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Handicap regulations

Guidelines for members playing handicap adjusting rounds

This note updates members on their options for the playing of handicap adjustment rounds at Villamartin Golf Club. The note includes the original guidelines issued for organizers of groups, amended to incorporate mixed tee starts for mens' competitions and guidelines for the playing of individual handicap adjustment rounds. Provided that specific requirements are met by the player, a player in either handicap category 3, 4 or 5 playing with another member may enter a handicap adjustment round to the Caddymaster. Players in handicap category 1 or 2 can only play handicap adjusting rounds within the organised group competitions.

1. Guidelines for organizers of groups playing handicap adjusting rounds.

All qualifying rounds played and reported must fulfil the following conditions:

  • a minimum of 6 players must agree that they are going to play a handicap qualifying round. It is now possible for men players to start from a mix of yellow or blue tees. The choice of the blue or yellow tee must be clearly marked on the players card before submission to the Caddymster. Failure to do this will result in disqualification. There is no change to the allowance of ladies playing from the red tee to be mixed into one of these competitions.

Note: For simplicity and to prevent errors, it is still preferred that all the men in an organised competition play from either the blue or yellow tees'

  • the group shall have an organizer that is responsible for that these guidelines are followed

  • the group shall play during the same "time slot" and thus under the same weather and course conditions

  • each player must have a competent marker who must sign the scorecard, but also print his/her name under the signature

  • the round must be played with a "legal" course set-up (the length of the measured course within plus or minus 100 metres of the length shown on the card and tee postions normally within plus or minus 5 metres from the marker plates). If for some reason this is not the case (maintenance activities, weather conditions etc), the organizer must decide not to allow the round as a qualifying round. Where maintennce activities prevent the use of the plus or minus 5 metre guideline, a handicap round may still be played providing the overall length of the course remains within the plus or minus 100 metre limit. In these circumstances guidance can be provided by the Caddymaster.

  • the round must be played according to R&A Rules of Golf (eg. no "Gimmies", preferred lies only if decided by the Club, etc). The play formats are either individual stroke play or individual stableford.

  • all of the players have to give in their scorecards after play to the responsible group organizer.

  • the organizer shall before handing in the scorecards and a payment of 50 cents per card to Caddymaster make sure that the cards are filled in accordance to guidelines from Caddymaster.

Groups that want to play handicap qualifying rounds under the conditions above will through the organizer report this to the handicap committee . The committee will then inform the Caddymaster.


2. Players in handicap categories 3, 4 and 5 (Extra Day Scores)

The Spanish Golf Federation, having made adjustments to their handicap computer software, are now able to accept results from the playing of handicap qualifying rounds in the form of Extra Day Scores(EDS) as set out by the European Golf Association. This provides the opportunity to play in smaller groups (two or more) than stated above but still requires certain disciplines to be followed.

All qualifying rounds played and reported must fulfil the following conditions:

  • The player or players must report to the caddymaster their intention to play a handicap adjusting round of 9 or 18 holes before commencement of play. If the round is 9 holes, it must be either the front or back nine and be clearly declared before commencement of play.

  • Rounds may be played from any of the tees but clearly identified on the card.

  • each player must have a competent marker who must sign the scorecard, but also print his/her name under the signature.

  • the round must be played with a "legal" course set-up (the length of the measured course within plus or minus 100 metres of the length shown on the card and tee postions within plus or minus 5 metres from the marker plates). If for some reason this is not the case (maintenance activities, weather conditions etc), the organizer must decide not to allow the round as a qualifying round.

  • the round must be played according to R&A Rules of Golf (eg. no "Gimmies", preferred lies only if decided by the Club, etc). The play formats are either individual stroke play or individual stableford.

  • all of the players have to give in their scorecards after play and pay 50 cents per card to the Caddymaster.

  • Only one EDS (Extra Day Score) may be played in a calendar month and no more than 6 rounds in a year.

President Club de Golf Villamartin

October 2015