In addition to observing the local rules of the course and the R and A Rules of Golf in general. Please observe the following
1) TGA Local Rules and scorecard marking
Use these guidelines in all TGA events to try to help keep play moving.
a) TGA Guidelines to help avoid slow play.
- If you cannot score any points on a hole pick up. (Stableford only)
- Forget about who's honour, if you’re ready, crack on. Let shorter hitters go first if necessary.
- Use discretion when on the green. If you are 6 foot from the hole and ready to putt and someone is 30 foot from the pin and not ready, get putting.
- Play a provisional ball if there's any doubt.
- Mark your card away from the green. Let the next group play in as soon as possible. Do this even if there isn't a group directly behind you. It's a good habit to get in to.
- If there is a bell to ring, RING it!!
- If more than one player has hit their ball into the rough, each player looks for their own ball first. Play your own shot before looking for someone else’s ball.
- If you cannot find your ball, Drop, take a two shot penalty for stroke and distance and carry on. Do not UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES send someone 200 yards back to play again.
- Look for a lost ball for 5 minutes. If not found by then, then drop as above.
- Any reports of Belligerent, hostile, unsocial behaviour on the golf course will result in an immediate ban for the individual concerned. Everyone likes to play well but the most important part of the TGA is to enjoy the company and enjoy the day. If you're not doing that then you're missing the whole point of what we're about.
- Swap scorecards with one of your playing partners at the beginning of the round
- Please be sure to mark scorecards clearly and legibly.
- Keep track of your own score during the round and check with your own card when it is returned to make sure it is correct before handing it in.
- After the round, for the sake of time restraints, only the winner and runner up's card are checked to be correct.
- If a discrepancy is found the relevant players will be consulted and results will be adjusted accordingly.
- If, when the scores are entered on golfshake after the round, a card is found to be incorrect the following will apply.
- a) If you have handed in a scorecard with a higher points total then you will be penalised 2 stableford points for the game and 2 League points from all leagues relevant to the game.
- b) If you have handed in a scorecard with a lower points total then this will serve as it's own penalty and the score you have handed in will stand.
2) Tour Competitions will be *Stableford rules off full Handicap, and played from Yellow tees for Men and Red Tees for ladies, unless stated otherwise. Twilight Championship competitions will be Strokeplay rules. 28+ handicappers are always encouraged to take part so extra allowance (up to the ladies maximum of +36) will be given in those circumstances at the discretion of the TGA regulars.
*Twilight Championship competitions will be Strokeplay rules.
3a) Event winners will have their handicap cut by 1 stroke.
b) Multiple event winners will have a cut of 1 stroke for every win.
c) These cuts will last throughout the 2011 season meaning a Tournament Winner will play the rest of the season at 1 Stroke below current playing handicap.
d) The cut does not apply to Major Championships but Major Championships will be played off 7/8 handicap. This will be 7/8's of Actual handicap as of the day of the tournament.
e) All Handicaps at 0.5 of a number will be rounded down, not up. This also applies for 7/8 calculations for majors.
f) Golfshake handicap takes preference. All scores will be added to Golfshake to keep handicap tracking accurate. Members who arent already added on Golfshake will be added under a group managed account or expected to create their own.
4a) Ties for 1st, 2nd and 3rd will be determined by Countback in terms of being recognised in that position (ie receiving trophy and/or prize related to that position) but if 2 or more players finish tied they will all receive points for that place finish and the position(s) below will not be recognised. (ie if 3 players finished tied 1st, the actual Champion/Trophy Winner will be decided by countback but all 3 players will recieve winners league points and there will be no 2nd or 3rd.
b) The TGA countback rule is best score made on final hole, If tied then 17, 16 and so on. If it still cannot be determined a blindfolded bin lid fight under first blood rules will take place on the 18th Green.
5) The use of Chippers, GPS devices and range finding equipment are all acceptable on the TGA Tour, but not in TGA Majors. .
6) The Twilight Championship
After it's success last year the twilight championship will continue into 2011. This year all twilight championship events will be played under STROKEPLAY rules rather than Stableford. Players will accrue points from each individual event towards their final twilight league total. Point Scoring will be the same as the Tour Championship but without the bonus points for top 3 and Nearest pin, long drive comps.
7) The Summer Series Championship
This mini league will include all games from June through to August. Players will accrue points from each individual event towards their final league total. Point Scoring will be the same as the Tour Championship but without the bonus points for top 3 and Nearest pin, long drive comps.
8) Points system structure for 2011 will be a simple countback with bonus for a top 3 finish.
Winner = 13 pts (10 pts + Bonus 3)
Runner Up = 11 pts (9 pts + Bonus 2)
3rd = 9 pts (8 pts + Bonus 1)
4th = 8 pts
5th = 7 pts
6th = 6 pts
7th = 5 pts
8th = 4 pts
And the remainder of the field will all recieve 3 points.
Longest Drive and Nearest to the Pin will carry 1pt each which will be added to final league total.
There will be 2 extra bonus points for Top 3 finish in major championships EG Winner = 15 points.
- The new points structure is designed to give more reward to regular and consistent players.
- In order to win the League outright a player must compete in at least 6 events.
- The amount of events has been chosen to allow people plenty of opportunity to compete.
- Your best 6 finishes will be translated into league points for the places finished in each event.
- Whoever is top of the league after the Final game of the season will be the official winner of the TGA Tour Championship.
Should any league be tied the decider will be played off over 18 holes under stableford matchplay rules at a time and course mutually agreeable by the relevant competitors and Should take place no later than Oct 31st 2011.
9) The TGA Major Championships 2011
There will be 4 Major Championships in 2011, all of which will be played from 7/8 handicap.
i) The TGA Open Championship
Players will compete in regional qualifiers to gain entry into the Open Championship. Regions are Wearside, Northumberland, Cleveland, Yorkshire, County Durham and Tyneside. 2 players from each qualifier will go through to the Final, 1 from each handicap category (18+ and 18 and under). The winners of each winter league event will also qualify plus 2 wild cards. These will be handed to The Winter League winner (if they havent already qualified) And the winner of the masters par 3 competition.
ii) The TGA Masters
Qualification is open to any player finishing the 2010 season with 60 points or more. 21 players are eligible.
iii) The TGA Championship
Qualification is open to any player competing in 6 or more events in the 2011 season, up to and including Aug 13th 2011.
iiii) The TGA Grand Slam 2011
This will be open to 12 players as follows.
- 3 Major Champions (Masters, Open, TGA)
- 4 League winners (Winter, Twilight, Summer, Tour)
- Masters Par 3 Competition winner
- Pairs Matchplay Champions
- Singles Matchplay Champion and Runner Up.