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 Masters Amateur World 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 either a current handicap issued by a CONGU affiliated golf club or a FORE Society handicap.

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 A competitor’s handicap will be reduced on the basis of one stroke for every two Stableford points scored over 36 in any one round for competitors with a handicap of 10 and above and half a stroke for competitors with a handicap of 9 and below.

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 Masters Amateur Tour for which the annual fee is £25 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.

9. Championship Events
 9.1 Up to five events are designated Championship Events and the winner and runner up at each Championship Event, plus the leading Volvo Owner, will automatically qualify for the Volvo Masters Amateur Tour UK Final. To be eligible to accept this prize a competitor must have either:

1) previously played in at least three Volvo Masters Amateur Tour events; or,

2) Be a current member of a CONGU affiliated golf club and have an ACTIVE handicap and have played in three handicap qualifying events in the 6 months prior to the Championship Event.

If a competitor does not comply with 1) & 2) then in order to accept qualification for the UK Final they must play in a further two VMA Tour events before 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 Masters Amateur 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 Masters Amateur Tour UK Final
 11.1 The following competitors will automatically qualify:

1) The top 20 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 & runner up 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 Masters Amateur World Final
 12.1 Six golfers will qualify for the VMA World Final including:

1) The winner of the final Order of Merit *

2) The three leaders at the UK Final

3) The leading Volvo Owner at the UK Final

4) The leading lady at the UK Final * *

* If there is a tie at the top of the final Order of Merit then the competitor with the best aggregate score at the UK Final will qualify for the World Final.

* * Must finish no more than 4 points behind 4th place at the UK Final.

12.2 If a Volvo Owner or lady qualifies under categories 1 & 2 then the competitor with the next best score at the UK Final will qualify for the World Final.

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 A deposit of £30 per event is payable for the one / two day events and £100 for the three / four day events. To secure a place in an event the deposit is payable at the time of entering. If you choose not to pay the required deposit for an event

your name will appear under Unconfirmed Entries for that event and later entrants who pay the deposit will take precedent.

14.2 Full payment is due 28 days before the date of the event.

14.3 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.

14.4 Payment for events should be made online.

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.