Strokeplay Competitions

Terms of Competition - Strokeplay

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:

· Rules of Handicapping (England Golf) [Link] reminds all players of their WHS responsibilities.

· The Tied Competition Rules [Link] which provides details of how tied Strokeplay competitions will be decided.

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.

General Conditions

Playing Handicap Calculation – Individual Strokeplay & 4BBB Strokeplay: A member’s Playing Handicap will be calculated at 95% (Individual) or 85% (4BBB) of their unrounded Course Handicap calculated by ClubV1. This may differ from a Playing Handicap calculated using the Course Handicap tables located around the clubhouse & in the professional’s shop.

Playing Handicap Calculation – Other Strokeplay Competitions i.e. social golf and golf not run through ClubV1 e.g. Sunday Swindle and 3 & 4 person team events: A member’s Playing Handicap will be calculated using the Course Handicap Table relevant at the time of the competition at the prescribed Handicap Allowance for the format of play. Tables are located around the clubhouse & in the professional’s shop.

Ladies Playing Handicap Adjustment – Mixed Medal Competitions – to recognise the higher par for the Red tees (72), versus that for the men’s White tees (69), Ladies will receive a 3 shot positive adjustment to their Course Handicap.

Note – no such adjustment will apply to Stableford competitions, where Stableford points are calculated against the Ladies Red tee card, and therefore a higher par. Prior to 1st April 2024, when Ladies competed with Men playing off the Yellow tees i.e. the Winter League, an additional one shot was awarded to Ladies. This practice ceased on 1st April 2024 with the introduction of Course Rating minus Par into Playing Handicap calculations, and with it, the loss of one additional shot from the Playing Handicaps of our male members.

Course Unplayable & Closed Mid Competition: where it is necessary to close the course part way through a competition due to weather or some other reason i.e. a local emergency on advice from the police, the results for that competition will be declared should 50% or more of startsheet entrants have completed 18 holes. This will also apply should players fail to complete 18 holes due to failing light.

The course maybe closed by any one of the following officials or their delegate; The Club Captain and The Greens Chairman.

Scorecards: for all Strokeplay competitions included in this document, competitors will be expected to submit a scorecard to the Competitions Team via the designated competition scorecard box within 30 minutes of completing play, marked by another player, and signed by both player and marker under Rule 3.3b (2) of the Rules of Golf. Failure to comply with this rule will lead to disqualification and no return of entry fee. Scorecards not submitted will also lead to disqualification, with no return of entry fee, but any score input into ClubV1 may still stand for handicap purposes.

Additionally, competitors will be expected to input their Strokeplay scores (both individual and 4BBB formats) into the ClubV1 terminal in the 19th, again within 30 minutes of completing play. Repeated failure to do so may lead to handicap suspension.

Individual competition scorecards should be placed in the appropriate divisional slot in the scorecard box in the 19th after being input into ClubV1. 4BBB scorecards should also be placed in this box, using any of the three slots.

There is no requirement to input scores from other forms of Strokeplay team golf i.e. 3 or 4 person team (2 to count), foursomes or Texas scramble, though scorecards meeting the above requirements must be submitted.

In 4BBB Strokeplay, the score to be entered on the scorecard, and then input into ClubV1, should be either the lowest nett score recorded by the pairing, or where net scores are identical, the player who is first in the hole. There is no need to record and input both scores. Exception – if both players achieve 2’s, then both should be recorded and input, as 2’s will be paid out using ClubV1 reporting. Should only one 2 be input, then only one will be paid out.

Summer & Winter Fixtures: members will be provided with access to the Club fixture lists for both the Summer and Winter seasons, in advance of the seasons commencing. These fixture lists will be subject to change, as communicated by the Captain, via the club’s weekly newsletter.

Disputes & Appeals: Any disputes arising from the finalisation of competition results, or any appeals resulting from rules breaches and disqualification, or suspension or adjustment of a Handicap Index, will be first heard by the

Handicap Committee (one member of which is The Captain). Should the complainant not be satisfied with the outcome of that, then they can appeal to the club’s Board. If still not satisfied, appeal can be made to the Yorkshire Union of Golf Clubs, and ultimately England Golf. Any disciplinary proceedings will be subject to the Club's Disciplinary Regulations, a copy of which can be found in the members section of the club website.

Juniors: junior members must play with a member aged 21 and above in all competitions.

Rules of Golf: 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.

INDIVIDUAL

The Annual Medal
Competition Format:- Each Monthly Medal held during the summer season contributes to this competition. A member’s best three medal rounds over the six medals (April to September) plus that for October, determines the divisional winners. So to win the Annual Medal, a member must play in the October Monthly Medal. The divisions used in this competition align to those outlined on page 10.

Open to lady members paying a full 7 day subscription, as well as gents.

Divisional winners will be recognised at the Gents Annual Dinner.

NOTE: For the purposes of the Annual Medal only (not the individual Monthly Medal competitions), a golfer will retain their Playing Handicap from their first entered Monthly Medal, through to the conclusion of the September monthly competition, but will play off their actual Playing Handicap in the mandatory

final qualifying competition, the October Monthly Medal. Their opening Playing Handicap will determine which division they will play in through the course of the full competition.

The Annual Stableford
Competition Format:- Similar to the Annual Medal, but played in Stableford format, over the six monthly Stableford competitions, held April to September plus that for October, determines the divisional winners. So to win the Annual Stableford, a member must play in the October Monthly Stableford. The divisions used in this competition align to those outlined on page 10.

Open to lady members paying a full handicap subscription, as well as gents.

Divisional winners will be recognised at the Gents Annual Dinner.

NOTE: For the purposes of the Annual Stableford only (not the individual Monthly Stableford competitions), a golfer will retain their Playing Handicap from their first entered Monthly Stableford, through to the conclusion of the September monthly competition, but will play off their actual Playing Handicap in the mandatory final qualifying competition, the October Monthly Stableford. Their opening Playing Handicap will determine which division they will play in through the course of the full competition.

The Scratch Medal Trophy
Competition Format:- A 36 hole individual Strokeplay competition held over a single Saturday. The winner is the golfer with the lowest combined gross score over the two rounds. The competition is usually played alongside a Monthly Medal, so a player is eligible for both competitions on that day. A player must confirm prior to round 1, that they are playing in round 2.

Handicap Restriction: None

The Scratch Order Of Merit
Competition Format: Points are awarded for each Monthly Medal (gross scores) and Monthly Stableford (gross adjusted Stableford points) throughout the course of the summer season to golfers with a Playing Handicap of 7 or lower, on the basis of 10 points for the lowest gross / highest gross adjusted Stableford points, then 7,5,3,2,1 for places 2 to 6. Where a player’s Playing Handicap increases above 7, they will no longer be eligible for points, but points awarded whilst 7

or lower will be retained. Similarly, points will be awarded once again, should the player’s Playing Handicap fall back to 7 or lower.

The winner of the Order Of Merit is the golfer with the highest number of points at the conclusion of the October Monthly Stableford. The trophy will be awarded at the Gents Annual Dinner.

Handicap Restriction: Playing Handicap 7 and lower.

The North Bowl
Competition Format:- A 36 hole individual Stableford competition usually held over consecutive days. Each round will be a separate competition in its own right. The winner is the golfer who has the most Stableford points over the two rounds. No handicap restrictions. Open to lady golfers and men. A player must confirm prior to round 1, that they are playing in round 2 the following day.

The trophy will be awarded at the Gents Annual Dinner.

Note: For the purposes of the North Bowl, players will retain their Handicap Index at commencement of Round 1, until completion of Round 2, irrespective of any actual adjustments made by WHS at the end of round 1. However, results for the Round 2 competition, run as a separate competition to Round 1, will be based on actual Handicap Index on the day.

The Captain's Trophy
Competition Format: An 18 hole individual competition (Medal or Stableford at The Captain’s sole discretion), played on a Saturday during the summer season. This may correspond with the Captain’s Weekend. The competition is open to all golfers (female & male), with the trophy being awarded to the golfer with the lowest net score on the day, irrespective of which division they are in. Equal net scores will be decided on a countback per Appendix 3.

The President's Trophy
Competition Format: An 18 hole individual competition (Medal or Stableford at The President's sole discretion), played on a Saturday during the summer season. This may correspond with the President's Weekend. The competition is open to all golfers (female & male), with the trophy being awarded to the golfer with the lowest net score on the day, irrespective of which division they are in. Equal net scores will be decided on a countback per Appendix 3. The trophy will be awarded at the Men's Annual Dinner

The Roger Holgate Trophy
Competition Format: Similar in all respects to The Captain’s Trophy.

The Ralph Weldon Trophy
Competition Format: Similar in all respects to The Captain’s Trophy.

The Geoff Keighley Trophy
Awarded to the winner of the Winter League, commencing with the 2023/24 winter season.

Competition Format: The Winter League generally runs from mid October to the end of March, and is open to male and female 7 day and “flexi” golfers. The Winter League Fixture list is produced and circulated annually in October, and details the weekly competitions to be played. These will be a mix of 4BBB and 4 Person Team events, with numerous formats, so as to give a varied winter golfing programme. Events will be subject to change or cancellation, in line with prevailing weather conditions, which will also influence the number of holes played, as will the availability of daylight, especially during December and January.

Throughout the winter season, gents will play from Yellow tee markers, and ladies Red. Where Yellow markers are closer to the hole than Red, ladies play from the Yellow markers.

Where an individual Strokeplay / Stableford event is played (usually the last competition of the season), results will be determined in line with the three divisional structure used during the summer months. So Winter League points will be awarded to the first 5 places in each division.

Winter League points will be awarded to those filling the top 5 placings each week, on the basis of 5 to the winners, then 4, 3, 2, 1.

If at the end of the season one or more member’s are tied for the Trophy, the winner will be the member with the greatest number of weekly competition wins. If that fails to confirm a winner, the winner of the Trophy will be decided by the greatest number of 2nd places, then 3rd places, 4th places and 5th places.

Playing Handicap: There are no restrictions on Handicap Indexes or Course Handicaps, although Winter League Playing Handicaps will be calculated against a Handicap Allowance of 75% of Course Handicaps taken from the Yellow tees.

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 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 Centenary Trophy
Competition Format:- An 18 hole 4 Ball Better Ball medal competition, traditionally played for on the Saturday of the Summer Meeting held in June. No handicap restrictions and open to mixed pairings.

The Tom Knapton Trophy
Competition Format: Similar to The Centenary Trophy, played on a Saturday during the summer season.

The Murray Lockwood Trophy
Competition Format: Similar to The Centenary Trophy, played on a Saturday during the summer season.

The Roger Snowden Trophy
Competition Format: Similar to The Wade Shield, but open to “Rabbit” golfers only. Yellow tees will be used. Rabbits are defined as golfer’s with Handicap Indexes between 15.5 and 54. However, please note the competition restriction below.

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.

OTHER COMPETITIONS – INDIVIDUAL STROKEPLAY

The club organises a range of competitions throughout the golfing season, which are not recognised at the Annual Dinner. Generally, these are held on Saturdays, some Sundays and Wednesdays during May to the end of August.

Competition Format: Individual Medal or Individual Stableford.

Divisions – Saturday Competitions: Players will compete in three mixed divisions, based upon their Playing Handicap:

· Division 1 - 12 and below

· Division 2 - 13 to 18, and

· Division 3 - 18 and above

A review of divisional structures may be undertaken by the Handicap Committee at any time, to ensure that numbers participating in each division are reasonably balanced. Any mid season adjustment will be advised via the Club Newsletter, with a minimum of 7 days notice.

Divisions – Wednesday Midweek Competitions: All competitions will be set up in ClubV1 with two divisions:

· Division 1 - 16 and below, and

· Division 2 - 17 and above

Should there be fewer than 30 competitors in total in any one competition, results will be determined based on a single division. No advanced notice will be provided to members ahead of the finalisation of results.