GBWGC Rules and Competitions

RULES FOR CLUB COMPETITIONS

1. Match Play

Full stroke difference to be used.

2. Tied competitions (countbacks)

General competition. In the event of a tie:

If all holes (and the scorer) are exhausted and no result can be determined, the players involved in the tie will be heavily fined for time wasting and for making everyone late for home/work.

Match Play
In the event of a tie, net scores for the round will be totalled. If still tied, normal countback rules for general
competition will apply.

Golden Putter
Countbacks are based on the lowest second round putts. If there is still a tie then the principles used as for normal games apply, as above.

Par Bisque
In the event of a tie, Par Bisque scores will be used for countback purposes not Par Equivalent scores.

Incorrect Countback
Where a countback is subsequently found to be incorrect, the corrected countback will apply and initial competition results amended accordingly.

3. Incorrect Score Card

Both player and marker must ensure their score cards are consistent and correct before handing them in. Where a scoring error(s) is(are) found, the original score(s) will stand.

4. Minimum players required

Official competitions require two or more of our brethren to be gathered together.

5. Handicaps

Declared handicaps will stand and can’t be adjusted retrospectively. Any member can query any handicap prior to an event. The handicapper's decisions on queries are final.

6. Club Championship - Recording the Event

For purposes of handicapping and recording the results of the Club Championship, the following process will apply:

– The Championship will be treated as an 18 hole event played as two 9 hole rounds over consecutive weeks;
– Starting handicaps remain unchanged for both rounds;
– The event will count as one game played
– Nearest the Pin and Long Drive novelties will be contested for each round;
– Scores from the back 9 will count toward the Eclectic;
– Consistency and Masters points to be based on the 18 hole scores;
– In the event of tied scores, countback rules for an 18 hole event will apply;
– The winner and NAGA recipient are recorded for the 18 hole event only.

LOCAL RULES

To be read in conjunction with the Rules of Golf.

1. Out of bounds

All ground outside course boundaries. Penalty: One stroke. Ball to be placed on the fairway at the nearest point of relief, no nearer the hole.

2. Lost ball

Penalty: One stroke. Ball to be placed on the fairway at the nearest point of relief, no nearer the hole.

3. Unplayable ball

The player is the only person who may decide to treat his ball as unplayable. Penalty: One stroke. An unplayable ball or unplayable ball in a penalty area is to be placed on the fairway at the nearest point of relief, no nearer the hole.

4. Ball in bunker

When a player’s ball lies in a bunker, the player may take relief by placing the ball within a club length of the original lie, within the bunker and not nearer the hole (no penalty).

5. Ball on wrong green

A ball lying on a green other than the one being played must be lifted and dropped at the side of the green to which the ball lies but not nearer the hole (no penalty).

6. Hit wrong ball

Add one stroke and continue playing with own ball and return other ball to its original position.

7. Preferred lies

May be taken on all fairways. The ball must be placed within one club's length, not nearer the hole.

8. Vehicle tracks (not buggy tracks)

A ball lying on the ground between and including the wheel tracks in the rough may be lifted and dropped within 2 club lengths, but no nearer the hole (no penalty).

9. Gimmes

Gimmes can be given by any member of the group.

10. Nursery Fence - 10th and 11th holes

The nursery fence is considered an immovable obstruction. Where a ball lands close to the fence and results in interference to your stance or intended swing, you may lift your ball and drop it, without penalty, within one club length of the nearest point of relief but not nearer the hole.

HANDICAPPING RULES

Winner:
– lose 1 stroke if scoring net par or better
– lose 2 strokes if scoring -4 or better
– cannot gain a stroke regardless of net score

Losers:
– lose 1 stroke if scoring net -1 or better
– gain 1 stroke if scoring net +3 or more

Maximum handicap of 18 for 9 holes and 36 for 18 holes.

18 Hole Events:
For the purposes of determining a new handicap after completion of an 18 hole event, the 18 hole Stableford score is halved and rounded up where required. This score is used to determine the new handicap for our regular 9 hole events.

SPECIFIC COMPETITIONS

Stroke

The simplest form of competition where strokes at each hole are entered on the score card, totalled up and full handicap deducted. The competitor who completes the round in the fewest nett number of strokes shall be the winner.

Stableford

The Stableford system of scoring by "points" uses full stroke handicaps. The score at each hole is entered on the card and, after deducting the handicap stroke/strokes allowed for the hole, points are awarded for net scores as follows:
1 stroke over par = 1 point
Equal to par = 2 points
1 stroke under par = 3 points
. . . . and so on.

Par

In ‘Par’ play, the object is to play to par or better on each hole. Full stroke handicaps are used. The score at each hole is entered on the score card and any handicap stroke(s) deducted. If the net score is equal to par (the score is a “half”), the card is marked with a “O” in the appropriate result column. A net score less than par is a win and marked with a “plus” (+) sign while a net score greater than par is a loss and marked with a “minus” (–) sign. At the end of the round, the "pluses" and "minuses" are added up and the net result written "UP", "DOWN" or "ALL SQUARE".

Where a player knows he is "beaten" by par before completing a hole, no stroke score need be recorded and the ball should be picked up to help speed up the game. Only a “minus” (–) need be recorded for the hole.

Eclectic

Applies to the back nine at Hamersley only.
The best score per hole is recorded for each player over the season.
The best scores for each hole are totalled for the year.
Half the final handicap for each player is deducted from the score.
The final handicap is the handicap for the last event.
The player with the best net score for the year wins the competition.

Consistency

Applies to all GBWGC fixtures with points awarded each round, as follows:
5 pts – played to handicap or better
4 pts – played to 1 over handicap
3 pts – played to 2 over handicap
2 pts – played to 3 over handicap
1 pts – played to 4 over handicap
Minimum of 10 rounds to qualify.
Player with the best average at the end of the season wins the competition.
The average is calculated by dividing total points by the number of games played.

Par Bisque

As in "Par" (above) but handicap strokes may be taken as a player decides, up to the maximum of his handicap. The decision about the number of handicap strokes to take and the resultant score is made at the end of each hole and before play on the next hole is commenced.

Modified Stableford

As for Stableford except points are awarded for net scores as follows:

Ambrose

• Groups of two players (2 man ambrose) work as a team. Each player hits off the tee, the best shot is selected and both players will play their second shot from that spot, within one handspan.
• The best shot is again selected. This continues until the ball is in the hole. On the putting green the best ball is marked and the other ball is also played from this position.
• One score is thus recorded on each hole. This is the sum of the best shots used throughout the hole.
• During the course of the round, each player's drives must be used at least three times.
• Team handicaps are calculated by adding the two handicaps and dividing by four rounded to the nearest whole number – 0.5 rounded up. For example, individual handicaps of 16 and 24 will result in a team handicap of 10

Four Ball Better Ball Stableford

Players play in pairs as a Stableford event. Each player plays out the hole and then works out his individual Stableford points. For each pair, the score recorded for each hole is the best individual Stableford score. At the end of the round, these scores are totalled to determine the team score.

How to Complete the Scorecard
for 4BBB Stableford

NOTES

One column for each player
Record only one score on each hole
Countbacks decided as per individual competitions
Scores do not count towards Eclectic

Bingle, Bongle, Bangle

Bingle, Bongle, Bangle can give players with varying golfing skills a chance to compete evenly. For the game, each hole is worth three points as follows:

• A Bingle earns one point for the player who first hits their ball onto the green on that hole;
• A Bongle earns one point for the player who is closest to the pin after all have finally landed on the green;
• A Bangle earns one point for the player who first putts the ball into the hole.

It’s important in this game to play in the proper order. The player who hits the shortest tee shot will then have the first shot at Bingle on the green. A player who misses Bingle and the green may actually have the best chance at Bongle with a nice chip toward the hole. Similarly, the person lying furthest from the hole on the green will have the first crack at Bangle.

Points are calculated within each playing group. At 20 cents per point the most a player can lose is $5-40. If playing in groups of four, the maximum (but highly unlikely) win is $21.60.