1. The playing format is knock-out matchplay. At the Regional Final the format is
18 holes of individual stableford and the Grand Final consists of four rounds of
individual stableford.
2. The Championship is played under 'The Rules of Golf' for matchplay as laid down
by The R&A and is "Approved by the R&A for the payment of expenses – Rule 4–2g RA/17/2017.
3. Competitors must be over 18 years of age by 1st June 2012.
4. Each competitor must be a current member of a golf club and have an ACTIVE handicap issued by a
CONGU affiliated golf club, that is they must have played in at least 3 handicap qualifying
competitions in the 2011 calendar year. Handicap certificates must be taken to each match and
shown to the opponent before the match commences. If a competitor does not provide a handicap
certificate on the day of the match he/she must provide proof of handicap to the organisers
within 48 hours of completion of the match if requested by the opponent.
5. In the first round the competitor drawn at the top in each match will play at
home. The winning competitor who is first to inform the Tournament Office of the
match result will have the home draw in the next round and so on.
6. Those competitors who have received a BYE in the first round will play away in
the second round. If two consecutive matches include a BYE the individual at the
top will play at home.
7. In the first round it is the equal responsibility of both competitors to contact
their opponent. In all other rounds it is the away player's responsibility to contact
his/her opponent to arrange a mutually convenient date and time to play the match.
8. If either competitor has to cancel the match within 48 hours of the match being
due to be played then the other player may claim the match.
9. The venue for any match may be changed to the opponent's home course if there
is a mutual agreement. Once a competitor has played a home match he/she cannot change
their home course.
10. If courtesy of the course is not granted to the away player then the total cost
of any green fees payable must be shared between both players and paid before the
match commences.
11. Strokes will be taken on the basis of FULL handicap difference. The maximum
permitted playing handicap is 24 for men and 30 for ladies.
12. In addition to their normal stroke allowance ladies will also receive the difference
between the men's and ladies standard scratch score from the tees to be used.
13. Play will be from the competition tees, usually white. However if the club do
not allow play from the competition tees the match will be played from the tees
for general play, usually the yellow tees.
14. In mixed matches, the gentlemen must play from the competition tees if the club
permits and ladies will play from the red tees. If the course does not have red
tees then the match must be played at another course which does have red tees. If
gentlemen are not permitted to play from the competition tees the match must be
played at either the ladies home course or a neutral venue.
15. Matches all square after 18 holes will be decided on a 'sudden death' play off
commencing at the first hole played and the appropriate shots will be given. If
the match is abandoned during the first 18 holes then play shall resume from the
point where the match was abandoned in accordance with the Rules of Golf.
16. If after mutual agreement a match has to be abandoned during a sudden death
play-off due to lack of daylight or the course becoming unfit for play, then the
match will be continued over 18 holes at the away player's course on another mutually
convenient date.
17. It is the responsibility of the winner of each match to inform the Tournament
Office of the result. Results can be telephoned on 0845 466 222 or entered online
at www.volvogolf.co.uk anytime.
18. The use of any GPS and laser rangefinding equipment is permitted at all stages
of the Championship.
19. In the case of any dispute the organiser's decision will be final.
20. Any competitor failing to comply with The Championship Rules or found not to
meet the initial entry criteria will be disqualified.