Update March 2024

WGC Rules are largely to do with how our Society operates.
Original WGC Rules were determined by custom and practice. This revision reflects changes
in R&A Rules of Golf and embraces the introduction of World Handicap System (WHS). Some changes have been influenced by Covid19 restrictions for instance cards do not need to be handed or posted to the Match Secretary and WGC no longer requires a “sweep” subscription for every competition.
WGC rules may be amended by Committee without reference to AGM. However, an AGM
does have the authority to change rules if the Membership so wish.

Membership fees - due date
Membership fees are due on 31 March each year. A period of four weeks grace is given in
which to pay fees during which competitions may be entered, but no prizes can be won
before payment is received. A request to the Secretary for an extension to the payment period
by an individual will be considered by the Committee. Failure to make payment or request
an extension will be considered as a resignation. New players joining WGC after mid-season
may, at the discretion of the Committee, pay a reduced fee.

Scheduled competitions
1) Members must have paid subscription fee and have a recognised handicap to win prizes.
2) All competitions will be played to R&A Rules of Golf.
3) Players may be required to make a contribution towards sweep and prizes for some
competitions.
4) Competition prizes will be as determined by the Committee from time to time.
5) Unless otherwise advised competitions played at Dalmilling, Seafield, Fullarton and
Girvan will be from White/Medal Tees. Competitions played on other South Ayrshire
Council courses Belleisle, Lochgreen and Darley will be from Yellow Tees.
6) Competitions are mostly Stroke Play unless identified in the fixtures list as Stableford. If a
5xclub competition is played this means only five golf clubs are to be carried in the bag. (A
putter is a golf club).
7) Competition fixtures and any fixture changes are advised by e-mail and posted on WGC
Society Golfing web site.
8) Competitions are played over several days Friday – Tuesday to allow members the
flexibility to arrange tee-off times on busy municipal courses to suit themselves, It has to be
accepted that some players may experience less favourable playing conditions. For simplicity
our competition day is logged as Saturday in handicap software.
9) Score cards are to be submitted to the Match Secretary not later than one day after
competition end. Digital score cards are preferred They should have competitors and at least
one other players score marked and cards signed/ initialled by each player.

Scottish Golf Registration
Wallacetown Golf Club is a Voting Member of Scottish Golf. WGC Members are required to
be registered with Scottish Golf and allocated a Lifetime ID number. Any new member who
is not registered will have an application made on their behalf.

Handicaps
Handicaps are established using Intelligent Golf software which is licensed by WHS (World
Handicap System) through Scottish Golf Limited. Players have a Handicap Index which is
used to determine a Playing Handicap depending on the Slope Rating of the course being
played. Slope Tables are usually posted on course notice boards. If there are less than thirty
competitors the Playing Handicap is the same as the Course Handicap. The Handicap
Committee may adjust a players handicap at their discretion. (Previously the maximum
playing handicap allowed in WGC Competitions was 26. At the EGM of 28 March 2022 this
was suspended and full WHS playing handicaps will be used in WGC competitions).

Club Championship, Singles and Match Play Venues

Club Championship, Singles and Match Play Venues will be selected by Committee in line
with the 3rd April Committee meeting agreement from Seafield, Belleisle, Darley and
Lochgreen. No competition would be held over the same course in successive years.
(Committee Meeting 3rd April 2023).

Singles and Doubles Match Play Competitions

1) Match Play competitions will normally be played at a Designated* Golf Course but if all
parties agree to play elsewhere they may do so. (The Designated course will be selected by
Committee as agreed 3rd April 2023).
2) Challengers are the top names in the draw list. They should contact their opponents as
soon as possible (within two weeks of the draw or subsequent win) with a view to arranging a
match by mutual agreement. The Match Secretary should be kept informed. If difficulty is
experienced the Match Secretary may be requested to adjudicate he may require the
challenger to offer at least three separate dates which are not consecutive, one of the days
must be at a weekend.
3) Handicaps to be used for Match play competitions are:
Singles Competition - Full difference between playing handicaps ie 100%
Doubles Competitions - 9/10 difference between playing handicaps ie 90%
(As recommended in Rules of Handicapping - 2020)
Doubles example :
Lowest handicap player reduces to 0, other handicaps are reduced by the same amount to get
difference and this is re-calculated at 90% . Say playing handicaps are :
Player A 12, Player B 16, Player C 18, Player D 24.
Then all handicaps are reduced by 12.
Player A = 0 (No strokes),
Player B = 4 x 90% (4 strokes),
Player C = 6 x 90% (5 strokes),
Player D = 12 x 90% (11 strokes)

Resolution of ties (Match Play)

Players may agree how to resolve a tie before play commences. In the event of a failure to
agree the R&A recommends:

Match Play – Resolution of ties

A match that ends all square should be played off hole by hole until one side wins a hole. The
play-off should start on the hole where the match began. In a handicap match, handicap
strokes should be allowed as in the stipulated round.

Resolution of ties (Stroke Play or Stableford)

Intelligent Golf software will be set at Count Back to determine competition winners and
other players positions. In the event of a ties in a Stroke Play or Stableford competition the
count back is – BIH (Best inward half), if still tied, best last 6 holes, then best last 3 holes,
best last hole. The difference being that in Stroke Play least strokes and in Stableford most
points are the determining factors.

Preferred Lies
1) Any “preferred lies rule” in place at a golf course will be complied with.
2) Preferred lies promote fair play throughout the winter season and begins with our first
Winter Series competition and ends with our final Winter Series competition.
For consistency the following (generally as specimen in R&A Rules App I 4c) should be
observed :

A ball lying on a closely-mown area through the green may be lifted, without penalty, and
cleaned. Before lifting the ball, the player must mark its position. Having lifted the ball, he
must place it on a spot within six inches, not nearer the hole than where it originally lay, that
is not in a hazard and not on a putting green. If the player fails to mark the position of the
ball before lifting it or moves the ball in any other manner, such as rolling it with a club, he
incurs a penalty of one stroke.

Note: “Closely-mown area” means any area of the course, including paths through the rough,
cut to fairway height or less.

Club Championship

The Club Championship comprises a series of rounds of stroke play golf. Players may enter
cards for as many of the series as they wish. Each round will be treated as an individual full
handicap competition. The Club Champion will be the player with the lowest gross score for
four* rounds.
The player with the lowest nett score for four* rounds will be Handicap Champion (or 2nd
Class Champion). Handicap allowance will be 100% (full Playing Handicap).
(* or as may be advised)

Winter Season Competitions

Eclectic Competition Series

The Eclectic Competition comprises a series of rounds of golf played on the same course.
Players may enter cards for as many of the series as they wish. Each round will be treated as
an individual full handicap competition.
The winner of the Eclectic series will be assessed by taking the best gross score of each hole
played over the series, and applying 3/8ths of the average playing handicap over the rounds
played. The player with the lowest score, so calculated, will win the competition.

Winter Competition Series – Willam McCartney Trophy

The Winter Competition comprises a series of eight* rounds of golf played on the same
course. Players may enter cards for as many of the series as they wish but to qualify at least
four* cards must be submitted. Each round will be treated as an individual full playing
handicap competition. The winner of the Winter Competition will be the player with the
lowest nett score for four* rounds. (* or as may be advised)

Winter Stableford Series

The Winter Stableford comprises a series of six* rounds of golf played on the same course.
Players may enter cards for as many of the series as they wish but to qualify at least three*
cards must be submitted. Each round will be treated as an individual full playing handicap
competition. The winner of the Winter Stableford will be the player with the highest number
of points for three* rounds. (* or as may be advised).

Winter Season Competitions – Resolution of Ties

Eclectic Competition
It was considered unlikely that there would be any ties given that the scores are based on 3
/8th of the players handicap. Results will be recorded to one decimal place.

Winter Competition - William McCartney Trophy
Winner based on best 4 scores from 8 rounds.
In event of a tie - best 3, best 2 and best single round score will be considered in turn.
If the scores are still tied the best single round score will be used - best back nine etc.

Winter Stableford Competition
Winner based on best 3 scores from 6 rounds.
In event of a tie - best 2 and best single round score will be considered in turn.
If the scores are still tied the best single round score will be used - best back nine etc.

Merit Award
Points are awarded for each competition entered from the Carey Cup 5 Club Competition and
ending with the Last Chance Trophy Competition. The Merit Award will be won by the player
accumulating most points over the period.
The winner of each competition played receives a maximum of 10 points, runner up 9 points,
3rd 8 points, 4th 7 points, 5th 6 points, 6th 5 points, 7th 4 points, 8th 3 points and 9th 2 points. All
players entering a competition will receive 1 point. If more than one player shares a place.
Count Back will determine competition winner and other players position.