ELCGA

Extract from Rules & Conditions of Play 2010 - Updated January 2010

2. INTER-CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP - SILVER SHIELD, SILVER TROPHY & BRONZE SHIELD All Stand Alone Competitions All individual matches played off scratch
(a) Clubs shall, for each team entered, pay an amount as approved by the Management Committee, and entries to be made by a date determined by the Committee. Clubs must be affiliated to the County Association.

(b) Handicap restrictions: Silver Shield – none; Silver Trophy – 10+; Bronze Shield – 19+.

(c) No club may enter more than one team in any competition.

(d) Juniors under the age of 16 are permitted to play in the Inter Club Competitions. If matches are played on a school attendance day they must provide a letter on school notepaper, countersigned by a parent or guardian stating the date absence has been granted for.

(e) Bronze players may play in Silver Shield/Silver Trophy matches without affecting their eligibility for Bronze Shield. (N.B. they would no longer be able to play in Harris Bowl matches for the remainder of the season).

(f) Any lady who plays in the Silver Shield and/or Silver Trophy is ineligible to play in the Harris Bowl.

(g) Players must be paid-up members of the club they are representing by 1st March.

(h) The number and composition of leagues shall be decided by the Committee according to the entries received.

(i) Matches must be played on or between dates arranged by the Committee. When the dates for the league matches have been arranged, they and any subsequent changes must be confirmed in writing by the home Team Captain.

(j) Teams shall consist of seven players (five in the Silver Trophy) with a player’s position in the team being determined by handicap, whether or not she is playing as a reserve. Positions of players with the same playing handicap shall be determined by the Team Captain.

(k) Each individual match will be 18 holes match play, starting from the 1st tee of the designated course and played to a conclusion. Buggies are not permitted unless sanctioned firstly by the County Association (ELCGA) and then the host club. (See N.B. below).

(l) A player may not play in the same competition for more than one club during the season.

(m) The Team Captains shall be solely responsible for their teams playing in the correct order according to their correct playing handicap. If any player knowingly or unknowingly plays in the wrong position, her match and any other match affected through wrong positioning shall be conceded as walkovers to the opposing players. The Team Captain may give advice to team members during play of a match.

(n) Should a player fail to be on the 1st tee within 45 minutes (Silver Shield/Bronze Shield) or 30 minutes (Silver Trophy/Harris Bowl)of the agreed starting time of the team match, the opposing Team Captain has the right to claim a walkover in that individual match.

(0) A team may play only if it can provide a minimum of four players (Silver Shield/Bronze Shield) or three players (Silver Trophy).

(p) In the event that a full team cannot be fielded on the day, players in that team must fill positions 1 to 4/5/6 (Silver Shield/Bronze Shield) or 1 to 3/4 (Silver Trophy). The opposing team will receive a walkover in the remaining matches, i.e. the empty position(s) has/have to be the last match(es).

(q) Matches must be played on the designated course. If the course has been declared unplayable or is otherwise unavailable the match must be re-arranged. In the event that some holes are closed, 18 holes must be arranged in the best way possible. If advisable, nine holes may be placed twice.

(r) During a match, if play cannot begin at the appointed time or is suspended in accordance with Rule 33-2d of the Rules of Golf, and play cannot be started/resumed that day, a future date should be amicably arranged by the two Captains. However, if no play is possible, no decision to rearrange may be taken until a minimum of 2 hours have elapsed, during which time all players are required to remain at the club. If a match is rearranged, the teams must be represented by the same players who must resume their matches in accordance with the Rules of Golf (see Rules 6-8 and 20-3) at whichever hole they were playing when the suspension occurred. Should a player on either side be unable to attend she must give a walkover to her opponent. If players occupying the same position on both sides are unable to play, both teams may use a new player in the last position, maintaining correct handicap order. Any reduction in a player’s handicap in the interim period is ignored for the purposes of completing her match. (For Public Courses only: if the home club is unable to arrange to finish the matches from the appropriate holes, the remaining holes in these circumstances, including unfinished holes, may be played commencing from the first tee).

(s) Depending on the number of leagues, and as previously determined by a draw, the winners of each league will play quarter or semi-finals.

(t) The team with the greatest number of wins will be the league winner. In the event of a tie in the number of wins, the number of individual matches won will be the deciding factor. If there is still a tie, an extra point will be awarded for each away team win. If there is still a tie, the winner will be determined by the results between the teams in the league matches.

(u) Should there be an uneven number of leagues, after determining the winners as described above, the best runner(s)-up will be determined: i) When there are the same number of teams in each League, the team with the greatest number of wins will be the runner-up. In the event of a tie in the number of wins, the number of individual matches won will be the deciding factor. If there is still a tie, an extra point will be awarded for each away team win. If there is still a tie, the runner-up will be determined by a play-off between the two teams on a neutral course. (ii) When there are a different number of teams in each League, the team with the least number of lost matches will be the runner-up. In the event of a tie in the number of losses, the number of individual matches won will be the deciding factor, determined by expressing the matches won as a percentage. If there is still a tie, an extra point will be awarded for each away team win. If there is still a tie, the runner-up will be determined by a play-off between the two teams on a neutral course.

(v) Team Captains must notify the relevant Organiser as soon as the league match dates have been agreed. No match dates may be altered after 1st April except under rules (q) and (r) above.

(w) Any club unable to play on the agreed date or giving a walkover to the opposing team will be withdrawn from the league and all matches played cancelled.

(x) The Committee shall decide the dates of the quarter-finals, semi-finals and finals. The clubs involved will be notified of the venue and starting times. Note: Clubs who qualify for quarter or semi-finals are expected to make their courses available for another match in that round or later rounds. Any lack of availability must be notified to the appropriate Organiser as soon as possible.

(y) No courtesy round may be requested at any time for Silver or Bronze matches.

3. HARRIS BOWL – Played off Handicap
(a) One entry per club.

(b) Players must be paid-up members of the club they are representing by 1st March.

(c) Handicap limit + - 28 (ladies with a higher handicap must play off 28).

(e) Any lady who plays in the Harris Bowl is ineligible to play in the Silver Shield/Silver Trophy, except under rule (f) and any lady who plays in the Silver Shield/Silver Trophy, is ineligible to play in the Harris Bowl.

(f) Any Harris Bowl player with a handicap of 19 and above, who is required to play in her club’s Silver Shield/Silver Trophy Team, would become ineligible to play Harris Bowl matches for the remainder of the season. A player with a handicap of under 19 cannot be asked to play in the Silver Shield/Silver Trophy, if she has played in the Harris Bowl.

(g) Teams to consist of 5 players.

(h) Teams to play in handicap order. Positions of players with the same playing handicap shall be determined by the Team Captain.
(i) Handicap allowance as per CONGU.

(j) Matches to be played to a conclusion. Any extra holes to be played from where started and handicap allowance continued.

General Information
Items in Section 2 listed as (a), (c), (d), (f), (g), (h), (i), (j), (k), (l), (m), (n), (o), (p), (q), (r), (s), (t), (u), (v), (w), (x) and (y) also apply to the Harris Bowl. N.B. (j) (o) and (p) apply as in Silver Trophy.

CADDIES are allowed in the County Championship, Inter Club Competitions (Silver Shield, Silver Trophy, Bronze Shield & Harris Bowl) and Munro Foursomes. They are there to assist the players; they may go on the green and hold the flag if requested to do so, but play must not be delayed. Professional or Assistant Professional golfers are not permitted in any ELCGA competitions.

N.B. USE OF BUGGIES in the COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP, HANDICAP MEETINGS (excluding ladies in Senior Category C who may use a buggy if they wish), SILVER SHIELD/SILVER TROPHY/BRONZE SHIELD/HARRIS BOWL and MUNRO FOURSOMES:

If, due to a registered medical condition, a golfer is unable to play the game of golf without the use of a buggy, she may apply annually to the County Secretary, through her Ladies’ Secretary, for this to be recorded. A letter from her doctor should accompany the initial application. It should be noted that, once registered, she would not be permitted to play at clubs where buggies are not allowed.

DISTANCE MEASURING DEVICES ( DMD’s) are NOT permitted in any County Competitions. Penalty for using a DMD – Loss of game 10 & 8

MOBILE PHONES: Making or receiving calls by players or caddies during a match will result in the following penalty: Loss of game 10-8.

Any doubts as to procedure not covered by the above rules should be referred immediately to the appropriate County Organiser