LWGA Terms of Competitions

 

TERMS OF COMPETITIONS

 

  1. Competitions are run under the R & A Rules of Golf January 2023. Host club local rules shall apply.

 

  1. All Players must have Amateur Status in accordance with the current Amateur Status Rules of R & A Rules Ltd, must be female and must either be a member of an Affiliated Lincolnshire Golf Club which has, by the date of competition, paid the annual subscription to the Association, or have been born in Lincolnshire.Associate members of the Association may not play in the County Championships.

 

  1. Caddies – Competitors may not engage a Professional or Assistant Professional as a caddie. Caddies are allowed but not permitted on the greens.

 

  1. Should a round have to be declared null and void due to adverse weather conditions, the trophy/trophies will not be presented, but prizes will be awarded on 9 holes provided that all the competitors have completed or had the opportunity to complete that number of holes. (Exception – Championship qualifying round competitions to have played 18 holes).

 

  1. In the event of a meeting being oversubscribed, a waiting list will be held by the LWGA Competition Secretary. All meetings will be on a first come first served basis.

 

  1. Entries will be made on the Golf Genius software and paid for by credit or debit card on-line. Entries will only be accepted until the specified dates, unless these dates are extended by the organising committee. No monies will be refunded after the closing date of the competition, unless the competition is cancelled by the Committee, or under exceptional circumstances agreed by the LWGA Competition Secretary.

 

  1. All entrants must have a WHS Handicap Index with at least five qualifying scores on their record in the 12 months prior to the date of the competition. A player whose Handicap Index has increased above the limit shall play off the limit for the competition.
  2. Players must walk at all times during a stipulated round, unless permitted to use a golf buggy by the LWGA Competition Secretary. Permission will be given to those players having a current medical condition existing on the day of the competition, who have requested permission to use a buggy no later than 7 days prior to the first day of the competition in which they are to compete.  If for a good reason, a player cannot give the requisite notice, permission to use a buggy will be at the discretion of the LWGA Competition Secretary.  The Association will take each player on trust and will not enquire into the nature of any said medical condition, nor will it require evidence by way of a medical certificate as proof of such condition. The buggy shall be for the sole use of the player and her equipment.  Hiring of the buggy shall be the sole responsibility of the player.  Players are expected to familiarise themselves with the Health & Safety policies of the host club insofar as it relates to ride on buggies.
  3. A player may obtain distance information by use of a distance measuring device. If, during a stipulated round, a player uses the device (including a multi-functional device such as a mobile phone) to gauge or measure other conditions that might affect her play (e.g. elevation changes, wind speed etc.) the player is in breach of Rule 4.3 Penalty –First breach General Penalty, second breach Disqualification.

 

  1. Any competitor who is not on the first tee at her advertised time of start renders herself liable to disqualification under Rule 5.3a. In the absence of circumstances which would warrant the waiving of the penalty of disqualification under Rule 5.3a Interpretations, if the player arrives at her starting point, ready to play, no more than five minutes late from her starting time, she receives the general penalty to her first hole. If the player arrives at her starting point more than five minutes late the player is disqualified.  The committee shall have the powers to delay the start time of any competitor or competitors.

 

  1. When play is immediately suspended by the Committee, eg such as when there is imminent danger of lightning, all players must stop play at once and must not make another stroke until the committee has ordered a resumption of play. Under normal suspension, eg such as for darkness or unplayable course, if any player in group has started a hole, players may choose either to stop play or to play out the hole.

Immediate Suspension, normal Suspension and resume play signals will be according to individual Club requirements and local rules.

 

  1. Players are requested to return score cards to the tournament desk as soon as possible after play. The competitors are advised to stay at the recorders desk whilst cards are checked, as while the competitor is at the desk, she is considered to be in the process of returning her card, even if she has handed it to a member of the committee. Once the competitor has left the desk she has “returned her card” and no subsequent alterations are possible. The competition is closed once the results have been posted on Golf Genius.

 

  1. Winners of all County competitions with the exception of Day 1 of the County Championship meeting which end in a tie will be determined by scorecard countback.  Ties will be decided by scorecard countback on the last 9,6,3,1 holes and if still a tie, then the front 6,3,1 holes for an 18 hole competition. For a 36 hole competition ties will be decided on the second round 18,9,6,3,1 holes, if still a tie then on the second round, front 9,6,3,1, then first round 18,9,6,3,1 holes, first round front 9,6,3,1.  If still no winner the Committee may consider deciding the winner by a sudden death play-off.

 

  1. For Day 1 of the County Championship, the players returning the 16 lowest gross scores shall qualify for the championship match play played off scratch.  Any ties for places will be determined as per paragraph 13.  The players are seeded according to their stroke play finishing place.  Each match will consist of 18 holes – any match that finishes all square will continue until a player wins a hole.

 

  1. Prize structure will be dependent on number of entries and decided by the LWGA Competition Secretary.

 

  1. Trophies and prizes, where possible, will be presented on the day of a competition. If necessary winning vouchers will be posted.  Winners of all trophies will be announced at the LWGA AGM and remaining trophies presented.

 

  1. Trophy winners hold their trophy for one year, ensuring it is returned prior to the following year’s competition. It is the responsibility of all trophy winners to have their trophies engraved before return (reasonable costs refundable).

 

  1. The Committee reserves the right to amend the terms at any time including the right to arrange and/or alter starting times. Breach of any of the above conditions by any player may result in disqualification. The decision of the Committee is final in all matters.

 

Updated 2022