Rules

Playing a match

Matches are played over 18 holes from the white competition tees (the back stones or discs), not the blue or longest championship tees that some clubs have.

Clubs arrange each date by mutual agreement, preferably on a weekday, though weekends are allowed. Matches run from 1 April to 31 August.

Golf starts at 3:00pm and the teams meet at 2:30pm, unless both teams agree otherwise beforehand.

The format is four-ball match play off handicap, with shots given at 90% of the difference from the lowest handicap (changed from 1 January 2016). Teams have 10 players. A match is contested by five pairs. One player may play twice, but a team that is two players short forfeits that point.

No substitutes are allowed during a match unless the opposing team captain agrees.

Handicap Index range is 3.4 to 9.4. A player above 9.4 takes shots as if their index were 9.4.

All games are played under the R&A Rules. Local rule: range finders and GPS devices may be used.

Who can play

Every player must be a paid-up member of the Hertfordshire Golf Union, with their home club in Hertfordshire and an active handicap.

A player who belongs to more than one Hertfordshire club may play for only one club during the season. It need not be their home club.

Scoring

• 1 point for each game won
• ½ point for each game halved
• 2 points for the overall winner of the match
• When the match is halved, 1 point for each team
• Abandoned matches: 2½ points for each team

If a team does not turn up on the day, or does not give enough notice to rearrange, it receives 0 points and all 5 points go to its opponents.

If two or more clubs finish the season level on league points, match points decide. If match points are level too, the tie-break is the sum of the game points in the matches between the clubs concerned, and then the result of the last game between them.

The home team captain reports the result immediately after the match.

Hosting and costs

The home club provides the course and a warm meal for the visiting team on the day, worth about £15. The match fee is £15.00 for the one-course meal.

Finals day

Finals day moves between the clubs in turn. Each club brings eight players, who meet at 12 and tee off at 1pm. The hosting club decides the format. The clubs have agreed to make sure eight players attend; if not, the minimum match fee equals eight players. The trophy is bought with the cost shared between the clubs, about £25 each.