Objects of the County

The County Union is the governing body for men's amateur golf in Surrey. Founded in 1923 the objects of the Union remain basically unchanged although the number of events and Clubs has increased dramatically over the last 75 years, particularly in the last 20.

County Competition Regulations

1. Competitions

Meetings shall be held each year at which the following Competitions shall be decided:

1. Amateur Championship
2. Club Championship
3. Club Foursomes Championship
4. Junior Championships (in age groups)
5. Colts Championship
6. Mid-Age Championship (including a Team Championship)
7. Seniors Championship

During the year the following events will also take place:-

    i. Order of Merit

    j. Scratch Club Team Knockout

    k. Senior Club Team Knockout (under handicap) (active handicaps only)

    l. Surrey Fives Club Team Knockout (under handicap) (active handicaps only)

    m. Kelso Hamilton Fourball (under handicap) (active handicaps only)

    n. Boys Knockouts (under scratch and handicap)

    o. Boys Order of Merit (scratch and handicap)

    p. The Christies Junior Club Team Knockout (under handicap)

    q. IMS Members' Foursomes Knockout

    r. IMS Spring, Summer, Autumn and Christmas meetings

All Championships will be played off scratch, handicap limits being used to govern the number of entries. The Golf Committee shall have the power to amend the handicap limits and entry fees quoted. In the event of any competition being over-subscribed, there shall be a ballot of the higher handicap players for the available places.

The Golf Committee shall have the power to arrange other competitions as they may deem fit.

2. Eligibility

To be eligible to compete in any County Championship or to represent the County in matches a player must:

1. be of Amateur Status as defined by the R & A.
2. be a member of a Member Club affiliated to the Union, or (in the case of the County Championship only) have been born in the County and be a member of a Golf Club which is a full or member of a Union affiliated to a National Golf Union.
3. not have taken part in a golf championship of another County Union affiliated to the English Golf Union, or represented another County affiliated to the England Golf during the current twelve months.

To be eligible to represent a Club in a Club Championship, a player must meet the age and handicap requirements stated in paragraph 15 and also be a current member of the Club he is representing and have declared this Club as his home Club for handicap purposes.

3. Championships

The Amateur Championship shall have a qualifying competition played over 36 holes stroke play with the 16 players with the lowest gross scores going forward to the Match Play stage. In the event of a tie for 16th place, this shall be decided by a sudden death play off over holes to be decided by the Championship Committee. All matches shall be over 18 holes; in the event of a halved match the players shall continue until one or other shall have won a hole.

The Junior, Colts, Mid-age and Seniors Championships shall be open to players under or over the age limits stated in paragraph 15 and shall all be played over 36 holes stroke play, except for the Junior (Under 14, Under 13 and Under 12) Championship which will be played over 18 holes.

In the event of a tie for a Championship, there shall be a sudden death play off over holes decided by the Golf Committee.

The Club Championship shall be open to all Clubs affiliated to the County. Each Club shall be represented by a team, or teams, of three players nominated from those Club players accepted for the Amateur Championship. The scores shall be the aggregate of the 36 holes scores of all three players returned during the Amateur Championship qualifying competition. In the event of a tie this shall be decided on the scores of the three players returned over the Championship course, i.e., the course used for the Match Play stages. In the event that only one course is used for the qualifying competition then the scores in the second round shall be used. The winning Club will be invited to represent the County in the English Club Championship.

The Mid-Age Team Championship shall be open to all Clubs affiliated to the Union. Each Club shall be represented by a team, or teams, of two players nominated from those Club players accepted for the Championship. The score shall be the aggregate of the 36 hole scores of both players. In the event of a tie this shall be decided on the scores of both players returned in the second round. If there is still a tie the scores for the last 9, 6, 3 or one hole shall be used to determine the result.

4. Inter-Club Team Competition (Surrey Fives)

The Competition shall be open to all Clubs who are affiliated to the County and who play on a course with a minimum SSS score of 65. Each Club shall be represented by one or two teams of five players. Each team shall consist of two players with a handicap of between 5 and 12 and three players with a handicap of between 13 and 18. Handicaps are the playing handicaps on the day of the match. All players must be 18 years of age or over on the day of the match. A player may not play for more than one team during the Competition nor can he play in the Inter-Club Four-Ball Competition in the same year but Clubs may change the players in their teams in each match. If a Club inadvertently fields an ineligible player his individual game shall be awarded to his opponent. 

It is a condition of the competition that the Home Club allows member of the Away Team to play a practice round, either as a courtesy or at a rate equal to or less than the members’ introduced guest rate.

The away player in each game will be allowed one extra shot, to be taken after the calculation of stroke difference and allowance. If the away player is also a playing member of the home club, this does not apply. 

All matches should be played over a course set up as if for a qualifying competition, off the Club’s medal competition tees. Clubs with a SSS of less than 65 may enter if it makes arrangements with a neighbouring Club with an acceptable SSS to host its home matches or agrees to play all games away from home.

The Competition will be knockout by 18 holes Match Play between the teams played in order of exact handicap. The handicap allowance will be full difference. All matches must be played to a finish until the overall match result is decided, i.e., in the event of a halved match, play shall continue until one player wins a hole. The draw will be made in two sections, East and West, and will indicate which Club shall play at home.

The Inter-Section Final will be played on the 'Finals Day' at a course selected by the Golf Committee.

5. Inter-Club Fourball Competition (Kelso Hamilton)

The Competition shall be open to all Clubs who are affiliated to the Union and who play on a course with a minimum SSS score of 65. Each Club shall be represented by one or two teams of two players with a playing handicap of between 13 and 18 inclusive at the closing date for entry. If a player's handicap increases beyond 18, he must continue to play off 18. However, if it decreases from 13, he must play off that new handicap. Both players shall be 18 years of age or over at the closing date for entry.

As competitors are not expected to receive a courtesy practice round, the away players will each receive two extra shots added to their handicaps before calculation of stroke allowance. If the away player is also a playing member of the home Club, this does not apply.

The Competition will be knockout by 18 holes Match Play, four-ball better ball. The handicap allowance will be nine-tenths the difference taken from the lowest handicap player. In the event of a halved match, play shall continue until one team wins a hole.

A player may not play for more than one team during the Competition nor can he play in the Surrey Fives Inter-Club Competition in the same year. Substitutions are permitted only up to the time a team plays its first match.

The draw will be made in two sections, East and West, and will indicate which Club shall play at home (the first named Club in each match). All matches must be played on a course with a minimum Standard Scratch Score of 65. It is recommended that all matches be played over a course set up as if for a qualifying competition, off the Club's medal competition tees under the SSS rules.

6. County Card Members Foursomes Knockout

Open to any pair of individual Members of Surrey County Golf Union who belong to an affiliated Club (N.B. Players do not need to belong to the same Club)

The competition will be a knockout over 18 holes match play foursomes. In each match the handicap allowance will be 1/2 of the full difference between the aggregate Playing Handicaps of either pair on the day of the match.

As competitors are not expected to receive a courtesy practice round, each away team player will receive one extra shot added to their handicap before calculation of stroke allowance. If any away player is also a golfing member of the home Club, no extra shot is allowed. 

7. Mixed Foursomes Knockout (The Thornhill Trophy)

Players must be aged 18 or over, and be a members of Clubs affiliated to Surrey Ladies County Golf Association and Surrey County Golf. (N.B. Players do not need to belong to the same Club) The maximum combined handicap is 40. Teams may exceed this limit but must play off 40. The competition will be a knockout over 18 holes match play foursomes. No substitutions will be allowed once the first round has been played. Matches will be one round either home or away depending on the draw. Men play off the Competition Tees, and the Ladies play off Red Tees. The Stroke Indices to be taken off the Ladies Card. All matches to be played to a finish. The Away pair will receive an additional one extra shot AFTER calculation of stroke allowance. Where the Home Team comes from 2 different Clubs as ‘Home Team’, they may decide which course to play on, but the ‘Home Team’ still give the courtesy shot to the ‘Away Team’, even if they have received a reduced rate practice round.

8. Surrey Inter-Club Scratch Knockout & The Scratch Plate Knockout

Each Club shall be represented by one team of five players and all matches are played off scratch. There are no age limits for players in this competition. Players may be changed from one round to the next. A player can only represent one Club in any one year.

The Competition will be 18 holes singles scratch Match Play between the teams. Teams must play in strict handicap orde.  All matches must be played to a finish until the overall match result is decided, i.e. in the event of a halved match, play shall continue until one player wins a hole.

After the closing date for entries the draw will be made by the Golf Committee with the previous year's finalists, semi-finalists and quarter-finalists seeded from 1 to 16. The Finals will be played on the same day at a venue to be selected by the Golf Committee.

The home side in each match must offer at least three dates to their opponents to play the match (two at weekends and one on a Wednesday mid-week). These dates must be offered at least three weeks before the closing dates for the relevant round. Failure by the away team to agree and play the match on one of these dates will result in the home side going through into the next round. If the home side fails to offer these dates within three weeks of the closing date for the round then the away team is entitled to offer three dates to the home team (two at weekends and one on a Wednesday mid-week). These dates must be offered at least two weeks before the closing date of the round. Similarly, should the home team fail to agree to play the match on one of these dates the away team will go through into the next round.

It is expected that all teams will mutually agree to play their matches before the completion date of each round. Failure to do so will result in the disqualification of both teams.

All matches should be played over a course set up as if for a qualifying competition, off the Club's medal tees. Clubs with a SSS of less than 65 may enter if it makes arrangements with a neighbouring club with an acceptable SSS to host its home matches or agrees to play all games away from home.

All first round losing teams will automatically be entered into the Plate competition.

9. Seniors' Club Team Knockout (The John Ling Trophy)

The Competition shall be open to all affiliated Clubs who play on a course with a minimum SSS score of 65. Each team shall comprise ten players who have reached their 55th birthday on the day of the match. Players may be changed from round to round, but no player may play for more than one Club in a calendar year. Five pairs from each Club shall play fourball betterball matchplay off handicap over 18 holes. Each player shall be allowed nine-tenths of difference between their handicap and that of the lowest in their game.

As competitors are not expected to receive a courtesy practice round, each away player will receive two extra shots added to their handicap before calculation of stroke allowance.  If any away player is also a golfing member of the home Club, no extra shots are allowed.

Individual games that are "all square" after 18 holes will play "sudden death" to determine a result. The winning Club is to email the office as per the instructions on the Seniors Contact Sheet,  as soon as possible after the match. Players will play off their CONGU playing handicap subject to a limit of 24. A competitor over 24 handicap may play but must play off a handicap of 24 in the event. The Draw will indicate the "Home" Team. It will be the responsibility of both teams to arrange a suitable date for the event. Failure to do so will result in the disqualification of both teams.

All matches will be played MID-WEEK. All matches are to be played by the date specified in the Draw Sheet. No extensions will be granted.

Matches should be played from the medal competition tees and will be determined by the home Club before the teams are announced.

The Final will be played over the Course of the previous year's Champions.

Players are not allowed to use buggies except under Rule 17.

10. Handicap Championship & Coronation Shield

The Competitions shall be open to all Clubs affiliated to the Union. Each Club shall be represented by a team of two players, one with a handicap of between 5 and 12 inclusive and the other with a handicap of between 13 and 18 inclusive. All players shall be 18 years of age or over at the date of the Competition.

The Competition shall be played by 18 holes Stableford off handicap.

The Handicap Championship shall be won by the player returning the highest points.  A tie shall be decided over the last 9, 6, or 3 holes by points scored. The Coronation Shield shall be awarded to the team with the higher aggregate of the scores of its two players. 

11. Surrey Order of Merit and Surrey Masters

The Order of Merit is open only to players who are eligible to play in the Surrey Amateur Championship.

Eligible players are automatically entered into the Order of Merit, for which there is no Entry Fee or any other requirement.

The Open Scratch Stroke Play Events that qualify for the Order of Merit are selected and approved each year by the Championship Committee.

Should the field in any such 36-hole Individual Stroke Play Event be such that one-third or more of the starting field are of handicap 2 or less, then that event is designated a Major Individual Stroke Play Event.

The 6 County Champions (County, Colts, Mid-Age, Seniors and County Foursomes Champions) are joined by the top players in the Order of Merit to bring the field for the Surrey Amateur Masters to 15 players.

In the event of a tie for the 15th place, this is resolved by relative positions in the County Championship Qualifying Competition and then, but only as far as is necessary to resolve the tie, in the most recent Major Individual Stroke Play Event(s).

Ranking Events and Points Allocations

Apart from the Surrey Amateur Masters itself, any points awarded for events that take place after the County Foursomes Championship are carried forward into the following year.

Stroke Play

Points are only awarded to eligible players but are based on their positions in the overall results, not on the relative positions of the eligible players only. In the event of a tie for a place all the available positional points are shared equally between all those so tied for that place, _'s or over being rounded up and lesser fractions disregarded, and the total available points are increased as necessary.

Match Play

Points are awarded in 1st Team v Club Matches only when those Matches comprise both Foursomes and Singles formats, but they are awarded to the players in both teams. The total available points for Matches which are not 8-a-side are varied appropriately.

Note that points are not awarded for Junior events or for County “A” Team Matches.

12. Junior Boys Handicap Knockout

A player must be a junior Member of a Surrey Golf Club and must hold a CONGU HANDICAP.

Each Club will be guaranteed two places. Home players should arrange courtesy of the course, if this is not possible the green fee is to be shared by both players. The Competition will be Match Play over 18 holes played off full handicap difference from the members' tees of the day. In the rounds, up to the Finals, the away player in each game will be allowed one extra shot, to be taken after the calculation of stroke difference and allowance. If the away player is also a playing member of the home club, this does not apply. The draw will be random with no seeding. Failure to play the match by the date shown will result in disqualification of both players.

Caddies are NOT allowed except for the Final and must not be a relative or a professional golfer. Spectators MUST remain at least 25 metres from the players throughout the match.

13. Junior Order of Merit

There are both Scratch & Net competitions (handicap limit 28). Points are awarded for the top six Surrey affiliated players in the Surrey Club Junior Opens in both categories.  There must be a minimun of TWENTY eligible players taking part in a Junior Open to count towards the Junior Order of Merit.  Players may enter as many of the Qualifying Junior Open events as he wants, but only the BEST FIVE RESULTS at these events will count.

Points will be awarded 1st = 10pts, 2nd = 7pts, 3rd = 5pts, 4th = 3pts, 5th = 2pts,  and 6th = 1pt

The top six boys in the Scratch & Handicap lists after the last Club open will qualify to play in the Surrey Junior Masters,  in the event of ties on points, those that entered the most opens will quailify.

The Junior Masters at the end of the season itself will count as the final qualifier in addition to the previous five club scoring events.  These six results will determine the final Order of Merit winners in both categories.

14. Surrey Junior Masters

This will be a Scratch event played over 18 holes.

The five age group Junior County Champions U18, U16, U15, U14 & U13, the Handicap Knock Out winner and the Surrey Schools Scratch Champion (normal junior age limit to apply) along with the 12 Order of Merit finalists (6 scratch and 6 handicap) will qualify to play.

This event will also act as the final qualifying event for the Junior Order of Merit. The Junior Order of Merit handicap event will run concurrently.

Points will be awarded to the top six players in each of the scratch and handicap order of merits and these will be added to the order of merit tables to determine the winners of those events.

Caddies are not allowed in this event.

15. Junior Club Team Knock Out – The Christies Cup

The Competition shall be open to all Clubs who are affiliated to the Union. Each team will consist of 3 players (boys or girls). Teams may change in each round but players may only play for their Home Club.  Handicap limits are: boys 28, girls 36. If a Club with a SSS of less than 65 enters the competition it shall make arrangements with a neighbouring Club with an acceptable SSS to host it’s home matches or else it may play all games away from home.

The format is singles Stableford over 18 holes, played in 2 balls, each player is to receive full handicap allowance. The away player in each game will be allowed one extra shot, to be taken after the calculation of stroke difference and allowance. If the away player is also a playing member of the home club, this does not apply. (Current handicap certificates should be available). Boys will play off the medal competition tees. Girls will play from the LGU tees and their handicaps will be adjusted in accordance with the CONGU Unified Handicapping System. All Stableford points will then be calculated from the mens par.

The total of the best 2 cards of each team will count. If there is a tie the 3rd score will then count. If there is still a tie after the 3rd score then a sudden death Stableford score play off between the first named player in each team will decide the winning team.

The winning team will be invited to go forward to represent the County in the EG Club Junior Team Tournament.

Caddies are not allowed in this event.

16. qualifications

* on 31st December each year       # on the first day of competition

Entry fees are set each year by the Executive Committee.

Withdrawal within 4 working days of the event will mean forfeiture of the entry fee.

ALL PLAYERS MUST HAVE ACTIVE HANDICAPS ON THE DAY OF THE MATCH 

17. Entries

Entries should be made on the entry form issued by the County and handicaps quoted on these forms certified by the player's Home Club Secretary. All entries must be accompanied by the relevant entry fee. All entries are subject to the approval of the Executive Committee.

18. Caddies/Buggies

Players should walk at all times unless permission to ride has been given by the Golf Committee.

Note:- Permission to ride for a round will only be given in exceptional circumstances, provided that the Championship Committee receives an application in writing from the player’s Club with supporting medical evidence. This evidence would normally be a certificate from a doctor confirming that the player suffered from a condition which came within the current Disability Acts.

(Note: - if a Club’s health and safety policy prohibits the use of buggies on the course or parts of it, these regulations must be observed by a player even if he has been given permission to ride by the Golf Committee.)

Caddies are not permitted in any Junior championship or event except that they are allowed in the semi finals and finals of the Boys Knock-out. In the Colts Championship and in the semi finals and finals of the Boys Knock-out caddies are permitted but must not be parents of the player or be a professional golfer.

19. General

The Golf Committee shall appoint a sub-committee to be the committee in charge of all competitions. The Chairman of the Golf Committee and Secretary of the Union shall form the committee in the absence of any such appointed committee.

All Competitions shall be played according to the Rules of Golf as approved by the R & A and the Local Rules of the Club on whose course the competition is being played in so far as they are approved by the Golf Committee.

The ball and the clubs used by the player must conform with R & A rules.

In addition to the powers conferred upon it by the Rules of Golf, the Golf Committee may modify the regulations governing the Competition when necessary and under special circumstances.

Distance Measurement Devices are allowed in all events organised by the SCGL. However, under R & A rule 14.3, the following is a condition of each SCGL competition.

“A player may obtain distance information by using a device that measures distance only. If, during a stipulated round, a player uses a distance-measuring device that is designed to gauge or measure other conditions that might affect his play (e.g. gradient, windspeed, temperature, etc), the player is in breach of Rule 14-3 for which the penalty is disqualification, regardless of whether any such additional function is actually used.”

All disputes shall be settled by the Golf Committee and their decision shall be final.

20. Dates & Green Fees in all the Inter-Club & Individual Knockout Events

All matches in Knock-out Competitions must be played by the date given on the draw unless the Secretary has granted an extension prior to that date. The Club drawn at home, the top or first Club of each pair in the draw, will offer the visitors three dates, two of which must be on different weekends (except the Senior Club Team KO) and the third mid-week. If none of these are acceptable to the visitors and no other mutually acceptable date is agreed, then both teams will be disqualified. The Secretary's decision shall be final. 

A Club drawn at home will be expected to arrange the fixture at their own Club unless exceptional circumstances prevent this. Clubs entering these competitions must be able to provide the normal courtesies of a Club. Singles must not be played in four-ball games.

Home Clubs are reminded that it is normal etiquette for the away teams to be offered a practice round at a reduced green fee prior to matches.

Extra shots received by the Away Players are not cancelled if their handicap then exceeds the competition's handicap limits.