Green Walk G.S. - Rule Book
ETIQUETTE
SAFETY
Prior to playing a stroke or making a practice swing, the player
should ensure that no one is standing close by or in a position to
be hit by the club, the ball or any stones, pebbles, twigs or the like
which may be moved by the stroke or swing.
COURTESY ON THE COURSE
Consideration for Other Players
The player who has the honour should be allowed to play before his
opponent or fellow competitor tees his ball.
No one should move, talk or stand close to or directly behind the ball
or the hole when a player is addressing the ball or making a stroke.
In the interest of all, players should play without delay.
No player should play until the players in front are out of range.
Players searching for a ball should signal the players behind them
to pass as soon as it becomes apparent that the ball will not easily be
found. They should not search for five minutes before doing so. They
should not continue play until the players following them have passed
and are out of range.
When the play of a hole has been completed, players should immediately leave the putting green.
PRIORITY ON THE COURSE
If any match fails to keep its place on the course and loses more than
one clear hole on the players in front, it should allow the match following to pass.
In the absence of special rules, two-ball matches should have precedence over,
and be entitled to pass any three or four ball match who have lost their position on the course by one clear hole.
A single player has no standing and should give way to a match of any
kind.
Any match playing a whole round is entitled to pass a match playing a
shorter round.
CARE OF THE COURSE
Holes in Bunkers
Before leaving a bunker, a player should carefully fill up and smooth
over all holes and footprints made by him.
Replace Divots; Repair Ball Marks and Damage by Spikes
Through the green, a player should ensure that any turf cut or
displaced by him is replaced at once and pressed down and that any
damage to the putting green made by a ball is carefully repaired.
Damage to the putting green caused by golf shoe spikes should be
repaired on completion of the hole.
Damage to Greens – Flagsticks, Bags etc.
Player should ensure that, when putting down bags or the flagstick,
no damage is done to the putting green and that neither they nor
their caddies damage the hole by standing close to it, in handling the
flagstick or in removing the ball from the hole. The flagstick should be
properly replaced in the hole before the players leave the putting green.
Players should not damage the putting green by leaning on their putters,
particularly when removing the ball from the hole.
Golf Carts
Local notices regulating the movement of golf carts should be strictly
observed.
Damage Through Practice Swings
In taking practice swings, players should avoid causing damage to the
course, particularly the tees, by removing divots.
1. MEMBERSHIP
a) Anyone wishing to join the Society must be proposed and
seconded by two existing members.
b) The applicant must submit a letter of application to the
Committee for consideration.
c) Any applications received will be read out at the monthly
meeting. Either the proposer or seconder must be present
to support the application, and may be required to answer
questions from the membership about the applicants suitability
for membership.
d) The application will then be put to a vote by the members
present.
Successful applicants will then be invited to attend the next
monthly meeting. They will be required to pay their joining
fee that evening.
e) All new members must secure a bona fida handicap. In the
first instance this is done by submitting
soon as possible after the date of membership. The cards
must be marked, and properly signed by another member to
qualify for an initial handicap. Any hole scores in excess of
two strokes over that hole par, will be deemed as two over par
for assessment purposes only, by the Competition Secretary,
who will determine the member’s initial handicap.
However, those who have golf club membership, and can provide
proof of their current handicap, may put this forward for consideration.
f) New members cannot compete in any society competition
before an initial handicap has been issued, in accordance with
1e) above.
g) Subscriptions – subs shall become due at the Annual General
Meeting and must be paid by the first venue. Anyone unpaid by
that time shall no longer be a member and must pay a
rejoining fee. All fees shall be decided at the A.G.M.
HANDICAPS
a) So that a fair reflection of a player’s current handicap can
be recorded, all members shall submit at least one card per
month to the Handicap Secretary. Those members playing more
regularly, should submit their cards to the Handicap Secretary.
b) Blatant disregard to Rule 2 a) may result in a two shot cut at
the discretion of the Handicap Secretary, until such time as that
player’s handicap can be assessed correctly by the submission
of cards.
c) Those members who belong to clubs affiliated to the National
Council of Golf Unions, and possess an official handicap,
shall be exempt from 2 a) above. However, they must provide
proof of their current club handicap.
2. HANDICAP ADJUSTMENT
Handicaps are split into four categories:
- under 5
- 6 – 12
- 13 – 20
- 21 – 28
Anyone playing to within two strokes above their handicap will
not be adjusted.
i.e. 34 - 36 points Stableford Competion
anyone more than two shots above their handicap can get 0.1
of a shot back
Any players with scores below their handicap will have their
handicaps reduced in the following manner:
Category 1 under 5
Handicap reduced by 0.1 per shot
Category 2 6 – 12
Handicap reduced by 0.2 per shot
Category 3 13 – 20
Handicap reduced by 0.3 per shot
Category 4 21 – 28
Handicap reduced by 0.4 per shot
4. HANDICAP ASSESSMENT
a) Players exact handicaps will be kept in a register by the Handicap
Secretary. All score cards handed in will be recorded. Handicaps
will be increased at the end of each month, but any cut in handicap
comes into effect immediately.
Handicaps of 0.5 or over are rounded up to the next number (i.e.
10.5 plays off 11). Handicaps of 0.4 or under are rounded down
(i.e. 10.4 plays off 10).
b) Handicaps will not be adjusted between 1st December – 1st March.
c) Score Cards must be filled in correctly showing the date, player’s
handicap, name, strokes and score, and be signed by the player
and marker.
Illegible or incomplete cards may be cancelled at the discretion of
the Handicap Secretary.
5. VENUES
a) Members will be notified of the pre booked venues for the season.
Prior to each venue a list will be put on the Club notice board
showing details of the venue. Any Society member wishing to
attend the venue should put their names on the list, together with
any guests’ names they may wish to bring. Those who can’t get to
the club but wish to attend the venue, should notify the G.W.G.S. Secretary
no later than 1 week before the venue.
b) Once your name or your guests are entered onto the list, you are
committed to that venue. Anyone then failing to attend without notification
to the Secretary, shall be liable for the venue cost. Society members will also
be liable for any non attendance of their guests without reasonable notification.
c) Any players falling ill or unable to attend. must contact the
Secretary immediately.
d) When venues include any meals or coaches, this will be inclusive in the ‘venue cost’.
Anyone committing to or attending the venue will be liable for the total venue cost.
e) It must be remembered that we are guests at the golf clubs we
visit, and should act in a professional and courteous manner.
Each member is an ambassador of the Green Walk Golf Society
and should respect the rules of clubs visited.
f) When attending venues, smart attire should be worn on the course
(no jeans or T-shirts). A jacket and tie will be worn for evening
meals.
g) Anyone using a buggy on venues will not be eligible for the
competition unless; there is good medical reasons for exemption or
there is a majority agreement by members present, that buggies will be used.
In the event of a dispute, the Competition Secretary shall make the final decision.
h) The Captain will always tee off first at venues. Any matches will be drawn out last.
i) Slow pay should be avoided at all times. When playing in
Stableford Competitions, players should pick-up when they can’t
score on any hole.
j) Guests at venues should be accompanied by at least one member
in their group. Members who invite first time guests should be drawn out with them.
k) Not foregoing the above rule, all players at a venue, both members
and guests, shall go into a draw to select playing partners and order
of play. Any member wishing to play with his guest/guests, should notify the Captain
in good time, before the draw is made.
Any guests who make subsequent visits to our venues will go into the draw the same as everyone else.
l) Any member who invites a guest to a venue should ensure that they
are competent and proficient golfers, playing off a bona fide handicap.
They should also make their guests aware of Society rules, and will be responsible
for their conduct on and off the course at venues.
5. MEETINGS
a) Society meetings will take place once a month at the Uplands
Social Club, unless otherwise informed.
Meetings will start at
SECOND Thursday of the month, unless otherwise notified.
All members are encouraged to attend meetings, and any matters arising,
pertaining to the Golf Society can be put before the Committee at meetings.
b) Decorum
Members attending meetings should have some respect for the
proceedings by acting in a proper manner. No cross talking, no
arguments or shouting.
Anyone wishing to speak should raise their hand to be recognised
by the President or his Deputy, who will then give that person the
opportunity to speak. Anyone persistently disregarding this
procedure may be asked to leave the meeting.
c) Annual General Meeting
The AGM will be held at the November meeting. All members are
required to attend and due notice will be given. Rules of the Society
and subscription levels can only be changed by the membership at
the AGM, and proposals must be submitted seven days prior to the
meeting and should also be seconded. The candidate should be
prepared to stand for the said position.
An EGM can be called by the Committee if an urgent or serious
situation arises which may affect the constitution of the Society or
where a decision needs to be made which could otherwise only be
done at the AGM.
d) Quorum
No meeting shall transact business unless a quorum is present. A
quorum is deemed to be a minimum number of five members. This
minimum number should include the President, the Secretary, the
Treasurer, or their agreed deputies, who should have been nominated
by the President prior to the monthly meeting.
e) Officers
The Officers of the Committee shall consist of:-
President
Secretary
Treasurer
Captain
Competition Secretary
These positions shall be nominated, seconded and voted in at the AGM.
The position of Captain is agreed one year in advance by voting in a Vice Captain
who will move up to Captain the following year.
f) Treasurer
The Treasurer shall be responsible for the administration of the
Society’s bank account and all monies received by the Society from
all sources shall be recorded by him. He shall also keep such
accounts and pay debts of the Society as directed by the Committee.
When required to do so he shall render to the Committee or General
Meeting a statement of account for the Society’s bank account.
g) Audit
The Society shall in each year appoint two members to audit its
accounts and balance sheet for that year.
The auditors shall be appointed by general agreement of the
members, and should not include any existing members of the
Committee.
The balance sheet and statement of account, duly audited, shall be
presented to the membership at the AGM.
7. COMPETITIONS
a) All members shall play golf in accordance with the rules as laid
down by the Royal and Ancient Golf club of
USGA.
b) Members should make themselves aware of any local rules that
apply at the venues they attend.
c) Society competitions will be booked by the first name drawn out,
who will also have the choice of venue. If a match is not played
within the allocated time, the first drawn out will forfeit the match.
In the event of a draw, the choice of venue goes to the opponent.
In the case of extenuating circumstances or disputes, the Competition Secretary’s decision is final.
d) All Society competitions (venue days excepted) shall be deemed to
be played at weekends. They shall only be played otherwise if all
parties are in agreement.
e) Winners of the pairs competition will be drawn together the following
year to defend their title.
f) The draw for any competition will be made at the monthly meeting
and posted on the Club notice board. Members will also receive
notification by post.
g) New members cannot enter any competition (venues or Society
competition) until a handicap has been established for them. See
Rule 1e).
h) From time to time matches with other societies or teams may be
arranged. Selection of the team will be made by the Captain.
Consultation of the team will be made by the Captain. Consultation
with the Vice Captain should take place. However, the final
decision is made by the Captain from available members.
i) A nominal fee, to be decided by members, will be charged for entry
to both singles and pairs competitions. This is towards provision of
mementos for all finalists of both competitions. The fee must be paid
before commencement of the first match.
j) Pairs Competition
One player can represent his side in competition, only if his partner
fails to appear on the day of the match after being made aware of the
arrangements and agreeing to play. One man teams will not be allowed
if it is known beforehand that his partner is unavailable for any reason.
If there are any disputes arising, the Handicap Secretary’s decision is final.
k) Pairs Competition – Re-draw
If, after the pairings have been made, it is found that one partner
cannot participate further in the competition, then the remaining
partner may elect to seek a new partner decided by a re-draw.
Those eligible for the re-draw will be players in a similar position
(without partner), or players who have already been knocked out
of the competition in the course of play, but not by default. Anyone
knocked out by default will not be allowed back in the competition.