ELIGIBILITY

Only fully paid-up members of the Club who have an official WHS handicap index of 54 or less, unless otherwise specified, may take part in Club Competitions. To be eligible to win prizes entrants to invitation competitions (Am guests etc.) must have an officially recognised WHS handicap index. Players who do not have a handicap index may not enter.   All members must have a handicap index at the time of sign up to all knock out competitions on Intelligentgolf. Handicap restrictions may apply to some competitions. Entrants must have entered/recorded a minimum of 6 qualifying or acceptable scores in the past 12 months to be eligible to win trophies or board competitions.  Players with less than 6 acceptable scores may enter board competitions (except knock outs) but will not be eligible for the award of trophies but may still win prize money.

Country members may play in and may win any Club Competition apart from knock-out competitions, subject to the handicap requirements above.

GENERAL ARRANGEMENTS

All knock out matches must be played by the date indicated for the round. The Competition Secretary will disqualify competitors not complying. THE CAPTAIN’S COMMITTEE WILL NOT ALLOW EXTENSIONS TO INDIVIDUAL MATCHES but may extend rounds if unusual ground conditions close the course.

TEES

Men shall play from the white tees and ladies from the red tees unless stated otherwise.

KNOCK-OUT COMPETITIONS WITH HONOURS BOARDS

Knock-out competitions, where the names of the winner(s) are inscribed on an honours board in the Clubhouse, will always be organised so that the winner(s) will face at least four matches. If a competition has fewer than 16 entries, league matches will be arranged to achieve that.

JUNIORS

1. Junior members with a handicap index of 54 may enter the competitions where eligibility for all categories applies.  Boys will play from the white tees unless otherwise started and girls will play from the red tees

2. Junior members playing in adult Club competitions must play with and have their cards marked by an adult member who is eligible for the competition and who ideally is not a parent except for the Vaughan Vases where they can play with a parent.

4. Juniors playing in Club competitions will not pay an entry fee and may not win monetary prizes including vouchers.

5. Competitions run exclusively for Juniors are organised by the Junior organiser.

RESOLUTION OF TIES

Ties in Matchplay Competitions will be decided by extra holes played in sequence from the 1st hole played in the match, with handicap strokes allocated as in the first 18 holes.

Ties in stroke play competitions will be resolved by card countback over the last 9, 6, 3 or 1 hole(s). In the case of Medal competitions, the countback will be after deducting the appropriate proportion of the course handicap from the gross score of those holes.

PRIZE MONEY

The prize pool for each competition will comprise the total entry fees paid, less a deduction of 20%, divided equally between the Club and a fund to maintain the honours boards in the clubhouse.
The Horace Rawlins Medal and the Club Stableford will comprise of 3 Divisions so that the number of players in each division is as equal as possible. Prize money will be allocated equally to each division. Apart from the Turkey Trot and the Cross Country, each division or competition prize pool will be divided 50%/30%/20% to the best three scores. The Turkey Trot and the Cross Country will pay a larger number of prizes when entries exceed 30 pairs, depending on the number of entries as follows. For more than 30 pairs, there will be four prizes divided 47.5%/27.5%/17.5%/7.5%. For more than 40 pairs, there will be five prizes divided 45%/25%/17.5%/7.5%/5%. For more than 50 pairs, there will be six prizes divided 42.5%/25%/15%/7.5%/6%/4%. For the Summer Stableford Series, the amount available for prizes from each daily competition comprises the total entry fees paid less a deduction of 20%, as noted above. £0.80 from each entry fee will then be reserved to create the prize pool for the Final. Prizes will be paid in one division only for each of the Series events divided 50%/30%/20% to the best three scores.

The prize money for knock-out competitions will be divided 70% to the winners, 30% to the runner up due to the small number of entries. The Captain’s Committee will review this on a regular basis should the numbers increase significantly in the future.

Prize monies will be allocated to the member’s bar card account.

COMPETITIONS

Check in on IG (Intelligent Golf) - entry fees will be deducted from your account. The categories of membership eligible for entry to a particular competition are indicated by the following letter code:

  • F   - Full
  • C  - Cadet
  • 5  - Five-day - must pay a weekend green fee. 5 Day members playing knock out matches must make themselves available to play at weekends and pay the green fee if required.
  • Cty  - Country
  • J  - Junior (Special conditions for Junior entries)
  • Flexible & Lifestyle - may not play in club knockout competitions but may play in other competitions and win prize money but cannot be declared the winner of a ‘Board or Trophy’ competition.

  In addition, please refer to the  General Notes on Competitions and the  General Rules of Play & Etiquette.

 Summer Knockout Competitions

Competition Format Open to
Berry Bowls Pairs better ball match play. Men must have a handicap index of 37.8 or less and ladies must have a handicap index of 39.5 or less. Use the card for the white course. Handicap allowance is  90% of course handicap. Ladies then add 2.5 strokes for course rating adjustment. Shots are taken from the lowest course handicap player.(Note: 100 % of the difference).   Enter on IG. Ties decided by extra holes played in sequence from the first hole played, with handicap allowance as in first eighteen holes. Winners eligible to play in the Letchworth Salver. F, C, 5
Mid-Week Foursomes

Foursomes match play. No matches other than the final may be played on Saturdays or Sundays. Men must have a handicap index of 37.8 or less and ladies must have a handicap index of 39.5 or less. Use the card for the white course. Handicap allowance is 50% of the combined Course Handicaps, then add 1.25 for Ladies adjustment. Enter on IG. Ties decided by extra holes played in sequence from the first hole played, with handicap allowance as in first eighteen holes. Winners eligible to play in the Letchworth Salver.

 F, C, 5

 Winter Knockout Competitions

Competition Format Open to
Mid Herts Tankards

Foursomes match play. Men must have a handicap index of 37.8 or less and ladies must have a handicap index of 39.5 or less. Use the card for the white course.  Handicap allowance is 50% of the combined Course Handicaps, then add 1.25 for Ladies adjustment.  Enter on IG. Ties decided by extra holes played in sequence from the first hole played, with handicap allowance as in first eighteen holes. Winners eligible to play in the Letchworth Salver.

 F, C, 5

 Other Competitions

Competition Format Open to
Captain’s Day Format decided by the current Captain All categories
Cross Country Pairs Stableford better-ball played on a modified course. 85% of course handicap.  Ladies and girls then receive three additional shots that can be taken at any hole and after the hole has been played. All players play from the marked tees. Start from 1st or 8th holes according to the cross country scorecard. Juniors must have an adult included in their pairing  All categories
Club Stableford Singles Stableford competition held on a weekend day. 95% of course handicap. Ladies then add 1 stroke to their playing handicap for  par adjustment. Men use the card of the white course and ladies use the  card of the red course. The results of the competition will be issued in 3 divisions.   All categories
Horace Rawlins Medal

Singles Medal competition held on a weekend day. 95% of course handicap. Ladies then add 2.5 strokes to their playing handicap for  course rating adjustment. Men use the card of the white course  and ladies use the  card of the red course. The results of the competition will be issued in 3 divisions.

 All categories

Summer Stableford Series

Singles stableford competitions held on selected weekend days April-September when there are no other qualifying competitions held. 95% handicap. Fourballs allowed on the course all day. The three players with the best four aggregate scores play off in a final in October. Ties in selecting the three finalists resolved by (a) who played the fewest rounds in the Series; (b) the highest single round score; (c) the highest combined two round score; (d) by card countback on the back 9, 6, 3, then 1 holes on each player’s best round. Ties in the final resolved by card countback on the back 9. 6. 3 then 1 holes. Maximum handicap index is 54  

F, C, Cty, 5, J, Lifestyle, Flexible

Texas Scramble

Medal competition for teams of four.  Each team playing a team medal to record one score at each hole.

  1. Teams shall consist of 4 adult members.
  2. Use the card for the white course. All team members play a tee shot. The players then decide which ball they wish to proceed with.
  3. Each member of the team MUST have a minimum of three tee shots selected and the tee shot used must be indicated on the scorecard. If the team member`s tee shot must be used and it is driven out of bounds or lost, except in the hazard, then that team member must play again from the tee or otherwise, under penalty.
  4. The player whose ball is chosen must mark the position of his ball and then play the next shot first.
  5. The remaining team members must, before playing, place (when on the fairway) or drop (when not on the fairway) their ball within 6 inches of the marked position of the chosen ball, If the ball comes to rest nearer the hole or rolls outside two club lengths from the original spot, it shall be re-dropped. If the same situation arises the ball must then be placed where it struck the ground. Play will proceed to the green in this manner.
  6. On the putting green all members of the team will putt from the same spot. This will first be marked with the ball marker, a putter head away from the chosen ball, but not nearer the hole. The selected ball must be putted first.
  7. If the first putt misses, it must not be tapped in before the remaining team members have putted from the original spot. The first ball holed records the team score for that hole.
  8. Record the gross score on each hole. Two members of the team to sign the card.
  9. Handicap allowance – 4 players. 25%/20%/15%/10%  of Course Handicap from lowest to highest handicap  Ladies then add 2.5 strokes to their handicap allowance.  Please ensure each player’s course handicap is recorded on the card.
  10. The exact handicap is deducted from the gross medal score at the end of the round.
  11. The winners will be determined by the team with the lowest exact net score.
  12. Ties will be decided on card countback over the last 9, 6, 3 and 1 holes.

All adult categories in any combination
Turkey Trot

Pairs stableford better-ball 85% of course handicap. Ladies then add 1 stroke to their playing handicap for par adjustment. Played on a Saturday in November.  Men use the  card of the white course and ladies use the  card of the red course.  Ties will be decided on card countback over the last 9, 6, 3 and 1 holes.

 All adult categories in any combination
Vaughan Vases

Family Foursomes Stableford played on first Bank Holiday in May. The two players in the pair must be related to each other and one must be an adult. Includes step children and unmarried partners living at the same address. They both must be club members to win the trophy but a related non-member, with a valid handicap index, may pay a green fee and play with a member in this competition and win the prize but not the trophy. Use the card for the white course. ½ combined course handicaps then ladies/girls add 1 stroke for par adjustment. Men, and junior boys with handicap index up to 15.3, use white tees. Junior boys with handicap index 15.4 to 54 use yellow tees Ladies and junior girls use red tees. Juniors do not pay a competition fee.

 All categories
Three Club Challenge 15 hole singles Stableford held on New Year’s Day. 95% of course handicap. Men use the card of the yellow course and ladies use  the card of the red course. Ladies then add 1 stroke to their playing handicap for  par adjustment. Juniors must have at least one adult member playing with them.  Only two clubs and a regulation putter must be used. Holes not used are 7, 8, and 9. All adult categories