Terms Of Competition, Code Of Conduct & Additonal Local Rules

1. Eligibility

The Competition is open to any amateur golfer who is a member of a Golf Club affiliated to a governing body recognized by SPGC (unless otherwise stated on the entry form). All players must at close of entries, have a valid handicap index failing which the player may be removed from the list of entries irrespective of any Exemption categories which may apply. NOTE: Any player entering may be subject to a handicap check and any discrepancies or “multiple penalty scores” found on the player’s profile may result in an entry not being accepted.

2. Entry Fee

All entries to be submitted via the Pro Shop. Entries will not be accepted unless payment is made using cash or credit card on the morning of the competition. The Competition Organizing Committee reserves the right to limit the field. In the event of the competition being oversubscribed, the Competition Organizing Committee reserves the right to limit entries, with preference being given to Shelley Point Country Club members.

3. Format

Competition format will be displayed on the competition poster It remains the responsibility of the Players/Markers to familiarize themselves with the competition format and checked to make sure the Cards are completed correctly before submitting.  If in doubt consult with a committee member.

4. Handicaps

In a handicap competition, the player will play the duration of a competition on the official handicap index as at the beginning of the competition. It is the responsibility of each player to advise the Shelley Point Golf Competition Administrator of his or her correct handicap index on the day of play, subject to the following conditions:

• Each SPGC Competition will specify a maximum handicap index (HI) assessed in terms of the World Handicap System, or an equivalent handicap, assessed under an alternative system acceptable to SPGC.
• SPGC reserve the right to not accept a player’s entry if the player has score abnormalities, such as more than two (2) penalty scores or incorrectly captured scores, on Handicap Network Africa (HNA).
• The maximum playing handicap for Non-affiliated players (NON HNA) during conforming competitions will be 0. For Non-affiliated players during non-conforming competitions their playing handicap will be 10. This applies to both male and female players.

5. The Draw

The draw is available in the Clubmaster App and if required will be circulated to members via the group WhatsApp prior to the Competition.

6. Pace of Play

Refer to SPGC Pace of Play Policy (PoPP).

7. Weather Delays and Suspension of Play

The following signals are in force: Immediate Suspension: One prolonged note of siren. Such as when there is imminent danger.

• If the Committee declares an immediate suspension of play, all players must stop play at once and must not make another stroke until the Committee resumes play.
• If a player fails to discontinue play immediately, he/she is disqualified, unless circumstances warrant waiving the penalty as provided in Rule 5.7b(2) Exception.

Normal Suspension: Three consecutive notes of siren, repeated. Such as darkness or unplayable course.

• Between Two Holes. If all players in the group are between two holes, they must stop play and must not make a stroke to begin another hole until the Committee resumes play.
• While Playing Hole. If any player in the group has started a hole, the players may choose either to stop play or to play out the hole.

Resume Play: Two short notes of siren, repeated.

8. Rules of Golf

The Competition will be held in accordance with the Rules of Golf as approved by the R&A Rules Ltd, SPGC Permanent Local Rules (‘Hard Card’) and Additional Local Rules approved by SPGC. Notice of the Additional Local Rules will be available at the SPGC Pro Shop. All entrants are advised to familiarize themselves with these Additional Local Rules.

9. Scoring & Results

A player is considered to have returned their score card when they have placed their score card in the score card box or handed to the Competition Organizing Committee. The results are deemed to be officially announced and the competition closed at the commencement of the prize-giving ceremony.

Ties

In the event of a tie for first place, there will be a count out. The count out procedure will be last 9, last 6, last 3 and then last hole. If it can still not be decided, a coin toss will decide the count out winner.

10. Dress Code, Clothing and Equipment Branding

Only golf specific attire will be permitted during all SPGC Competitions. This regulation applies to all players when on the host golf course and official practice facility during any official Competition practice or Competition Day. Note: Restrictions on dress code may be stricter at certain host venues and it is up to all players, in such cases, to adhere to the club’s dress code which will be published on the Competition notice board.

11. Clothing and Equipment Branding

Competitors and caddies are to conform with the GolfRSA Logo and Marks Policy as it pertains to branding on clothing and equipment. The relevant document can be viewed on www.golfrsa.co.za. Incorrectly dressed players will not be permitted to play and any queries in this regard should be made to the Committee to avoid embarrassment.

12. Spectators

Spectators to keep off teeing grounds, fairways and greens at ALL times and not interfere with any player. The audible emission of cell phones is not acceptable and cell phones MUST be on silent. The use of motorized carts is not permitted without the consent of the TOC. (Spectators must not share a motorized cart with a player). Failure to adhere to such requests could lead to spectators being asked to leave the golf course.

13. Caddies

During a SPGC Competition, caddies may or may not be permitted depending on the nature of the Competition and their availability and/or the host venue’s security policy etc. When caddies are permitted, at a SPGC Competition, the requirement is that only caddies that have registered with the host venue, prior to the Competition (which includes official practice rounds), will be allowed to caddie. All registered caddies will need to follow the host venue’s caddies’ Rules and Regulations with regards to dress code and access to facilities.

14. Competition Organizing Committee

The Competition Organizing Committee will be appointed by SPGC, and their names will be displayed on the Competition Notice Board at the Pro Shop. This Competition Organizing Committee reserves the right to alter the program and conditions of the event at any time, including starting times. All disputes shall be settled by the Competition Organizing Committee whose decision shall be final. Any dispute/protest must be lodged within 15 minutes of completion of the round. This information may be requested in writing.

15. Prize-Giving

SPGC will endeavour to start prize giving functions as soon as possible after the completion of play and necessary administrational tasks. It is the responsibility of the player to ascertain whether they will be receiving a prize and are encouraged to stay for the presentation of prizes as a sign of respect to sponsors, organizers, and prize winners. Any vouchers unclaimed will be kept and distributed to the prize recipients. The committee will advise members should there be a change to the prize giving procedure. At least 1 member of the better ball/alliance must be present to receive the prizes on behalf of his/her partners. If nobody of the better ball/alliance can stay for the prize giving then an apology must be made to the main sponsor/organizer of the charity day. If no excuse is made the prize will be forfeited and be presented to the next in line.

16. Players with Disabilities

Players must be registered as an affiliated member of the South African Disabled Golf Association (SADGA), or a governing body recognized by SADGA. If the player’s disability does not fall within the specifications of Rule 25, then the Competition Committee has the authority to put the necessary Model local rules in place for the specific disability of that entrant.

17. Score Information

If requested to do so, players must provide score information to Competition Officials during the course of play.

18. Publicity

SPGC, the host venue and the sponsors of the Competition may arrange publicity before, during and after the Competition in the press, by live and recorded radio, television and by filming. By entering the Competition, the players’ assent to references to them and pictures or video footage of them at practice and in play appearing and being used for commercial purposes by SPGC and their Sponsors.

19. Liability

SPGC does not warrant or guarantee the safety of any person. SPGC and its management will not be held responsible for any damages, loss, including personal loss and/or other forms of loss, harm or injury sustained as stipulated below:

• Physical and/or emotional injuries suffered by any person, including a player or spectator, during the Competition, due to any acts of God, suffered as a direct result thereof, including aspects such as being struck by lightning, etc.
• Physical injuries of any kind suffered by any person, including a player or spectator, sustained by own negligence, or otherwise.
• Emotional injuries sustained due to any loss, including death, suffered as a result of any of the above injuries sustained personally or by a spectator.
• Damages suffered to any property of a player or spectator.
• Any financial costs endured by a golfer due to disqualification/failing to read the Terms of Entry and GolfRSA General Terms of Competitions, making the final players list etc.

20. POPI Act Policy

By entering any SPGC Competition, you are consenting to SPGC collecting and storing certain personal information about you (the minimum needed to conduct the administration of this event). Please be assured that SPGC is fully compliant with the Protection of Personal Information Act (“POPIA”) regarding how we collect personal information from you, why we collect it, what it is used for and how it is stored. This personal information may be used to provide you further details of the event you are entering and may be stored by SPGC for purposes of further such events. Your personal information shall not be shared with any third party whatsoever, save for a SPGC approved scoring or handicap service provider to this event, who shall also be fully POPIA compliant. If you are a minor, your parent or guardian must consent to your personal information and must thus complete, sign and submit a separate POPIA document available from GolfRSA.

21. Drug Free Sport

Anti-Doping constitutes a range of activities aimed at eliminating doping in sport, as well as protecting clean athletes and the integrity and values of sport. There are 11 Anti-Doping Rule Violations of which Use or Attempted Use by an Athlete of a Prohibited Substance or Prohibited Method is one. All Competitors are subject to the provisions of the South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport’s Anti-Doping (SAIDS) Rules. Details of the SAIDS Anti-Doping Rules, and the current List of Prohibited Substances and Methods, are available from the SAIDS website (www.drugfreesport.org.za). Competitors can do a medication check on the SAIDS website at the following link https://drugfreesport.org.za/online-medication-check/ and should bear in mind that this list does not include Supplements. Information on Supplements is available at the following link https://drugfreesport.org.za/supplements-and-their-risks/. Competitors who have illnesses or conditions that require them to take particular medications or undergo procedures may have to apply for a Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE). If the medication or method a competitor requires to treat an illness or condition falls under the Prohibited List, a TUE may give that athlete the authorization to use the required medicine or method. Only certain categories of Competitors need to apply for a TUE in advance. Competitors should check the SAIDS website at the following link https://drugfreesport.org.za/who-needs-to-apply-for-a-tue/ which level of Competitors need to apply for a TUE in advance from SAIDS. Competitors who are taking medication and are in doubt as to their clinical status, should seek advice from GolfRSA no later than 30 days before the start of the Championships.

Drug-Testing may be authorized at any event under the jurisdiction of SPGC.

22. Code of Conduct

Player Conduct and Spirit of the Game

It is one of the central principles of the game of golf that all players are expected to play by the Rules and in the spirit of the game. Under Rule 1.2a, the Competition Committee may disqualify a player for serious misconduct for acting contrary to the spirit of the game.

Serious Misconduct

Examples of actions, amongst others listed in the Official Guide to the Rules of Golf (Interpretation 1.2a/1), by a player that are likely to be considered serious misconduct include, but are not limited to:

• Deliberately causing serious damage to a putting green.
• Disagreeing with the course setup and taking it on himself or herself to move tee-markers or boundary stakes.
• Consumption of alcohol for the duration of a round.
• Throwing a club towards another player or spectator.
• Deliberately distracting other players while they are making strokes.
• Removing loose impediments or movable obstructions to disadvantage another player after that other player has asked him or her to leave them in place.
• Repeatedly refusing to lift a ball at rest when it interferes with another player in stroke play.
• Deliberately playing away from the hole and then towards the hole to assist the player’s partner (such as helping the player’s partner learn the break on the putting green).
• Deliberately not playing in accordance with the Rules and potentially gaining a significant advantage by doing so, despite incurring a penalty for a breach of the relevant Rule.
• Repeatedly using vulgar or offensive language.
• Using a handicap that has been established for the purpose of providing an unfair advantage or using the round being played to establish such a handicap.
• Being disrespectful of other players, referees, spectators or marshals.
• Defacing or destroying club property, littering, leaving divots or ball marks unrepaired, failure to rake bunkers etc.

Misconduct

Penalties other than disqualification may be imposed for player misconduct. Examples of actions by a player that, although involving misconduct, are unlikely to be considered serious misconduct include, but are not limited to:

• Slamming a club to the ground, damaging the club, and causing minor damage to the turf.
• Throwing a club towards a golf bag that unintentionally hits another person.
• Carelessly distracting another player making a stroke.
• Bad language and shouting.

23. Commitment to Play

Failure to give notice of withdrawal at least 24 hours in advance (unavoidable emergencies may preclude penalty) may result in the player being disqualified from the next SPGC event in which the player is entered. Discontinuance of play for any reason not covered by R5.7a (picking up, quitting) will result in the disqualification penalty under that rule and additionally the player will be ineligible for the next SPGC event in which he/she is entered.

24. Cell Phones

Players are requested to ensure that their use of cell phones does not cause a disturbance to other players and that they do not allow their phone calls to interrupt the flow of play. Penalty for Breach of Code:

• First breach: Warning or Committee sanction.
• Second breach: One stroke penalty.
• Third breach: General penalty.
• Fourth breach or any serious breach: Disqualification.

Any breach of the Code of Conduct may also result in a formal disciplinary hearing.

25. Additional Local Rules

Effective from 1 January 2023: The following Competition Local Rules (hereinafter referred to as the SPGC Local Rules, together with any additions or amendments published by the Committee at the golf course, will apply to all Competitions run by SPGC. In the event of a dispute arising as to the meaning of any Rules of Golf, Terms of Competition or SPGC Local Rule, the Rule will be interpreted according to the English Edition of The Rules of Golf. For the full text of any Local Rule referenced below, please refer to the Official Guide to the Rules of Golf effective January 2023, published by the R&A Rules Limited. Unless otherwise noted, the penalty for breach of a Local Rule is the General Penalty. (Loss of hole in match play or two penalty strokes in stroke play).

1. Preferred Lies

When a player’s ball lies in a part of the general area clearly marked by both distance and other green poles, the player may prefer the lie within one club-length. See Model Local Rule E-3 for details of how this must be done.

• Out of Bounds (Rule 18.2)
• A ball is out of bounds when it is beyond any wall, fence or white stakes defining a boundary edge of a course, on or beyond any white line defining the boundary edge of the course – the line itself being out of bounds.
• A ball that crosses a road which is defined as out of bounds and comes to rest on the road or on the other side of that road is out of bounds. This is true even if the ball comes to rest on another part of the course that is in bounds for other holes.
• In the case of there being two boundary fences, the inner most fence shall define the boundary.
• When a player’s ball has not been found or is known or virtually certain to be out of bounds, the only option the player may proceed under is Stroke and Distance for a penalty of one stroke. Playing a provisional ball under these circumstances is encouraged to ensure that the SPGC PoPP is adhered to.

3. Dropping Zones (Model Local Rule E-1)

Where a dropping zone is marked for an abnormal course condition (Rule 16.1) or unplayable ball (Rule 19.2 & 3) a ball may be played under the applicable rule or dropped in the dropping zone as an additional relief option.

4. Dropping Zones for Penalty Areas

Where a dropping zone is marked for a penalty area, it is an additional option for relief under penalty of one stroke. The dropping zone is a relief area under Rule 14.3 meaning a ball must be dropped in and come to rest in the relief area.

5. Abnormal Course Conditions Including Immovable Obstructions

Rule 16 Ground Under Repair

• Any area bounded by a white line, including spectator crossing point were marked or marked with a GUR notice.
• Any area of damaged ground that is considered by a referee to be abnormal.
• Grass covered cable trenches.
• French drains (stone-filled drainage ditches).
• Seams of cut turf; Model Local Rule F-7 is in effect.
• Yardage painted lines or dots on the putting green or in a part of the general area cut to fairway height or less are to be treated as ground under repair from which relief is available under Rule 16.1 Interference does not exist if yardage painted lines or dots only interfere with the players stance.

6. Immovable Obstructions

• White lined areas and the immovable obstruction they tie into are treated as a single abnormal course condition.
• Flowerbeds/gardens surrounded by immovable obstructions are treated as a single abnormal course condition.
• All artificially surfaced roads or paths, including when surfaced with woodchip or mulch. (Individual pieces of woodchip are loose impediments which may be removed).

Immovable Obstructions Close to Putting Greens

Model Local Rule F-5 is modified as follows: For a ball in the general area, relief is allowed only when both the ball and the immovable obstruction lie in an area cut to fairway height or less.

7. Edging Grooves Near Putting Greens

The edging grooves around the aprons or fringes of putting greens are ground under repair. If a player’s ball lies in or touches a groove or a groove interferes with the area of intended swing:

• Ball in General Area. The player may take free relief under Rule 16.1b.
• Ball on (including touching) the Putting Green. The player may take free relief under Rule 16.1d. But interference does not exist if the edging groove only interferes with the line of play or with the player’s stance.

8. Integral Objects

The following are integral objects from which free relief is not allowed:

• Bunker liners in their intended position.
• Artificial retaining walls and pilings when located in penalty areas.
• Wires, cable, wrappings or other objects where they are closely attached to trees or other permanent objects.
• Any closed gate attached to a boundary object.

9. Suspension Of Play (Rule 5.7)

The following signals will be used to suspend and resume play:

1. Immediate stop for imminent danger – One prolonged note of a siren.
2. Stop for a non-dangerous situation – Three consecutive notes of a siren.
3. Resumption of play – Two consecutive notes of a siren.

Note: When play is stopped for imminent danger, all practice areas will be immediately closed.

10. Pace of Play

Please ensure you obtain a copy of the Pace of Play Policy and read it carefully before playing.

11. Completing and Returning of Score Card

A Player’s score card is officially returned to the Committee when the player(s) has placed the score card in the score card box or handed to the recording committee member. An additional 10 minutes after returning the score card will be allowed for corrections to be made by the player/marker after which the score card will be deemed to be returned. Model Local Rule L-2: Rule 3.3b (4). All players playing in Authorised Golf Competitions of the Shelley Point Golf Club are required (and responsible) to complete their respective score cards as follows:

• Initial and Surname, Handicap Index, Course Handicap, Applicable Tee Colour, Date, Type of Competition.
• The marker must certify (Sign) the score cards after comparing scorecards with regards to the scores and Stableford points (if applicable). If a player returns a score card without the hole scores being certified either by the player, marker or both, the player gets the general penalty which is two    penalty strokes during stroke play competitions or two penalty points during Stableford competitions. The stroke play penalty applies to the last hole scored (No 18) and the Stableford penalty to the last scoring hole.
• Ensure that all applicable fields (as per the competition protocol of the day) on the scorecard are filled in.
• Visitors are to indicate their Home Club and HNA membership number on the scorecard.

The number of scorecards to be handed in is determined by the type of competition (Individual competition is one card per player, all other competitions (inclusive of Alliance/Scramble competitions) a minimum of two scorecards must be handed in. The Handicap Committee is still responsible to verify and compare scores/points per hole and totals (Gross & Nett) as per Rule 3.3b (4) (R&A and USGA Golf rules) and compare the scores/points of the player against the markers card.

Note: It is still the responsibility of the players to submit their respective score (Adjusted Gross) on the HNA system before midnight on the day of play (Rule 1.3 & 4.1 of the Rules of Handicapping). Use the HNA App, HNA Website or the HNA Terminal at the Proshop.

12. Player Conduct and Spirit of the Game

It is one of the central principles of the game of golf that all players are expected to play by the Rules and in the spirit of the game. Under Rule 1.2a, a committee may disqualify a player for serious misconduct for acting contrary to the spirit of the game. This applies whether there is a Code of Conduct in place for a competition or not.

Examples of actions, amongst others listed in the Official Guide to the Rules of Golf (Clarification 1.2a/1) Penalty Structure

• First breach of the Code of Conduct – warning or Committee sanction.
• Second breach – one-stroke penalty.
• Third breach – general penalty.
• Fourth breach or any serious misconduct – disqualification.

13. Banners & Signage

These are to be treated as movable obstructions. (Rule 15.2). If the obstruction cannot be easily moved, its status changes to a Temporary Immovable Obstruction (Model Local Rule F-23).

14. Clubs and Balls

• List of Conforming Driver Heads: Model Local Rule G-1 is in effect. Penalty for making a stroke with a club in breach of Local Rule: Disqualification.
• Groove and Punch Mark Specifications: Model Local Rule G-2 is in effect. Penalty for making a stroke with a club in breach of Local Rule: Disqualification.
• List of Conforming Golf Balls: Model Local Rule G-3 is in effect. Penalty for breach of the Local Rule: Disqualification.

Note: An updated List of Conforming Clubs and Balls is available on www.randa.org

15. Results of Match or Stroke Play – Competition Closed

Match Play

The result of a match is officially announced when it has been recorded by the Committee.

Stroke Play

When the results are officially announced at the presentation and the competition is closed.