HOME NATIONS FINALS 2020/21 FOREST PINES, LINCOLNSHIRE - FEBRUARY 2021 COMPETITION RULES – (Revised 14th December 2020) Patrons: Paul Casey, Sir Steve Redgrave & Alan Tait
1. AGE The R&A definition of “junior” applies, ie a junior golfer is an amateur golfer who had not reached his/her 18th birthday prior to the 1st January 2020.
2. HANDICAPS 2.1 The maximum WHS playing handicap index is 18.4 for boys and 24.4 for girls, though those with higher handicaps may of course still play, but off the maximum handicap, as appropriate. Participating clubs must ensure that every player has a handicap that reflects his or her true ability. 2.2 Where a player has a handicap index of 18.4 or 24.4 or is restricted to those handicaps, by virtue of §2.1 above, that player will add any handicap index adjustment shots available to the relevant maximum of 18.4 for boys and 24.4 for girls such that they could be playing off a higher handicap than the stated maximum, as indicated in §2.1 above. 2.3 All players must have a National Golf Union number, be registered with WHS and have a current handicap index when they are presented by the JO to play in JTGHNF. In addition, prior to the relevant final all players must have participated in at least four qualifying rounds in the twelve months to 31st January 2021. 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. 2.4 Full names of all players together with age, birthday, National Golf Union number, and current handicap index must be submitted to JTG prior to 31.01.21. Boys will play off the WHITE tees and girls will play off the RED tees. 2.5 Individual handicap indices will not change during the tournament and all qualifying round scores on the first two days of Competiton will be loaded within 48 hours of the completion of the final match on Finals Day (19th February).
3. TEAM SELECTION Teams will consist of squads of eight players drawn from players who have participated in qualifying rounds for the Home Nations Championships Finals (including National Finals). A maximum of two Replacement/Reserve players may be brought into the squad of eight by applying in writing to the Management, at least one month prior to the Championship Finals. All applications will be considered on an individual basis and clubs will be notified of decisions made within two weeks of receipt. If more than eight players are brought to the Finals, then the nominated squad of eight to play in all four days of competition must be submitted to the Championship Director immediately after the practice rounds or prior to 16.00 on the practice day, whichever is the earlier. HOME NATIONS FINALS 2020/21 FOREST PINES, LINCOLNSHIRE - FEBRUARY 2021
For the final two days of match play competition, days 3 and 4, teams for each day’s play must be nominated prior to 16:00, the day before each round of matches. Team playing order will be in accordance with exact playing handicap for the first six players and then again for the two "Tie Break" players. 4.1 COMPETITION FORMAT DAYS 1 & 2 – MEDAL ROUNDS There will be a separate stroke play competition on each of days 1 and 2. On each day one Gross score, not necessarily the best, plus the best five of the remaining seven Nett scores will be aggregated to create a team score. At the end of the second round of stroke play all the team scores will be aggregated and a leaderboard created. In the event of an aggregate tie, the two seventh players’ Nett scores will be taken into account. If the teams are still tied, then the two eighth player’s Nett scores will be taken into account. “Reserve teams” playing on days 1 & 2 will be included in the leaderboard to the extent that there are invited teams not participating, for whatever reason eg travel restrictions arising from Covid 19, weather etc. Having excluded the team scores of any reserve teams which are not replacing a missing invited team, an official leader board 1 to 8 will be created to determine the draw for the match play element of the competition (See 4.2 below).
4.2 COMPETITION FORMAT DAYS 3 & 4 – MATCH PLAY (‘Rubber’ is any two ball between two players: ‘Match’ refers to all eight rubbers between two teams). The eight competing teams will be divided into two four team groups, according to their exact positions in the official leader board, The inter team matches will then consist of the following:- Forest Group: On Day 3 - 1v4 and 2v3 On Day 4 the winner of these two inter team matches will contest the Championship final and the two losers will contest the 3rd and 4th place playoff. Pines Group: On Day 3 - 5v8 and 6v7 On Day 4 the winner of these two inter team matches will contest the 5th and 6th place play off and the two losers will contest the 7th and 8th place playoff. Players on Semi Final day (Day 3) will all go out in fourballs, each one consisting of two individual rubbers. Players in the same fourball may talk to and encourage each other. However, they are not permitted, in accordance with the rules of golf, to give playing advice to one another. This overrides the “no advice by third parties” (see rule §11). In the event of a 3:3 tie between the first six players, rubbers 7 and 8 will determine the result of the match. If this results in a 4:4 tie, the match will be decided on an eight rubber total margin ie “holes up” after 18 holes in each rubber.
5. SCORING On days 1 and 2 all matches shall be played over the full eighteen holes unless play is abandoned (See §14). On days 3 and 4, all individual rubbers will be match play over the full eighteen holes with the full difference in handicap, subject to the restrictions indicated in §2, applied. The winner will be the player with the higher number of holes won, nett of holes lost with the difference being treated as either the winning or losing holes “margin” after eighteen holes. NOTE: If a player does not start or cannot complete their rubber through illness or injury, their result will be a 3 & 2 loss and a losing margin of three holes will be recorded. If a player N/R’s during a match the result will be a 6 & 5 loss and a 6 hole margin will be applied.
6. DETERMINATION OF RESULTS ON DAY 3 (“SEMI FINALS”) & DAY 4 (“PLAY OFFS”) If two teams are tied after both six and eight matches, the team with the highest total nett margins in all eight matches will determine the result. If this does not produce a result each team manager will nominate one member of his/her team to play in a head-to-head gross score play-off over the last two holes – 17 and 18 of the Course being played on the fourth day of Competition. If this finishes all square, the play off will continue from the first tee on a sudden death basis. In 5th v 6th and 7th v 8th matches, if the result is tied after consideration of rubbers won and lost on all eight games, the result will be a tie. (margins will not be taken into account).
7. DETERMINATION OF RESULTS IN PLAY OFFS ie on Final Day, Friday 19th February. This rule will be similar to the rule outlined above in 6 but we want to refer this to our technical committee before drafting a definitive rule.
8. Distance Measuring Devices, Caddies/Bag Carriers/Trolley Pullers DMD’s are permitted to be used as long as they are not used for any purpose other than distance measurement, as per R & A rule 4-3. It is a condition of the JTG competition that mobile telephones are not to be used on the course other than in an emergency. Players may use an electric or pull trolley. Caddies/bag carriers/trolley pullers are not allowed.
9. SLOW PLAY Slow play will not be tolerated. Players will be expected to keep up behind the match in front. Particularly slow play by an individual will result in a verbal warning. The Championship Referee reserves the right to enforce, under R & A rule 5.6(A) a loss of hole penalty for first and second offence followed by disqualification for persistently slow play during the Championship. Any player disqualified in a match will not be available for selection in their team’s next match of the competition.
10. PLAYING KIT – TELEVISION REQUIREMENT Playing kit will conform to normal golf competition specification. Please note that at the request of the TV production unit, teams may be asked to change the order in which playing kit will be worn, especially on the last day of competition if team colours clash.
11. SUPPORTERS Supporters must keep to the edges of the fairways and off the greens, and remain at least 25 metres from the players throughout play unless helping find a ‘lost ball’ (see below). Spectator Buggies (if the conditions permit) must stay off the fairways at all times. No advice on rulings, coaching or otherwise, may be given to the players on the course. However, supporters are encouraged to ball-spot plus help look for lost balls for all players. (Please observe Parental Guidance Notice). Rules queries will only be dealt with by the Championship Referees. Neither Junior Organisers/ Convenors nor any walking scorers are permitted to act as rules officials in any way shape or form. In addition, whilst walking between green and tee, team managers may enquire about the individual match position or convey news about overall match positions etc. It is a player’s responsibility to report during, or immediately after the round, to the Referee or Championship Director, any “communication” with his or her opponent by a supporter, other than is indicated above as being acceptable. Any breach of this rule may lead to a loss of hole penalty for the player concerned for each occasion that this rule is transgressed. The organisers reserve the right to disqualify individuals, or the whole team, for persistent transgression of this rule.
12. BEHAVIOUR The organisers reserve the right to apply severe future sanctions on any club whose team members behave unacceptably, on or off the course. It is the responsibility of the Chef de Missions and the Team Managers to ensure that the behaviour of their team members including players, officials and supporters does not breach acceptable standards (see Appendix 2).
13. TROPHIES In addition to the Trophy, prizes awarded to the winning team, runners up and third place teams plus rolls of honour and sponsors prize presented to all teams, there will be trophies for individual performances (see Appendix 1 for details). It is the obligation of the Winners of the Nigel Dolton Trophy and the Winner of the Alex Hay Trophy to return their awards a minimum of 8 weeks before the start of the 2021 – 22 Competition.
14. BAD WEATHER PROVISION (if all or part of a day’s play is abandoned) 14.1 If for whatever reason, a round of matches is cancelled in advance of play commencing or during play, every effort will be made to reorganize/continue the round of matches at a mutually convenient time either later the same day, or at least prior to the next round of matches scheduled for the following day. If this is not possible to achieve in good time prior to the next round, the result shall be deemed to be a tie, unless §14.2 can be applied (see below). 14.2 If play has to be abandoned during the course of a round, the following procedure will be adopted in order to determine the winning team in each match VIZ:- Where less than six players in each team on Days 1&2 or four rubbers in a match on days 3&4 have completed a minimum of six holes at the time of abandonment, the whole medal round or match, will be deemed abandoned and §14.1 shall apply in respect of that match. Note: The relevant hole, referred to below as the “base” hole(s), will be the last hole completed, prior to the abandonment by players in the medal round or match play groups, as appropriate, at the back of the field, ie who teed off last. The base hole must be the sixth or greater. In the medal rounds, Days 1&2, all scores who have not completed 12 holes will be taken back to the score at the base hole and then a notional 18 hole score computed. Where medal rounds have been completed these scores will stand. Where between 12 and 17 inclusive have been finished but the round not finished a notional 18 hole score will be extrapolated. Where rubbers, Days 3&4, have not been fully completed when the match is abandoned, the position in each individual rubber, taken at the same “base” hole, will be deemed to be the result. Any rubbers which have not completed six holes ie maximum of two will be declared tied, irrespective of the actual position at the abandonment. Where rubbers have been completed ie a winner has been identified in advance of the 18th hole the result of that rubber will stand irrespective of whether some of the rubbers in the match have not been completed and are determined by reference back to the position at the relevant base hole. The result of the match will be determined in the normal way as though all eight matches have registered “completed rounds”.
DISCLAIMER Ect. 15. By agreeing to play at any Junior Team Golf event, Clubs accept full responsibility for any injury that may occur to any team member or official, and release and indemnify the event organisers from any actions, costs, damages, expenses or liability. It is understood that all spectators other than Club Officials will be attending the event at their own risk. In order to fulfil the requirements of Television and other media, Clubs agree for individual players/member of the official party to be photographed for print media and filmed for television. Junior Team Golf agrees, that they shall not use this visual material to promote anything other than the event itself, without parental or individual’s permission, as appropriate.
Appendix 1: INDIVIDUAL TROPHIES AND PRIZES Paul Casey Trophy For the individual “Seve Ballesteros” Division player ie. any player with a handicap index 5.4 or lower who gains the most “individual competition points“ (See below). In the event of a tie the winner will be determined by reference to the cumulative “nett margins” (see §5) of the individual players in their semi final (Day 3) and play off match (Day 4) Sir Steve Redgrave Cup For the individual “Colin Montgomerie” Division player ie. any player with a handicap index between 5.5 and 12.4 who gains the most “individual competition points“ (See below) In the event of a tie the winner will be determined by reference to the cumulative “nett margins” (see §5) of the individual players in their semi final (Day 3) and play off match (Day 4) Alan Tait Trophy For the individual Development Division player with a competition handicap index from12.5 upwards who gains the most “individual competition points” (See below) In the event of a tie the winner will be determined by reference to the cumulative “nett margins” (see §5) of the individual players in their semi final (Day 3) and play off match (Day 4) Girls Competition Presented to the girl who gains the most individual competition points over the four days of competition. Any girl who has already won one of the above Trophies will not be eligible to win this Trophy. In the event of a tie the winner will be determined by reference to the cumulative “nett margins” (see §5) of the individual players in their semi final (Day 3) and play off match (Day 4) Alex Hay Memorial Trophy Championship Team Player Award. For the player who has contributed most to his/her club’s team effort in the lead up to and during the course of the Championship Final. The period is deemed to commence immediately after qualification, or the Club’s invitation to compete, whichever is earlier. One player only to be nominated, submissions to be made in writing (max 100 words), by 19:00 on the third day of competition. The final decision for this Trophy will be made by the Championship Management Team. Note: Individual competition points can be won on each of the four competition days by achieving the following:- Days 1 & 2 Strokeplay Medal competitions Division nett score Leaderboard 1st 6pts, 2nd 5pts, 3rd 4pts, 4th 3pts, 5th 2pts, 6th 1pt Seve Ballesteros Division only gross score Leaderboard 1st 6pts, 2nd 5pts, 3rd 4pts, 4th 3pts, 5th 2pts, 6th 1pt Days 3 & 4 Match Play Competitions Day 3 Results of individual matches:- Win 6pts Halved 4pts Loss 2pts Bonus for nett margin of four holes or more 2pts Day 4 Results of individual matches:- Win 8pts Halved 5pts Loss 2pts Bonus for nett margin of four holes or more 2pts
Appendix 2: BEHAVIOUR/CODE OF CONDUCT 12.1 As a JUNIOR MEMBER or TEAM MANAGER participating in the Home Nations Inter Club Championship you are expected to abide by the following code of conduct.
Help create and maintain an environment free of fear and harassment.
Demonstrate fair play and apply golf’s standards both on and off the course.
Treat others as you would wish to be treated yourself.
Respect age, gender, physical, cultural and racial differences.
Tell someone in authority if you are leaving a venue or competition.
Treat competition organisers venue staff, team management, coaches and golf club members with respect.
You should NOT take part in any irresponsible, abusive, inappropriate or illegal behaviour which includes:
Consuming alcohol or illegal or performance-enhancing drugs or stimulants.
Smoking.
Using foul language.
Publicly using critical or disrespectful descriptions of others.
12.2 As a PARENT or CARER of a junior member attending a Junior Team Golf Home Nations Inter-Club Championship Competition, you are expected to abide by the following Code of Conduct. • Encourage your child to learn the rules and play within them. • Discourage unfair play and help your child to recognise good performance, not just results. Set a good example by recognising fair play and applauding good performances of all • Discourage arguing with club & competition staff/officials and publicly accept officials' judgements. • Never force your child to take part in sport and never punish or belittle a child for losing or making mistakes but support your child's involvement and help them to enjoy their sport • Use correct and proper language at all times. • Never use threatening or abusive behaviour towards children, officials, coaches or other parents. • Violations of the Code of Conduct will be dealt with by Junior Team Golf officials in conjunction with a representative of the individual/s home club/s.