FIRE SPORT UK GOLF SECTION
RULES FOR INDIVIDUAL & STABLEFORD GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP
1. TITLES
The FIRE SPORT UK GOLF SECTION Individual & Stableford Championship.
2. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
To provide a further means of fostering relationships between members of Local Authorities Fire and Rescue Services through the opportunity of sportsmanship, fellowship and healthy exercise afforded by the Royal and Ancient game of golf.
3. FREQUENCY
The competitions shall be played annually in the first two weeks of September (flexible with authorisation from national Secretary/committee)
4. ELIGIBILITY TO ENTER
The competition shall be open to members of Local Authority Fire and Rescue Services throughout England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland who are members of FireSport UK and whose subscriptions are fully paid up.
A retired member who is still a member of his Fire and Rescue Services’ Sports & Welfare fund which is a fully paid-up member of the FireSport UK shall be entitled to play as a team member
5. MANAGEMENT AND ORGANISATION
For the competition there will be four areas, Scottish, Northern, Midland, and Southern. See appendix list for Fire and Rescue Services falling into these areas.
An area may, at its discretion, delegate responsibility for organising to a particular District or Fire and Rescue Services. The District or Fire and Rescue Services will appoint an organising Secretary.
If for any reason an area is unable to accept responsibility for organising a competition it will advise the National Secretary prior to the Annual General Meeting preceding the competition. The National Committee will there upon decide which of the other areas will be nominated.
See rota of events until 2035 Appendix 1..
6. ENTRIES FOR COMPETITIONS
A notice of competition shall be circulated by the Organising Secretary to all Golf Secretaries.
Entries will be made direct to the Organising Secretary and will include all the information required by the organiser, as set out in the notice of competition. Entries must be in the hands of the Organising Secretary by the closing date set for competition entries.
Initial entries will be 8 per section, 5 for Individual and 3 for Stableford.
Should the number of entries exceed the numbers of places available, the Organising Secretary shall reduce the numbers by one of the following methods: This method selected must be indicated on the notice of competition.
- By accepting entries before the cut off entry date.
- By accepting entries on a ‘first come, first served’ basis.
Those whose entries are not accepted shall have their entry fees returned.
Any addition entries will be first come first served following the initial cut-off date, this will be informed by the organising committee or National Secretary.
7. ENTRY FEES
Each Competitor shall pay an entry fee, the amount of which will be determined by the organising committee having regard to the local factors affecting costs and must be submitted with the entry.
8. FORMAT OF COMPETITION
NATIONAL INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONSHIP
36-hole Medal Competition (two rounds of 18 holes) played over two days.
Played from the FSUK Championship tee markers (white)
9. HANDICAPS (Max Handicap Index 18.0)
WHS index must be provided at registration for National Events: A Golf Club, or Fire and Rescue Services ‘handicap master’ index must be presented for scrutiny by the organising committee on the practice day at the very latest. A handicap certificate handed in on the competition day will not be accepted.
Failure to provide evidence will fall into three stages:
1 No penalty for no Fire Service golf evidence on first occasion, club scores should be available to see.
2 To play off scratch on second occasion of no evidence.
3 Unable to compete at the next National fire service event.
Club golfers will manage their own handicap index at Fire Service Golf Events, this to include local, regional, and national events. When entering a National Competition and registering you ‘MUST’ submit your card into the ‘My England Golf’/ Igolf app’ Non England players ‘will take their cards back to their golf clubs and submit them’ The committee will carry out random checks, anyone winning a prize will automatically be checked, if their card has not been submitted, they and their team will be disqualified, prizes/trophies will be awarded to the next in line. The player will not be allowed to enter the event the following year.
The maximum handicap index for the competition shall be 18.0. Should a players’ handicap index increase above those limits by the time of the competition the organising committee must be informed. That entry shall be accepted subject to that member playing off 18.0 index.
Playing Handicap allowance 95% of Course Handicap
Any player found to have a handicap above the limit set out above (and had not informed the organising committee) or whose handicap doesn’t comply with National guidelines shall be disqualified from the competition. IN ADDITION, THAT PERSON WILL BE DISQUALIFIED FROM ENTERING THE FOLLOWING YEARS COMPETITION.
In all other cases competitors will compete using their current handicap index and must provide a certificate authenticating this handicap index signed by their Golf Club or Fire and Rescue Services Secretary or as appropriate.
10. INDIVIDUAL CHAMPIONSHIP PLACINGS
- The individual with the lowest gross score will be awarded the King Cup.
- The individual with the 2nd lowest net score will be awarded 2nd place in the National Individual Championship Shield.
- The individual with the 2nd lowest gross score will be awarded 2nd place in the King Cup.
- The individual with the 3rd lowest net score will be awarded 3rd place in the National Individual Championship Shield.
- The individual with the 3rd lowest gross score will be awarded 3rd place in the King Cup.
- The winners will be awarded in the above order; no player can win more than one prize but shall be awarded both trophies.
- If a player should win both net and gross trophies the first-place prize for the gross shall be awarded to the 2nd lowest gross score, 2nd prize to the 3rd lowest gross score and the 3rd prize to the 4th lowest gross score.
- In the event of ties the scores from the second round will be used as follows
- Best score from second round
- Best score from holes 10 – 18
- Best score from holes 13 – 18
- Best Score from holes 16 – 18
- Best score from 18th hole
11. FORMAT OF COMPETITION
NATIONAL STABLEFORD CHAMPIONSHIP
36-hole Stableford Competition (two rounds of 18 holes) played over two days.
Played from the FSUK Championship tee markers (yellow)
12. HANDICAPS (Handicap index 18.1 and above)
WHS index must be provided at registration for National Events: A Golf Club, or Fire and Rescue Services ‘handicap master’ index must be presented for scrutiny by the organising committee on the practice day at the very latest. A handicap certificate handed in on the competition day will not be accepted.
Failure to provide evidence will fall into three stages:
1 No penalty for no Fire Service golf evidence on first occasion, club scores should be available to see.
2 To play off scratch on second occasion of no evidence.
3 Unable to compete at the next National fire service event.
Club golfers will manage their own handicap index at Fire Service Golf Events, this to include local, regional, and national events. When entering a National Competition and registering you ‘MUST’ submit your card into the ‘My England Golf’/ Igolf app’ Non England players ‘will take their cards back to their golf clubs and submit them’ The committee will carry out random checks, anyone winning a prize will automatically be checked, if their card has not been submitted, they and their team will be disqualified, prizes/trophies will be awarded to the next in line. The player will not be allowed to enter the event the following year.
The minimum handicap index for the competition shall be 18.1. Should a players’ handicap index decrease below 18.1 by the time of the competition the organising committee must be informed. That entry will not be accepted, the player will be offered a place in the Individual competition.
Playing Handicap allowance 95% of Course Handicap
Any player found to have a handicap lower than the limit set out above (and had not informed the organizing committee) or whose handicap doesn’t comply with National guidelines shall be disqualified from the competition. IN ADDITION, THAT PERSON WILL BE DISQUALIFIED FROM ENTERING THE FOLLOWING YEARS COMPETITION. No player can play in this competition with a handicap index lower than 18.1.
13. STABLEFORD CHAMPIONSHIP PLACINGS
A. The individual with the highest stableford score will be awarded the National Stableford Championship Shield.
B The individual with the 2nd highest stableford score will be awarded 2nd place in the National Stableford Championship.
C. The individual with the 3rd highest Stableford score will be awarded 3rd place in the National Stableford Championship.
D. In the event of ties the scores from the second round will be used as follows
- Best score from second round
- Best score from holes 10 – 18
- Best score from holes 13 – 18
- Best Score from holes 16 – 18
- Best score from 18th hole
14. RULES GOVERNING PLAY
Slow Play
If any combination of players loses more than one clear hole over the players immediately in front on the course, the organising committee may impose a penalty of two strokes.
The competitions will be played under the Rules of Golf determined for the time by the Royal and Ancient Golf Club, subject to any local rules of the club on whose course it is played. The established etiquette of golf will always be observed.
15. INTERPRETATION OF RULES
Any question which will arise relating to the interpretation of the rules, penalties etc. shall be referred to the National Committee.
A Committee is appointed for the National Individual & Stableford so that any matters in dispute are not left solely to the organising Fire and Rescue Services who will be involved. This Committee shall include at least one National Committee Member and must not include anyone from a Fire and Rescue Services involved in the dispute.
16. SUBSIDUARY COMPETITIONS
At the discretion of the Organising Secretary, and the subject to sufficient funds being available for prizes, the organisers may award prizes for the best morning and afternoon rounds, net, gross and stableford. Prize winners as set out in Rule 12 cannot win any of these prizes if awarded.
17. TROPHIES
The winners of the competitions will hold the trophies for a period of approximately 12 months from the date of the competition and will be responsible for them being available for presentation when the competition is next held. If in any year the competitions are not held, then the individual or individuals holding the trophy will return it to the National Secretary who will be responsible for its safe custody, until such time that a further competition is played. The golf section of the winners of trophies will also be responsible for ensuring that they are engraved with the same font and size lettering on the trophy before the same event next year. The cost will be met by the National Section when receipts are produced.
18. BALANCE SHEET
As soon as possible after the event the Organising Secretary shall forward to the National Secretary/Treasurer a balance sheet for the event.
19. PRIZE WINNERS
The Organising Secretary shall forward to the National Secretary/ Treasurer a list of Prize winners on the completion of the competition. The Trophy Winners Fire and Rescue Services and Home Address should be included on the list.
20. EVENT REPORT
The Organising Secretary shall forward to the National Secretary a report on the event (to include photographs, and comments) so that the FSUK Golf Section Web site can be updated.
21. ALTERATIONS TO RULES
Alteration to these rules will be made only at the Annual General Meeting of the Association Golf Section, subject to the following:
The National Secretary must receive in writing at least twenty-eight (28) days before the Annual General Meeting any proposal to alter these rules.
The National Committee shall comprise of the Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer, up to four Assistant Secretaries and the Golf Secretary of each appointed District of Association. At least six of the National Committee must be present at the Annual General Meeting before any alteration of the rules can take place. There must be a majority in favour of a proposed alteration before it can be accepted.
22. USE OF BUGGIES AT NATIONAL EVENTS.
Competition Play.
We want everyone to be able to take part in our Competitions and, if you’ve got a medical reason, you can receive permission to use a golf buggy. (England Golf).
Permission to be granted from the organizing Secretary or National Secretary, failure to receive permission will result in DQ from the competition round played whilst using the golf buggy.
