Matchplay Competitions

Terms of Competition – Matchplay

This document has been prepared under instructions and guidance from England Golf. Its sole purpose is as a reference point for all members of West Bradford and its Handicaps and Competitions Committee in relation to competitions and competitive play at the club.

Members should also be familiar with the following documents, which can be found within the Competitions section of the members website, or by clicking on the links:

  • Our Matchplay Charter which all players entering knockout competitions must familiarise themselves with and adhere to.

This Terms of Reference was reviewed and updated prior to the 2024 summer season, and will be reviewed annually.

Unless otherwise stated, members of all membership classifications will be eligible to participate in the competitions detailed in this document, providing their membership class includes the day on which the competition is played.

“Flexi” members competing in any competition will be required to pay the prescribed fee to play the course, in addition to the competition entry fee.

Junior members must play with a member aged 21 and above in all competitions.

The Club expects all golfers to be familiar with the Rules of Golf, download the R&A’s Rules of Golf App to their mobile phone, and to refer to the Rules if they are in any doubt as to a particular ruling.

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The following trophies and competitions are played for throughout the golfing year. Trophies are presented to winners at the club’s Men’s Annual Dinner & Prize Presentation held in November.

Premier Competitions

The Gold Cup
The Gold Cup is a West Bradford male members competition dating back to 1926. It is the club’s premier annual tournament, and the winner of The Gold Cup is considered to be the years club champion golfer. The Gold Cup is an individual knockout competition running from May right the way through to the club’s Finals Day in September. The winner of The Gold Cup traditionally delivers a speech on behalf of all winners at the Gents Annual Dinner, and their name is entered on the Honours Board situated in the clubhouse. The runner-up will receive The Silver Plate.
Competition Format: Individual Matchplay

Tee’s: Played off the “back markers” (the posts at the back of each tee).
Handicap Restrictions:- Maximum Course Handicap is 18. Players with Course Handicaps higher than 18 may still enter the competition, but must play off 18 e.g. a player with a Course Handicap of 24, playing someone with a Course Handicap of 10, will receive 8 shots.

Handicap Allowance:- 100% of the full difference between the lowest player’s Course Handicap, and their opponents i.e. 10 handicap vs 12 handicap means the higher handicapped golfer receives 2 shots.

Player’s receive their “shots” on those holes with Stroke Indices equal to, or lower than the number of “shots” received i.e. a player receiving 3 “shots” will take those on holes 7, 11 & 16.

Eligibility: Male 7 day subscription and “flexi” members only. A player must have submitted a minimum of 8 qualifying scores for handicap purposes (not necessarily undertaken at West Bradford) during the preceding year (Jan to Dec), of which no more than two can be General Play.

The Wade Shield
The Wade Shield is another Honours Board knockout tournament. It is the oldest tournament still played at the club. The Shield itself was presented to West Bradford Golf Club in the early 1900’s, and members have been competing for the Shield, and for their name to appear on the accompanying Honours Board, ever since.
Competition Format: Four Ball Better Ball Matchplay. Ladies may play in this competition with a male partner.

Tee’s: Male golfers play off the White tee markers i.e. the tees usually used for summer Saturday competitions, NOT the “back markers”. Ladies play from the Red tee markers.

Handicap Restrictions: Maximum Course Handicap for male members is 24.  Players with Course Handicaps higher than 24 may still enter the competition, but will be limited to a maximum of 18 shots from the lowest Course Handicapped player, after application of the 90% Handicap Allowance (see below).  Ladies will be limited to a maximum Course Handicap of 27, and will receive a maximum of 21 shots from the lowest Course Handicapped player.

Handicap Allowance:- Following changes advised by England Golf to commence 1st April 2024, the method of calculating “shots” has been amended to 90% of the difference in Course Handicap between the lowest handicapped golfer, and their partner’s and opposition players Course Handicaps.

For mixed pairings, ladies receive an additional 3 shots (to recognise the higher par of the ladies Red course versus the men’s White course). Ladies take their shots according to the red tee marker Stroke Indices, and not the Indices for the men’s tee markers.

Please see the Mixed Tee Shot Calculator for a detailed worked example of the calculation of “shots”, in particular shots received by ladies.

See also the Shot Calculator which can be used for both mixed and male only shot calculation in 4BBBs.

Eligibility: Male and female 7 day and “flexi” members only. A player must have submitted a minimum of 8 qualifying scores  for handicap purposes (not necessarily undertaken at West Bradford) during the preceding year (Jan to Dec), of which no more than two can be General Play.

Other Competitions Recognised At The Annual Dinner

 INDIVIDUAL

 The Silver Plate
It was agreed that from the Summer 2024 season, the Silver Plate would be awarded to the runner up in the Gold Cup, with the traditional matchplay competition for the Silver Plate discontinued, due to low levels of entries in 2022 and 2023.

The Frank Shaw Trophy
Eligibility: open to “Rabbit” golfers only. Rabbits are defined as golfer’s with Handicap Indexes between 15.5 and 54. However, please note the competition restriction below.
Competition Format: Individual Matchplay.
Tee’s: Male golfers play off the Yellow tee markers. Ladies play from the Red tee markers.
Handicap Restriction: A minimum Handicap Index of 15.5, and a maximum Course   Handicap of 28 for men, and 36 for ladies. Handicap restrictions will only apply at the time of entry. This will allow golfers whose handicaps move outside these parameters part way through the competition, to continue to play.
Handicap Allowance:- 100% of the full difference between the lowest player’s Course Handicap, and their opponents i.e. 20 handicap vs 24 handicap means the higher handicapped golfer receives 4 shots. Player’s receive their “shots” on those holes with Stroke Indices equal to, or lower than the number of “shots” received i.e. a player receiving 4 “shots” will take those on holes 7, 8, 11 & 16.
Lady Entrants: Ladies receive an additional 3 shots (to recognise the higher par of the ladies Red course versus the men’s Yellow course). Ladies take their shots according to the Red tee marker Stroke Indices, and not the Indices for the men’s tee markers.

 The Chellow Vase
The May Monthly Medal is designated the Chellow Vase qualifying event. The first eight male players over three divisions of the May Monthly Medal will then play off in a matchplay format over 18 holes to win The Chellow Vase. Any ties for the eight places will be settled in line with Appendix 3.
Competition Format:- Initially an 18 hole individual medal event to decide the 8 qualifiers, then knockout matchplay. The final is played on Final’s Day in September.

Playing Handicap:  Golfer’s receive 95% of Course Handicap in the qualifying round, then 100% difference between the handicap of the lowest golfer, and their opponent. Matchplay matches to be played from white tee markers.

Handicap Restrictions: None.

Eligibility: Male members only. No handicap restrictions.

FOURBALL BETTER BALL

The Roger Snowden Trophy
Eligibility: “Rabbit” golfers only, i.e. those with Handicap Indexes between 15.5 and 54. However, please note the competition restriction below.
Competition Format: Four Ball Better Ball Matchplay. Ladies may play in this competition with a male partner.
Tee’s: Male golfers play off the Yellow tee markers. Ladies play from the Red tee markers.
Handicap Restriction: A minimum Handicap Index of 15.5, and a maximum Course   Handicap of 28 for men, and 36 for ladies. Handicap restrictions will only apply at the time of entry. This will allow golfers whose handicaps move outside these parameters part way through the competition, to continue to play.
Handicap Allowance: Following changes advised by England Golf to commence 1st April 2024, the method of calculating “shots” has been amended to 90% of the difference in Course Handicap between the lowest handicapped golfer, and their partner’s and opposition players Course Handicaps.
Mixed Pairings: Ladies receive an additional 3 shots (to recognise the higher par of the ladies Red course versus the men’s Yellow course). Ladies take their shots according to the red tee marker Stroke Indices, and not the Indices for the men’s tee markers.