1.00 OBJECTIVE OF THE LEAGUE
The objective of the league is to provide a structure in which golf clubs are offered competitive and good spirited matches between their respective scratch teams.
2.00 ORGANISATION OF THE LEAGUE
2.01 A committee made up of Scratch Team Captains of each member club, will jointly be responsible for the running of the league and enforcing the details defined herein.
2.02 A league organiser/chairman will be appointed on a voluntary basis. If no volunteer is forthcoming, the league committee will vote to make the appointment. For 2009 this will be Darrell Robertson
2.03 The league organiser will be responsible for the monies relating to the league through entry and sponsorship.
3.00 FORMAT OF PLAY
3.01 A club may only be represented in the league by one team
3.02 The 2009 season will consist of 2 leagues, each containing 4 teams. Matches will be played on a home and away basis. At the end of the season the top team in each league will play in a final. Subject to agreement later in the season, this will be played either:
1. As a 2 leg match on a home and away basis OR
2. As a one off match at the course of one of the finalists, with the team who has the highest points or 'goal difference' having the choice to play home or away OR
3. At a neutral venue if one is available.
League A will consist of Wycombe Heights, Datchet, Richings Park and Chartridge Park
League B will consist of Windmill Hill, Mentmore, Chiltern Forest and Buckingham
3.03 Any club wishing to join the league may make an application in writing through any member of the committee. The application will be discussed and voted upon at a special meeting or by email ballot. If accepted, the joining club will start the next season in the appropriate division as defined by the committee.
3.04 The annual entry fee will be set by the committee by the end of February. The entry fee for 2009 will be £55 per club. The entry fee is payable by all teams per season. The season runs from April to October. The matches must be concluded such that the final can be played on Sat 17th October 2009.
If a club resigns from the league during the season, no refund shall be payable.
3.05 The format of play will be singles match play. Each team will consist of 8 players. The first three matches MUST be played in handicap order (no exceptions) with the lowest being player 1, and the next lowest being player 2, and then the third lowest as player 3. The remaining four games are at the discretion of each team captain. In total, there will be 16 points available, with 2 points awarded for an individual win, one point for a match finishing all square and nothing for a loss
3.06 The home club must notify the away team of the date and time of the fixture at the beginning of the new season. The home team should make best efforts to ensure that the tee is reserved for approx 45minutes to allow each individual match time to tee off on time. All players should endeavour to be ready to start 15 minutes before their allocated tee time.
3.07 If a player is late on the tee then both teams shall allow the other matches to continue until such time that normal play can resume - in the event that a player does not turn up, a team will have the opportunity to call upon a replacement player (as long as that player called, does not have a handicap lower than the first 3 players). The replacement player must be available to start before the last official (8th) game has cleared the first green - otherwise that game will be awarded to the opposition.
3.08 The winning team on the day will be the team who has gained most of the 16 points available. 3 points are awarded for an away team win, 2pts for a home win, 1.5 points for an away draw, 1 for a home draw and 0 points for a loss.
3.09 It is the responsibility of the home team captain to collate the result and communicate it to the league organiser in a timely manner.
4.00 CANCELLATION AND RESCHEDULING OF MATCHES
4.01 Fixtures should only be cancelled through the following reasons;
a) Course closure
b) Course deemed unfit for play, or more than Four temporary Greens in play
c) Suspension of play from dangerous weather
d) Unforeseen clash with clubs domestic fixtures.
If such a situation arises, then the opposing team must be given at least 7 days notice and the league organiser must be informed immediately
4.02 All fixtures must be played out, in the event that a match has to be called off on the day due to exceptional circumstances (course closure/ weather etc), the league organiser must be notified of the problem and the home team must reschedule the match.
4.03 In the event that a team does not reschedule the fixture the other team will be awarded a 16 - 0 win.
4.04 In the event that a team does not turn up for a fixture their opponents will be awarded a 16 - 0 win
4.05 In the event that a team turns up at the wrong time on the said day of a fixture, discretion should be used, with a view to either making alternative arrangements for that day, or agreeing a re-schedule.
4.06 To maintain the spirit of this league, ALL MATCHES must be played before the agreed closing date. If it's found that a team has been awarding walkover/s to their opposition without any valid reason, then a panel of three captains will be selected at random to determine their fate; this can include expulsion from the league (in the worst case scenario).
5.00 LEAGUE STANDINGS
5.01 In the event of any ties for 'top spot' in either league option, goal difference will be taken into account. If this does not separate the teams, then match results against one another will have to be considered (the team obtaining the most points come out top) If after all that, its still even, then they will have to arrange a play off with 4 players playing at home and 4 away on the same day/time (this will leave strategy down to individual captains) - The reason for this is to allow a speedy resolution to the fixture and save two weekends of trying to arrange a fixture. In the event that this remains a draw, the team with the most winning games will be deemed the winner, if still no result, then the captains will nominate a player to play sudden death (off scratch)- the venue will be decided by the spin of a coin
6.00 PLAYERS
6.01 Any player competing in the league must be an Amateur male playing member or employee of the club they are representing.
6.02 A player may represent more than one club in the league as long as those clubs are in different divisions.
6.03 If a player resigns his membership at a club and joins another in the same league, he may play for that new team - as long as he has resigned his membership in full.
7.00 RESULTS
7.01 All results will be posted on a website or emailed to the team captains as soon as possible after they have been reported.
8.00 RULES
8.01 All games must comply with the current Royal and Ancient rules of golf and any relevant local rules on the card
8.02 The use of electronic yardage finders or similar are allowed during the course of play but consideration must be given to your playing opponent and others behind you in the event that they delay your round.
8.03 If a club wishes to resign from the league, they may do so as long as they notify the league organiser in writing before the close of the season
9.00 LEAGUE AWARDS DINNER
9.01 At the beginning or end of each season a league dinner will be held, this is to allow trophies and prizes to be presented with any announcements also being made. The venue for the following year's dinner will also be given.
9.02 Where possible, a club hosting the dinner will also offer a limited number of courtesy rounds to those attending the dinner (for the respective scratch team captain + one other)
10.00 CONDUCT
10.01 It is hoped that all matches will be played in good spirit and etiquette and that no reference need to be made to this constitution. If points arise that are not covered by this document, then it is hoped that good sense and friendly relations will provide a solution.
10.02 It is the responsibility of each captain to ensure that his team comply with the host clubs dress code.
