Conditions of Play – General

2017 GENERAL CONDITIONS APPLYING TO ALL GRADES

These Pennant Conditions are to be read in conjunction with the supplementary conditions issued for each particular grade (see under each grade).

ACT Monaro District Golf Association Pennants are governed by the Match Committee of the ACT Monaro District Golf Association, and in these Conditions, where the word “DGA Match Committee” is used it means the Match Committee of the ACT Monaro District Golf Association. Any decision on Rules, required during play of the preliminary rounds, will be given by the Match Committee of the Host Club, and any decision so given will be final. The Match Committee of the ACT Monaro District Golf Association reserves the right to alter or vary these Conditions at any time.

The playing of all Semi Finals and Finals will be administered by the ACT Monaro DGA together with a nominee of the Host Club as necessary.

Payment of the appropriate Pennant Team Entry Fees ($44 per team, includes GST) to the Sec/Treasurer of the DGA, prior to the start of the season, would be appreciated.

2017 PROGRAM Contests between Clubs will be played on dates fixed by the DGA Match Committee, but
– the dates of the contests may be altered by the DGA Match Committee; and
– in the event of any Club refusing or neglecting to play on the dates fixed, the Club will be deemed to have forfeited the Contest.

The full program with venues, dates, and tee times is available on www.actgolf.com.au Home page — Pennant.

HOST CLUB RESPONSIBILITIES

Buffer Zones – For all Pennants, Clubs should allow a generous buffer to ensure that members and Pennant players can maintain an appropriate pace of play on the day. It is also suggested that the club competition on the day when hosting be a Par or Stableford event to promote minimal round times.

Course presentation – It is expected that each Club involved in Pennant competition will present its course in a condition of the high standard that Pennant golf deserves.

Provision of Match Committee during Preliminary Rounds – During the preliminary rounds it is the responsibility of the Host Club to appoint at least one person to act as the Match Committee for the entire period of play. No member of the Host Club who is playing or acting as a caddie shall make or take part in making a decision. The Host Club is also responsible for bringing to the DGA Match Committee’s attention any breaches of these Conditions. The Host Club’s Match Committee can determine any matter within their designated responsibilities:

• Ensuring that matches commence on time and remain on time;

• Monitoring slow play (and issuing penalties as required);

• Adjudicating on any Rule of Golf, or these Pennant Conditions.

FORMAT OF PLAY

The competitions between teams will be known as Contests. All Contests will be played under the Rules of the R&A and Local Rules in force at the Host Club and in accordance with these Conditions.

Each Contest shall comprise of individual matches as outlined below played over 18 holes of Match Play

Exception: If an individual match is square after 18 holes, the match shall be declared halved, except in all Quarter, Semi and Final matches where play shall continue until one player wins a hole. However, the Captains of both Teams may agree that a Match shall terminate without further play, if the Team Contest result has already been decided.

Teeing Ground – The host club is responsible for the setting of tees for Pennant matches. The tees should be set-up appropriately for the Pennant Grades that are playing on that day. A Grade players could expect to play off the blue (or “longer”) tees, whereas Senior Masters or Junior players could be expected to play off shorter tees (e.g. short blues, whites). Females competing in Junior Pennant will use the women’s (red) tees as set by the Host Club on the day.

PLAYER NUMBERS

Pennant Teams will comprise 6 players in preliminary rounds and 7 players in quarter, semi and final matches.

ORDER OF PLAY

The honour shall be decided by the toss of a coin between representatives of the competing clubs. Teams will hit off in reverse order to the Team list (i.e. No 6 player first and No 1 player last). All matches will be played in groups of 4 players (2 teams). Exception: A Grade Final where play will be in pairs.

TEE-TIMES

Tee times are organised by the DGA Captain and Club Captains prior to the start of the season and are shown on www.actgolf.com.au. All play should commence from the 1st tee, unless approved by the DGA.

PLAYER ELIGIBILITY 

A player taking part in the Pennant competition must be an amateur golfer and a bona-fide member of the Club he represents. A bona-fide member will generally be one who is eligible to participate in the Club Championships of the Club he is representing. In general, no player may represent more than one Club in any Division of Pennant during the 2017 Pennant Season. Further, where a club has more than one team in a Division, a member of one team is ineligible to play in the other team.

Exceptions to the above:
a) A player may play for one club in the Thursday Pennant Program and a different club in the Sunday Pennant Program as long as he is a member of both clubs;
b) A player may represent a club in Southern Pennants and a different club in these Pennants as long as he is a bona-fide member of both clubs;
c) A 5-day member who may not be eligible to play in their Club Championships is eligible to play in the Thursday Pennant Program.

Male golfers with an official GA handicap are eligible to play in any grade, subject to the requirements of individual grades. Female golfers with an official GA handicap are only eligible to play in Junior Pennant as long as they meet the age requirement.

Finals – To be eligible to play in a final or semi-final, a player must have played at least one game for that team in the preliminary rounds.

CADDIES

Any person not part of the Team on the day of the Contest may act as a caddie. When playing in fours, players are reminded that fellow Team members are NOT golf partners and, therefore, are not to give or seek advice (i.e. act as a caddie). Penalty – loss of hole

Caddies are permitted to use transportation provided:

1. The player does not accept a ride at any time; and

2. The player does not accept advice from any other person travelling with the caddie.

END OF THE INDIVIDUAL MATCH

A player who has completed his or her individual match must cease playing immediately and may not play any additional holes. Further, he/she cannot then caddie for another player. Penalty – Where a breach of this Condition is reported, the DGA Match Committee reserves the right to declare the player ineligible to compete for his Club for up to the remainder of the Season.

PRACTICE ON COURSE

Players are not permitted to practice on the course on the day of competition prior to commencement of their match. During play, practice is permitted in accordance with Rule 7.2. Penalty – Breach of this Condition will be forfeiture of the individual match by the player(s) breaching the rule.

TEAM LIST TO BE PROVIDED TO OPPONENT AND HOST CLUB STARTER

The Captain or Manager of each Team shall advise the official representative of the Host Club and the opposing Club the names of the players in playing order at least ten (10) minutes before the nominated starting time (i.e. provide a Team sheet). A blank copy of the official team and results sheet can be found on the actgolf website.  If a Club is unable to submit a full Team, the opposing Captain or Manager must be notified that the Team shall consist of a certain number of players, who must play in descending order from number one position. The Team will forfeit last place, or places, not represented.

Teams playing in handicap pennant divisions are reminded that players must be listed in ascending playing handicap order i.e. the lowest handicapped player plays at number 1, the highest handicapped player plays at number 6 (or 7 in the final rounds).  Team members with the same playing handicap can play in any order.   Penalty: matches of players playing out of handicap order will be forfeited to the opponent

Team Forfeits – If a Club forfeits a round, the opposing team is awarded full points and a 6-0 contest score. Where a Club fails to field a full team in a Contest the DGA Match Committee may request an explanation for such an occurrence. Should the explanation be unsatisfactory the DGA Match Committee may impose an appropriate penalty on the Club. Such penalty may include a monetary fine or loss of competition points or both.

Failure of player to appear If, after the names of the Teams have been handed in, a player fails to appear or is unfit or otherwise unable to play the respective Individual Match Point relevant to that position shall be awarded to his opponent. A player will be considered absent, if he is not ready to start at the time that his or her match is due to hit-off. A Club that plays less than the stipulated number of players will be regarded as having lost as many Individual Matches as there are players absent.  Players are reminded that they are not permitted to act as a caddie for a fellow Team member at any time, even when their Individual Match has been completed. Penalty – Refer to the Condition on Caddies.

WINNER OF THE CONTEST

The Team that secures the greater number of Individual Match Points is the winner of the Contest. Two (2) Pennant Table Points are allocated for each Contest win during the preliminary rounds. One (1) Pennant Table point is allocated to each Club for a drawn Contest.   Individual Match Points — One (1) Individual Match Point is allocated for each individual match won by a player. Half (1/2) an Individual Match Point is allocated for each drawn match.

COUNTBACK ARRANGEMENTS FOR PENNANT TABLE

The following count-back arrangements will apply to all Divisions of Pennant in determining relative positions on the Pennant Table to play in the finals. In the event of two or more Clubs having an equal number of Pennant Table Points, then the Club having the highest number of Individual Match Points shall be the higher placed Club on the Pennant Table. In the event of a further tie, then the Club which achieved the higher number of Individual Match Points in the Contest(s) between the tied Clubs shall be the higher placed Club on the Pennant Table. In the event of a further tie, or the Clubs did not play against each other during the Pennant season, then the Club winning the highest number of individual matches at the No 1 position throughout the season shall be the higher placed Team on the Pennant Table. In the event of two Clubs still being unable to be separated, the previous paragraph will be applied to the matches at the No 2 position and down the order until the clubs can be separated. If the clubs can’t be separated at any point, then the matter will be referred to the DGA match committee for a decision.

SLOW PLAY

The ACT Monaro DGA Match Committee and Host Club Match Committees have a mutual interest in ensuring Pennant fixtures are achieving an acceptable pace of play. The conditions outlined here I have been prepared in consultation with Club Captains to apply for all 2017 Pennant matches – preliminary rounds as well as the finals series. Each match is expected to keep up with the match preceding it on the course. Host Club representatives are authorised to apply penalties set out here.

Repeated infringements of the pace of play guidelines in the 2017 season will be referred to the ACT Monaro Match Committee for further consideration and may see a player subject to further action including suspension from further representation of his Club for the season.

PROCEDURES FOR CANCELLATION, SUSPENSION OR POSTPONEMENT OF PLAY

Extreme Heat – All Pennant matches for a particular round will be cancelled if the Bureau of Meteorology forecast for Canberra at 6pm on the day before a match is for a Maximum Temperature of 38C or more (but see variation for juniors) on the day of the match. If this situation occurs in the Preliminary Rounds, all clubs (except those with a bye) will be awarded a drawn result (1 point and 3 games each).

Other Situations – Every effort should be made to play the Contest on the scheduled day, even if it is necessary to delay the commencement of play, or temporarily suspend play, because of inclement weather.  Play should not be cancelled for the day until such time as it would not be possible for the last match to be concluded on that day. The decision on this matter rests with the designated Match Committee of the Host Club for Preliminary Rounds and with the DGA Match Committee during any Semi Finals and Finals.

Course conditions, remaining time available and player safety should all be taken into account when considering whether to continue, suspend or cancel play for the day.

Play can only be null and void in a stroke play competition (Rule 33-2d).

If resumption of play is not possible the matter will be referred to the DGA Match Committee that will determine the action to be taken.  However, if a Team has secured sufficient Individual Match Points to win the Contest that Team shall be awarded two Pennant Table Points. If neither Team secured the advantage both Teams shall be awarded one Pennant Table Point and any Individual Match Points based on completed individual matches. In the event of a contest being cancelled before play commences, each team will be allocated one Pennant Table Point and 3 Individual Match Points.

LOCOMOTION

Players will not be permitted to ride in, or on, any form of automotive locomotion, during the play of a hole.

Exception 1: In the case of permanently physically impaired players on receipt of the following: a) Letter from a Medical Practitioner specifying; i) the disability with which the player is affected ii) the Medical Practitioner’s opinion that the disability necessitates the player requiring the use of automotive locomotion in order to participate in the competition; b) In the case of a permanent disability a letter from the player’s Club, confirming that the player does not participate in any games of golf at that Club except with the assistance of the automotive locomotion; or c) In the case of a temporary disability a letter from the player’s Club confirming that the player does not presently participate in any games of golf at that Club except with the assistance of transportation and nominating the period for that permission to use transportation is granted. Copies of this paperwork, for each individual claiming medical exemption, for the whole season, should be supplied to the DGA Captain prior to the start of the season (email: jimbev@iinet.net.au). Individuals claiming temporary exemption for individual matches should also present copies of the appropriate paperwork to the Match Committee of the day, if required.

Exception 2: A member of the Match Committee may utilise any locomotion to transport a player or players in the interest of pace of play where necessary without penalty.

Exception 3: This rule does not apply in Senior Masters Handicap or Senior Masters Scratch Pennant.

The DGA Match Committee accepts no responsibility for the availability of any transportation, or as to whether or not permission is granted to use any transportation at Host Clubs.  Penalty – Breach of this Condition will be forfeiture of the individual match by the player(s) breaching the rule.

MOBILE PHONES

The use of a mobile or portable phone by a competitor or his caddie, whilst on the golf course during an event is distracting and inconsiderate. If the competitor or caddie is in the possession of a mobile or portable phone it should be turned off. If the phone rings this is deemed to be in use and the Committee may take disciplinary action against the offending player in accordance with the concluding paragraph of section 1, Etiquette of the Rules of Golf. If the phone has a distance measuring device facility it may be used in line with the Conditions below.  However the ‘phone communication’ facility should be turned off. In match play, the opponent should be informed if the player plans to use this facility.

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 14-3.”
Penalty – Loss of hole.  For subsequent offence – Disqualification (i.e. forfeiture of the individual match).

ALCOHOL

The consumption of alcohol by a player or his caddie on the course during a match is prohibited.
Penalty – Breach of this Condition will be forfeiture of the individual match by the player(s) breaching the rule.

PROTESTS

A Club may protest in writing to the DGA Captain within two (2) days after a contest, stating why they consider an incident during a match or after a match should be reconsidered for possible overturning of an individual match or overall Contest result. The Club lodging the protest must also provide a copy of the protest to the Host Club and to the opposing Team’s Club Captain on the same day it is lodged with the DGA.

The DGA Captain may determine the protest himself within his own right or refer it to the DGA Match Committee for further consideration. The DGA Captain or DGA Match Committee may determine the protest in any manner thought fit.

Protests cannot be lodged against a decision given by a Host Club Match Committee on its interpretation of the Rules of Golf or Local Rules provided during play. A protest cannot be lodged against a decision of the Host Club Match Committee to order player(s) from the course under the slow play conditions outlined in these Conditions.

RESULTS TO BE SENT TO DGA

DGA Match Committee Nominee: Nigel Powell (DGA MCN) Fax: c/- Federal Golf Club 02 6285 3140  email: nigel@fgc.com.au  Mobile: 0434 146 325

Prior to the start of the season, Club Captains (or their representative) must email DGA MCN with the email and phone contact details of their various Pennant team Manager/Captains.

At the conclusion of a Contest, SMS the contest result to the DGA MCN.

Within Twenty Four Hours of the conclusion of the Contest the WINNING Club, or in the event of a tied result, the first named Club in the draw must notify the full results to the DGA MCN. If results are not received within the stated time the offending Club(s) may have one Pennant Table point deducted for each offence.

Result sheets are to be faxed, scanned then emailed or photographed then emailed. DO NOT MMS the photograph.

WITHDRAWAL OF CLUB AFTER FINAL DRAW COMPLETED

Any Club that withdraws from any Division of Pennant after the final draw has been compiled and circulated may be prohibited from participating in that Division of Pennant for up to two years.

If a Club withdraws from the Pennant at any time during the Season any Team scheduled to play that Club in Preliminary Rounds shall be awarded a forfeit and awarded the maximum Pennant Table and Match Points. All previous Contest results involving the Club that withdraws from the Pennant Program shall stand.

MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS     

Dress rules – Each Club entering a Team in a Pennant competition and the manager of each Team should ensure that Team members comply with the dress regulations of the Host Club. The Host Club has the right to refuse any player entry on to the course or into the Clubhouse if such players do not conform to the dress rules of the Host Club. Note: The penalty for non-compliance would be no start or disqualification.

Equipment – It is recommended that Team Managers check with Host Clubs prior to the Contest and enquire whether a condition requiring buggies to be equipped with wide wheels or a restriction relating to metal spikes in golf shoes applies.

Practice rounds – The availability of Practice Rounds prior to Pennant Contests at Host Clubs and the setting of any associated green fees are at the discretion of the Host Club.

Logos – Tasteful and appropriate Logos on individual players team uniforms are acceptable.

Added: 10/01/2017

Accidental movement of ball The DGA Match Committee has adopted the new Local Rule which eliminates any penalty for accidental movement of a ball or ball-marker on the putting green, in the form recommended by The R&A and USGA, to apply to all 2017 Pennants matches.

Refer to http://www.golf.org.au/newsdisplay/95291 for the recommended form of the new Local Rule.”