FIRE SPORT UK
GOLF SECTION
Rules for Four-Ball Pairs Championship
TITLES
The FIRE SPORT UK Four-Ball Pairs Championship.
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
To provide a further means of fostering relationships between members of Local Authorities Fire Brigades through the opportunity of sportsmanship, fellowship and healthy exercise afforded by the Royal and Ancient game of golf.
FREQUENCY
The competitions shall be played annually in the 1st two weeks of May
ELIGIBILITY TO ENTER
The competition shall be open to members of Local Authority Fire Brigades throughout England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland who are members of the Fire Service Sports and Athletics Association, and whose subscriptions are fully paid up.
A retired member who is still a member of his Brigades Sports and Welfare Club, and that Brigade is a member as described above in a., shall be entitled to play in the competitions.
MANAGEMENT AND ORGANISATION
(Subject to approval by the National Sec)
For the purposes of the competitions there will be four areas, Scottish, Northern, Midland and Southern.
Commencing in 2005 responsibility for organising competitions will be vested in areas in the following order:-
See rota of events until 2020
ENTRIES FOR COMPETITIONS
A notice of competition shall be circulated by the Organising Secretary to all Brigade Golf Secretaries (via email & hard copy)
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.
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 balloting out the higher handicap entries.
By accepting entries on a ‘first come, first served’ basis.
Those whose entries are not accepted shall have their entry fees returned.
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.
FORMAT OF COMPETITIONS
Four-Ball Pairs Championship
36 hole four-ball better ball Medal Competition (two rounds of 18 holes) played over two days
Day 1 afternoon play
Day 2 morning play
Optional practice round may be arranged by competitors prior to the event
HANDICAPS (Max: Male 18. Female 24)
All competitors must be in possession of a bona fide handicap i.e. club or brigade handicap and have it present 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 a valid handicap certificate will mean that player will play the full competition off a handicap of scratch (zero).
As the National Pairs is a National Fire Sport UK Golf Section event, players will, if he / she have one, play off their Golf Club handicap
Any player who does not have a Golf Club handicap will play off their Brigade Golf Section Handicap
The maximum playing handicap for the competition shall be 18 at the time of submitting the entry form. Should a players’ handicap increase above 18 by the time of the competition the organising committee must be informed. That entry shall be accepted subject to that member playing off 18 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 and must provide a certificate authenticating this handicap signed by their Golf Club or Brigade Secretary as appropriate.
.
The handicap allowance for the competition shall be 90% of the competitors playing handicap to a maximum allowance of 16 strokes for men and 22 for women
RULES GOVERNING PLAY
If any combination of players lose more than one clear hole over the players immediately in front on the course, the organising committee shall 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 at all times be observed.
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 Pairs so that any matters in dispute are not left solely to the organising Brigade who will be involved. This Committee shall include at least one National Committee Member and must not include anyone from a Brigade involved in the dispute
FOUR-BALL PAIRS CHAMPIONSHIP PLACINGS
The pair with the lowest net score will be awarded the Net Trophy.
The pair with the lowest gross score will be awarded the Gross Trophy.
The pair with the 2nd lowest net score will be awarded 2nd place in the Net Trophy.
The pair with the 2nd lowest gross score will be awarded 2nd place in the Gross Trophy.
The pair with the 3rd lowest net score will be awarded 3rd place in the Net Trophy.
The pair with the 3rd lowest gross score will be awarded 3rd place in the Gross Trophy.
The winners will be awarded in the above order; no pair can win more than one prize, but shall be awarded both trophies.
If a pairing 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
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 Day 1 and Day 2 rounds, both net and gross. Prize winners as set out in Rule 12 cannot win any of these prizes if awarded.
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.
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.
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 Brigade and Home Address should be included on the list.
Event Report
The Organising Secretary shall forward to the National Secretary a report on the event (to include photographs, and comments) so that the FSSAA Golf Section Web site can be updated
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 Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary/Treasurer 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.
