Rules for the Regional and National Finals 2008

(updated February 2008)

1. Qualification

Each league or other qualifying competition that has paid the £220 entry fee will nominate a club to represent them at the Regional and/or National Finals. Under normal circumstances, this would be the League Champions. Any league consisting of more than twenty clubs may have up to three places and any with ten or more clubs two places, provided they pay the additional £220 for each place.

The top two teams from each English Regional Final qualify for the English National Final, though the organisers reserve the right to adjust this when there is a significant imbalance between numbers of entries across the regions. The winners of the English, Scottish, and Welsh National Finals and the Fred Daly Trophy in Ireland qualify for the Home Nations Final at La Manga Club. We pay for a team squad of seven plus the Junior Organiser/Convenor of each finalist for the La Manga trip.

2. Teams at Regional and National Finals

Each team will consist of six players each of whom must have played in at least one league match during the current season. Exceptions to this rule will only be allowed with the agreement of the tournament organisers. The deadline by which teams must be submitted to the organisers is 6 pm on the day before the round is to be played.

3. Age

The R&A definition of “junior” applies, ie a junior golfer is an amateur golfer who had not reached his 18th birthday in 2007.

4. Format for Regional and National Finals

The rounds, which have qualifying status for handicapping purposes, will be eighteen holes medal, with full handicap allowance for boys off medal tees. Girls will play with full handicap allowance off ladies tees, and will be allowed the difference between the men’s and ladies’ SSS. Each team’s playing order will be by exact handicap. NB At the Home Nations Final, the format will be round robin medal matchplay off full playing handicap, and each team’s playing order will be by exact handicap.

5. Scoring

One gross score (not necessarily the best but the one that will produce the best overall score) plus the best four of the remaining five net scores will be aggregated. In the event of a tie, the sixth player’s net score will be taken into account. If the teams are still tied, then the sixth player’s net scores over the back nine holes will be taken into account (and six holes etc. as necessary). If the teams are still tied, then the combined gross scores of all six players over the back nine holes will be taken into account (and six holes etc. as necessary).

6. Handicaps

The maximum playing handicap is 20 for boys and 30 for girls, though those with higher handicaps may of course still play. Participating clubs and their parent leagues must ensure that every player has a handicap that reflects his or her true ability.

At least five days prior to the relevant Regional/National Final, team managers must submit evidence of each player’s handicap movements for the 2008 season. This will show adjustments as a result of regular participation in medals, open competitions and general play. It must include at least six qualifying rounds or general play adjustments, of which four must have occurred after 31 May. Failure to provide such records will mean that the individual concerned is ineligible, and he or she will not be allowed to play. The organisers may relax this rule if there are exceptional circumstances such as prolonged medically certified illness. In such a case, the organisers must receive a letter signed by the club secretary/manager, and countersigned by the club captain, stating that the player’s handicap is a true reflection of his/her current playing ability.

7. Caddies and spectators

Caddies are not allowed and no one may give advice to the players on the course, apart from that relating to interpretation of the Rules of Golf. Any breach of this rule will lead to the disqualification of the player concerned. Spectators must remain at least 25 metres from the players throughout the round.

8. Bad weather provision

If play has to be abandoned at a Regional/National Final, the result will be determined by medal rounds played by each team under Championship rules at their home or other similar standard course. To enable the Home Nations Final to be played as scheduled, a date by which scores must be submitted will be announced by the organisers at the time of the abandonment of play of the original round. Scores will be recorded as plus/minus against the SSS on the course’s card and aggregated as per Rule 5 above. The organisers will arrange with league secretaries for impartial observers to attend each club’s event and countersign the team’s scorecards. It is the responsibility of team managers to make sure that the observer is aware of the date of the round, and that results are forwarded to the organisers by the date stipulated. The tournament organisers reserve the right to disqualify a team whose score is submitted late. If circumstances are such that this provision cannot be activated, a draw will be made instead.

9. Behaviour

The organisers reserve the right to apply severe future sanctions on a club any of whose team members behave unacceptably on or off the course at a Junior Team Golf event. It is the responsibility of team managers to ensure that the behaviour of their team members does not breach acceptable standards.

10. Disclaimer

By agreeing to play at any Junior Team Golf Ltd event team managers accept full responsibility for any injury that may occur to any team member, and release and indemnify the event organisers from any actions, costs, damages, expenses or liability. Also, in order to fulfil the requirements of press and media, they agree for photographs to be taken of the team or its individual members. Junior Team Golf Ltd agrees that they shall not use the material to promote anything other than the event itself, without parental permission.

11. Decisions

All decisions made by the Championship Director or event organiser are final.