t leave missed matches until the end of the season to catch up. Catch up in the next available free week or shortly after the game should have been played. No extension will be allowed at the end of the season for games that have not been played. Both teams in a void game will score 0 points and 0 holes.
Teams / individuals who keep to the fixture list are still invited to ‘Free Weeks’ to arrange ‘friendly matches’ if a competition is not planned, in order to maintain the ‘social’ nature of the League.
Once a result is posted on the web site you have two weeks to challenge the result if appropriate. After that time results will stand and cannot be challenged. No results may be challenged after the penultimate week of the season.
For individual competitions full handicaps are used. That will be your 9 hole league handicap or your 18 hole competition handicap.
Individual competitions require individual cards. No group cards will be accepted for individual competitions.
Competition for the Chairman’s trophy will be the best net score on the front 9 holes over the season. If several golfers end up on the same net score the committee will decide how a winner will be decided. This may involve a play-off if more than two players end up on the same score.