1. GENERAL COMPETITION RULES
   a. Players must enter the competition in the Professionals Shop and obtain a scorecard. The Pro will usually issue a handicap printout to place on the card, which shows the players Handicap Index (HI), Course Handicap (CH) for the day and Playing Handicap (PH) for the days competition.
   If the printer is not in operation the Pro will sign players into the competition of the day, but
   players will be responsible for completing their Hi, CH and PH.
   
   b. Any General Play / Handicap cards need to be returned to the Professionals Shop and NOT
   via the drop box (it is useful to take a photo of the card on your phone until it is processed). If
   you have used the App to enter your score and it has been verified electronically by your playing
   partner, you do NOT need to return your card.
   
   c. Full details of each competition will be advised in advance and is available on BRS – please keep an eye on this as it may change after booking due to course conditions or other reasons.
   
   d. Competitions in which ladies and gents may enter, the V1 & WHS systems will apply an
   appropriate course rating and playing handicap adjustment. If a manual adjustment is required
   e.g. Mixed Greensomes, then the Handicap Committee will endeavour to arrange this before play but
   reserves the right to undertake it post play.
   
   e. Failure to comply/ consistent breach of the general competition rules may result in sanctions
   being considered.
   
   
   2. COMPETITION ELIGIBILITY
   Full Membership Categories
   Members in the Full Membership categories listed in Appendix A with a valid Handicap Index are eligible to play in the following on days appropriate to their membership category and gender:
   
   -Stroke play competitions including Major Competitions [1] [2]
   
   -Major Match play knockout competitions [1] [3]
   
   -League and Inter-club matches
   
   -Other team matches
   
   Other Membership Categories
   Members in the other membership categories listed in Appendix A with a valid Handicap Index are eligible to play in the following on days appropriate to their membership category and gender:
   
   -Stroke play and team competitions that are not Major Competitions [1]
   
   [1] Major stroke play and match play competitions are listed in Appendix B and are defined as any competition where the winner gets their name on an Honours Board.
   
   [2] Eligibility to win the trophy in Major competitions is subject to being in a Full membership category and having submitted at least 3 acceptable Scores in Competitions in the 12 months before the date of the competition. [4] [5]
   
   [3] Eligibility to win the trophy in Major Match Play knockout competitions is subject having submitted at least 3 acceptable Scores in Competitions in the 12 months before the date of the Semi- Final. (or final for the Deakin) [4] [5]
   
   [4] Acceptable Score is defined as a score from an authorised format of play which meets all the provisions set out within Rule 2 of the Rules of Handicapping.
   
   [5] Consideration of an extension to the 12 month period for counting acceptable scores will be given for members who have been unable to play for 6 months or more due to injury, illness or on medical grounds. This will be on an individual basis and subject to approval of the Handicap Committee. The extension would be based on the length of time the member has not been able to play, up to a maximum of an additional 12 months.
   
   
   3. GENERAL DAY TO DAY COMPETITIONS
   a. All competitions will be mixed entry unless otherwise specified
   
   b. Players will be separated into divisions by Handicap Index. These will be
   Div 1 up to and including 11.9 (Ladies up to 14.9)
   Div 2 12.0 to 17.9 (Ladies 15.0 to 20.9)
   Div 3 18.0 to 54.0 (Ladies 21.0 to 54.0
   The Handicap Committee will review these divisions from time to time to ensure an equal split in relevant competitions
   
   c. In the event of a tie, a card playoff will decide all placings in ALL competitions, other than the lowest gross score (prize to be shared) and the winners of the following, where a playoff is required.
   McCoy Trophy • Batty Trophy • Scratch Medal • President's Prize

The playoff for these prizes will take place over an 18 hole round in the same format as the original competition. The players will play off their handicap index as at the date of the 1st round of the competition. Up to 5 players may play in one group during this playoff. Should more players be involved in the tie then the Handicap Committee will determine the groupings. The playoff will be arranged at a mutually agreeable time between all participating players. The winner will be determined as the player with the best score in the format played. If 2 or more players are tied then the play will continue on a sudden death basis starting from the 1st hole and handicap strokes are applied consistently with how they were in the competition. A neutral referee should accompany the playoff group/s.

The card play off in an 18 hole competition will consider the lowest score in the last 9, 6, 3, and 1 holes in that order until a winner is determined. If it is still unresolved the lowest scores of the last 6, 3, and 1 holes of the first nine holes of that round will be considered in order to determine the winner.
Ties in an aggregate competition will be decided with reference to the next best card.

d. Some competitions will be mixed tee competitions. These will be mainly Wednesday summer non-major competitions. It is the players responsibility to identify to the pro-shop on sign in if using an alternative tee set.

e. Handicap allowances – all competitions will be run using the standard handicap allowances as defined by the R&A to calculate the playing handicaps. These can be seen in the table below:

4. GENERAL CLUB RULES & RULES OF GOLF REMINDERS
   a. When booking to play in a competition you are making a commitment to play and to your playing
   partners. Circumstances change, so if you must remove yourself from the booking, please be
   aware of how this affects your playing partners. A phone call to them may help, as would an
   early decision. This is particularly relevant in Team/Pairs competitions when someone may be
   left unable to compete or two players stuck in the middle of two four-balls.
   
   b. On the day, once you have entered a ‘qualifying’ competition, you MUST return a score for WHS
   purposes, unless you have an illness/injury or emergency or the competition is cancelled.
   
   c. If you have an illness/injury or emergency please mark your card accordingly and return it as
   normal. Input your scores into the system using the option ‘Did Not Play’ for holes after you
   ceased playing.
   d. White Tees are competition ONLY i.e. designated White Tee Competitions, be they
   
   Medal/Stableford or KO’s. Any other use of the White Tees is not allowed unless
   permission is expressly given, for example in an Inter Club competition.
   These rules are not definitive but are prepared to try and help everyone to get the best experience from their golf.
   
   The Rules of golf, Local Rules, Rules of Handicapping and as appropriate Winter Rules always apply.
   
   
   5. RETURNING THE SCORECARD
   Markers Responsibilities
   A players scorecard must be marked by a fellow competitor or a marker appointed by the Handicap Committee.
   
   After each hole, the marker should confirm with the player the number of strokes on that hole and enter that gross score on the scorecard.
   
   After the round the marker must certify the hole scores by signing the scorecard. If the player had more than one marker, each marker must certify the scores for those holes where they were the marker, but if one of the markers saw the player play all of the holes, that marker may certify the scores for all the holes.
   
   Electronic signatures on the app are currently not acceptable to the Handicap Committee.
   
   Players Responsibilities
   During the round, the player should keep track of his or her scores for each hole. After the round the player should check the scores entered by the marker. The player must not change a hole score entered by the marker except with the marker's agreement.
   
   The player should ensure that their name, the date and the competition name are recorded before signing the scorecard and promptly returning it to the Handicap Committee, after which the player must not change the scorecard. Scorecards returned with a hole score lower than the actual hole score will lead to disqualification; see Rules of Golf, Rule 3.3b.
   
   Electronic signatures on the app are currently not acceptable to the Handicap Committee.
   
   Any disputes or clarifications regarding the Rules of Golf should be raised with the Handicap Committee before returning the scorecard.
   
   While not mandatory, it assists the Handicap Committee if the players Handicap Index and Playing Handicap, and (in Stableford) the holes where handicap strokes are received, along with the points scored on each hole are recorded on the scorecard.
   However, if there is a mistake in showing or applying a handicap, or if there is a mistake in adding up the scores, there is no penalty.
   
   Holes Not Completed
   For handicap purposes, holes where a gross score is not entered are recorded as Net Double Bogey for determining the Score Differential on the players Scoring Record.
   
   Note: Net Double Bogey is determined using the players Course Handicap, not the players Playing Handicap. For example, a player with a Course Handicap of 18 playing in an individual Stableford competition receives 17 strokes (using 95% Handicap Allowance). When playing the Stroke Index 18 hole, which is a par 3, the player would not receive a handicap stroke, so:
   
   3 strokes = 2 points
   4 strokes = 1 point
   5+ strokes = 0 points
   
   If they do not hole out, their Scoring Record will show 3 (par) + 1 (h/c stroke) +2 (double bogey) = 6, even though they may have been able to hole out for 5. For this reason players should endeavour to hole out for net bogey (based on Course Handicap) even when they can’t score any points on the hole.
   
   
   Holes Not Played
   For handicap purposes, holes not played for a valid reason are recorded as follows for determining the Score Differential on the player’s Scoring Record:
   
   In an 18 hole round, at least 10 holes must be played for the score to be submitted
   With effect from April 2024: an Expected Score for each hole not played is determined based on a statistical calculation for a player of given Handicap Index playing on a course of standard difficulty.
   
   Returning of Scores to the Handicap Committee
   Unless otherwise specified:
   
   As soon as possible after the round, the player should enter his or her scores for each hole into the computer via the PSI screen or HowDidiDo app and post the scorecard in the box in the locker room entrance. The scorecard is considered ‘returned’ as soon as this is done.
   
   There should not be an undue delay in returning the scorecard, but if there are any issues then an email should be sent to handicaps@cchgc.co.uk explaining the issue.
   
   Scores must be returned even if the round or any holes have not been completed.
   
   A fundamental principle of the Handicap system is that the player will make every effort to score his/her best in each round. All of a players scores are taken into account when the Annual Review is done and it is important that all scores reflect the actual performances of the player. Entering no score at every hole distorts this and makes additional work for the Handicap Committee.
   
   Failure to Return Scores
   Failure to return scorecards and/or failure to enter scores via the PSI screen, HowDidiDo, or any other method required by the Handicap Committee without good reason may result in the Handicap Committee applying a Penalty Score to the players Scoring Record. For more persistent offences a player may lose the right to compete in Club Competitions for a specified period or have their handicap suspended for an appropriate period.
   Note: if the scores entered into the computer by the player differ from those on the scorecard, the scores on the scorecard are deemed to be the scores returned. Accidentally entering an incorrect score on the computer will not lead to disqualification.
   
   6. WHEN THE RESULT IS FINAL
   Players are responsible for ensuring that they promptly return their Scorecards after completing their round.
   
   In "normal times", cards returned more than 30 minutes after the final group has completed the last hole may not be accepted for determining of prize winners (but still count for handicap).
   
   The result of a competition is final when prizes have been paid out by the Handicap Committee.
   
   If an issue arises after the publication of the results which warrants the disqualification of a prize winner under the Rules of Golf, Rule 20.2e or by virtue of an administrative error, a new result will be published.
   
   
   7. CHANGING THE TERMS
   The Terms of the Competition set out the structure of the competition and once a competition has started, the terms will only be altered in very exceptional circumstances.
   
   Since players begin a round with the expectation that a certain number of holes will be played and may base their play on that, the number of holes to be played in a round should not be changed once that round has started. For example, if bad weather results in play being suspended after all the players have completed 9 holes of an 18 hole round, the Handicap Committee should not announce the results based on only 9 holes.
   
   If circumstances such as bad weather affect the number of rounds that can be played in the time available, the number of rounds to be played, or number of holes in any rounds not yet started, may be altered to accommodate the circumstances. Similarly, if those circumstances mean the planned format cannot be accommodated in the time available, the format of the competition may be changed.