1. Rules of Golf
1.1 The Events will be run in accordance with ‘The Rules of Golf’ as laid down by the R&A and the Local Rules of the courses visited.

2. Format
2.1 The playing format is Individual Stableford with full handicap allowance. Play is generally in three and fourballs. Where permitted play is normally from the White / Competition tees. Ladies play from the Red tees.

3. Who Can Play?
3.1 The Events are open to all golfers, male and female who comply with the handicap requirements in Section 4.

3.2 Competitors under the age of 18 are welcome to take part but must be accompanied by an adult.

3.3 Competitors under the age of 18 can qualify for the UK Final but they are ineligible to qualify for the Volvo World Golf Challenge Final and will be awarded a voucher for £150 in lieu of a place in the World Final should they qualify.

4. Handicaps
4.1 All competitors must have a current handicap issued by a CONGU affiliated golf club.

4.2 Competitors taking part in their first event will be asked to provide a current handicap certificate.

4.3 The maximum playing handicaps will be 24 for men and 30 for ladies with full Stroke Allowance.

4.4 All the events in the UK and Ireland will be CONGU handicap qualifying events and it is the ultimate responsibility of each player to report his / her scores back to the club at which their handicap is managed.

4.5 Other handicap adjustments can be made by the organisers on a general play basis.

5. Ties and Countbacks
5.1 In the case of a tie the result will be decided on a card playoff.

1) For a one round event this will be resolved by taking into account the last nine holes on the scorecard. If there is still a tie the result will be decided on the last 6, 3, 2, 1 hole/s.
2) For an event over more than one round this will be resolved by taking into account the last 18 holes played. If there is still a tie the result will be decided on the last 9, 6, 3, 2, 1 hole/s.

5.2 In all cases of tied results, the decision will be made based on the order of the holes as set out on the scorecard regardless of where the individual competitors started.

6. Caddies & Buggies
6.1 The use of buggies is permitted in the events where they are available for hire. Caddies are permitted at any of the events and the competitor is responsible for his / her caddie’s actions.

7. GPS Range Finding Equipment
7.1 The use of GPS and laser range finding equipment is permitted in the events.

8. Volvo Order of Merit
8.1 An Order of Merit will be established for each year. Merit points are awarded on the basis of 100 to the winner, 99 for 2nd, 98 for 3rd and so on. In the case of ties competitors will be awarded the same number of Merit points.

8.2 A competitor’s best five Merit point scores will determine his / her position in the Order of Merit. If there is a tie for any place in the final Order of Merit the competitor/s with the sixth best merit point score will qualify and so on if the sixth scores are the same.

8.3 The final Order of Merit will be established after all the events in that year’s Tour schedule have been played.

8.4 To be eligible for Merit points, a competitor must be a current member of the Volvo Amateur Golf Tour for which the annual fee is £35 and runs from the first event to the last event of any given Tour schedule.

8.5 A competitor new to the Tour can play in one event before joining and the Merit points for that one event will be awarded retrospectively to that competitor on joining. In order to count the scorers for one event retrospectively the competitor must join before the next OoM counting event is complete and the OoM updated.

9. Championship Events
9.1 Certain events are designated Championship Events and the winner and the leading Volvo Owner, will automatically qualify for the Volvo Amateur Golf Tour UK Final. To be eligible to accept this prize a competitor must have either:

1) previously played in at least three Volvo Amateur Golf Tour events or play in three subsequent Tour events before the UK Final in that particular season.

If a competitor does not comply with 1) & 2) they cannot accept the automatic place in the UK Final.

9.2 If the leading Volvo Owner at a Championship Event wins the event or is the runner up then the next best placed competitor will qualify for the UK Final.

10. Volvo Owners
10.1 Volvo Owners have an additional means of qualifying for the Volvo Amateur Golf Tour UK and World Finals. (Refer to Sections 9 and 11)

10.2 Volvo Owners shall provide proof of ownership as required by the Organisers.

10.3 To qualify as one of the leading four Volvo Owners in the Order of Merit the competitor shall demonstrate ownership or have placed an order through a registered Volvo dealer by 1st August in the relevant Tour year.

11. Volvo Amateur Golf Tour UK Final
11.1 The following competitors will automatically qualify:
1) The top 23 and ties in the final Order of Merit
2) The leading 2 ladies in the final Order of Merit
3) The leading 4 Volvo Owners in the final Order of Merit
4) The winner in each of the Championship Events
5) The leading Volvo Owner at each of the Championship Events
6) The competitor with the winning aggregate score on the four round events
11.2 If any competitor qualifying under categories 2 - 6 above, finishes in the top 20 of the final Volvo Order of Merit, then the next competitor on the Order of Merit will qualify for the UK Final.

12. Volvo World Golf Challenge
12.1 At least six golfers will qualify for the Volvo World Golf Challenge including the winner of the Order of Merit.

Qualification categories for the other five places are to be confirmed.

13. Member’s Guest Entry
13.1 Members wishing to bring guests to a Tour event must enter their guest by calling the office on 0845 466 2222 or by email to info@gmmltd.co.uk

14. Entry Fee Payment
14.1 To secure a place in an event the relevant deposit is payable at the time of entering.

14.2 Full payment is due one calendar month before the event unless otherwise stated.

14.3 If full payment has not been made one calendar month before the event we cannot guarantee your entry and someone on the reserve list may take your place.

14.4 A competitor can enter an event which is Full and his / her name will appear on the Reserve List. A deposit is not required to be included on the Reserve List

14.5 The payment of a deposit by a non member of the Tour will not guarantee a place in that event and if entry is not accepted then the deposit will be returned in full.

14.6 If you withdraw from an event within 14 days of the date of the event you will lose your deposit unless we can replace you with another competitor.

14.7 Payment for events should be made online or by calling the office on 0845 466 2222.

14.8 Payment for additional items not included in the package price such as, single supplements and extra accommodation cannot be paid online. Payment for these can only be made by calling the office.

15. Competitor Information
15.1 The Draw for each event will appear on the website 7 days prior to the event along with an itinerary of the day and including other relevant information. Each competitor will receive an email informing them that the Draw and Competitor Information are ready to view online.