The Nine-Hole Championship

Transcription

1 The Nine- Championship 24 January 2017 In 2017, The R&A will run a Nine- Championship which will culminate in a final played over the back 9 at Royal Birkdale Golf Club on the morning of Saturday 15 July Four lucky pairs from Ireland will play in the final, and will avail of the following: R&A will cover the cost of accommodation, excluding extras, in a Southport hotel on the night of Friday 14 July. R&A will provide dinner for the finalists in the Royal Birkdale clubhouse on the evening of Friday 14 July. R&A will cover all reasonable finalists travel costs to and from the venue. R&A will provide lunch following golf on Saturday 15 July. The Irish Ladies Golf Union and the Golfing Union of Ireland are fully supportive of this event and encourage clubs affiliated to the ILGU/GUI to enter. The Unions will run four 9-hole Regional finals in June 2017 (dates and venues to be confirmed) with the winning team pair from each regional final qualifying for Royal Birkdale. Each Golf Club affiliated to both the ILGU and the GUI is eligible to compete in this competition. Participating clubs will run club qualifiers over nine holes, the winners of which will represent their club in one of the four regional finals. The Club may organise the qualifier at their discretion in one of the following ways: A nine-hole Mixed competition in which players pick their partners (the combined singles stableford scores of both players counting for the team s score) Separate nine-hole Men s and Ladies competitions (the winner of both going forward as a team to represent their Club at the regional final). Please note the following points in relation to the above: 1. Where a club has a nine-hole SSS rating, these competitions must be qualifying for handicapping purposes where competition play conditions prevail. Club handicapping software must be used in any singles format run by the club. A club that does not currently have a CONGU SSS rating for nine holes MUST submit a request for such a rating with their entry. 2. There are no individual upper or lower age limits for this competition; however, a pair may only include one player (male or female) who is under 18 years of age in the year of the event. Please find enclosed an entry form and conditions of the competition. Entries received after Friday 3 March will not be included in the event. Ready golf should be encouraged as part of the aim of this 9-hole event is to encourage competitive golf which takes less time to play. Information on Ready Golf can be found in The R&A s Pace of Play manual, available online at Practices/SubRules/5-Ready-Golf. Kindest regards, Sandra Barnett Tournament Manager, ILGU Mark Wehrly Championships Manager, GUI

2 Page 1 of 4 The 9- Championship Entry Form 1. Name of Golf Club Club Name: 2. Method of Qualification Please indicate below the format of your qualifying competition: 2 x 9-hole singles competitions with the winner of each competition going forward to represent the club 9-hole mixed competition where the combined singles stableford scores of both players will count Tick one Please indicate below the date on which your competition will be held (nb date must be on or before Sunday 14 th May 2017). Date of Competition: 3. Does your Golf Club have an SSS Rating for 9 s? Men s Tees Please tick Ladies Tees Please tick Yes Yes No No If no to either or both of the above, please note that you are required to accompany this entry form with an application for an SSS Rating for nine holes (see facing). 4. Contact Details Name Address Mobile Number Please note that all correspondence in relation to this event will be conducted by . Reminders may be issued via social media and however, it is imperative that you check your regularly for updates in relation to the event. Signed: Please submit entries with relevant applications for 9-hole SSS either by post or by to: By Post to the Golfing Union of Ireland: National Headquarters, Carton Demense, Maynooth, Co Kildare, W23 R8C6 By to the Irish Ladies Golf Union: info@ilgu.ie Entry forms received after Friday 3 March will not be accepted.

3 Page 2 of 4 APPLICATION FOR STANDARD SCRATCH SCORE 9 HOLE ONLY CLUB NAME: Applicant's Name: Has your course been USGA rated? Yes/No Position in Club: address: Telephone: Mobile No: Please fill out either or both as appropriate. LADIES COURSE MEN S COURSE Number (rank 1 thru 9) Metres Yards Par Number (rank 1 thru 9) Metres Yards Par Signed: Date: Please return form to the address or address listed on Page 1. OFFICE USE ONLY Authorised by: Date: 18 SSS: 9 SS allocated: 18 PAR: 9 PAR:

4 Page 3 of 4 The Nine- Championship Tournament Conditions 1. General a. This competition is called The Nine- Championship and is under the joint control and management of the Irish Ladies Golf Union and the Golfing Union of Ireland. 2. Eligibility To be eligible to compete, players must: a. Be members of Golf Clubs affiliated to both the Irish Ladies Golf Union and the Golfing Union of Ireland b. Conform with the rules of amateur status as prescribed by R&A Rules Ltd. c. Have a CONGU handicap and conform with any eligibility requirements for competing in Open Singles Qualifying Competitions as may be enforced by either the GUI or ILGU. 3. Entry (Clubs) a. Participating clubs must submit an entry form to the ILGU & GUI on or before Friday 3 March. Entrants must have qualified to represent the club through a legitimate club competition along the lines specified in the entry form. b. A club that does not currently have a CONGU SSS rating for nine holes should submit a request for such a rating with their entry. 4. Format a. Qualifying Competitions (Club) i. To determine their participants, each participating club shall hold some form of legitimate qualifier as per the list of formats specified in the entry form (see above). ii. Where a club has a nine-hole SSS rating, these competitions must be qualifying for handicapping purposes where competition play conditions prevail. Club handicapping software must be used in any singles format run by the club. A club that does not currently have a CONGU SSS rating for nine holes MUST submit a request for such a rating with their entry. iii. There are no individual upper or lower age limits for this competition; however, a pair may only include one player (male or female) who is under 18 years of age in the year of the event. Where a club runs separate qualifying competitions and both of the winners are under 18, the club will gain an extra team in the regional finals, with each of the winners playing on each team. b. Designated Regional Finals (ILGU/GUI) i. Four designated regional finals will take place at dates and times arranged in advance by the ILGU and GUI over nine holes rated for Standard Scratch. ii. The combined singles stableford scores of each team member will count towards the team s total. iii. The winner of each regional final shall qualify for the grand final in Royal Birkdale on Saturday 15th July Decision of Ties a. Ties in the regional final will be resolved in the following manner: i. Take the best 9-hole card of each team ii. If still tied, decide on the last 6, 3, 1 of the best 9-hole card of each team iii. If still tied, repeat the process of i and ii for the other card. iv. If still tied, decide by lot. b. Ties in the qualifiers will be decided on the basis of the last 6-3-1, and if still tied will be decided by lot. 6. Prizes a. The winner of each regional final will qualify for the nine-hole championship to be held on Saturday 15th June at the 2017 venue for The Open Championship, Royal Birkdale. The R&A will

5 Page 4 of 4 cover the costs of accommodation for the finalists (excluding extras), dinner in the Royal Birkdale Clubhouse on the evening preceding the event, lunch following the golf competition on Saturday 15th July, and all reasonable travel costs to and from the venue. b. The leading four teams in each regional final shall receive prize vouchers. c. It will be at the discretion of participating golf clubs as to whether they award prizes for the leading places in their qualifying competition. 7. Practice a. For qualifying competitions and regional finals, the provisions of Rule 7 of the Rules of Golf will apply, in addition to any further restrictions regarding the play of other holes on the golf course on the day of competition that either the golf club (in the case of qualifying competitions) or the ILGU&GUI (in the case of regional finals) may apply in the case of the regional finals. b. There will be no practice play allowed at Royal Birkdale but range and putting green access will be available on the morning of the final. 8. Caddies a. Caddies are not permitted. b. In accordance with Note 1 in Rule 32-1b, if a competitor is in breach of this Rule, he/she must report the facts to the Committee before returning his score card; if he fails to do so, he/she is disqualified. The Committee will, from the total points scored for the round, deduct two points for each hole at the breach occurred, with a maximum deduction per round of four points. 9. Transportation a. The specimen condition on Transportation in Appendix 1b of the Rules of Golf is in operation. b. The Policies of the ILGU & GUI on the Use of Golf Buggies will govern the use of golf buggies where such is permitted by the Committee on the grounds of medical disability. 10. Pace of Play a. Ready Golf is encouraged. b. The provisions of Rule 6-7 of the Rules of Golf may be applied to players out of position at Regional Final stages, in addition to any such guidelines laid down by the ILGU & GUI. 11. Distance Measuring Devices A player may obtain distance information by use of a distance-measuring device. If, during a stipulated round, a player uses a distance-measuring device to gauge or measure other conditions that might affect his play (e.g., elevation changes, wind speed, etc.), the player is in breach of Rule Ball/marker accidently rest moved on putting green a. Rules 18-2, 18-3 and 20-1 are modified as follows: When a player s ball lies on the putting green, there is no penalty if the ball or ball-marker is accidentally moved by the player, his partner, his opponent, or any of their caddies or equipment. b. The moved ball or ball-marker must be replaced as provided in Rules 18-2, 18-3 and This Local Rule applies only when the player s ball or ball-marker lies on the putting green and any movement is accidental. c. Note: If it is determined that a player s ball on the putting green was moved as a result of wind, water or some other natural cause such as the effects of gravity, the ball must be played as it lies from its new location. A ball-marker moved in such circumstances is replaced.