Entry to all competitions is subject to having a valid WHS Handicap Index.
New members who have not previously held an official handicap are required to submit scores from 54 holes of golf to obtain an initial Handicap Index. This may consist of any mix of 9 hole or 18 hole cards, though the preference is for 3 x 18 hole scores.
After the allocation of an initial Handicap Index, members are required to submit scores from a further 3 rounds (9 hole or 18 hole) played in club competitions before they are eligible to win prizes in competitions at Mapperley.
Please make it known to the Pro Shop staff (or Ladies Treasurer for Ladies competitions) when you are playing your initial 3 competition rounds and you will not be charged an entry fee.
2.1. Match Play Competitions
Members in the Full Membership categories listed in Appendix A are eligible to enter the Major Match play knockout competitions listed in Appendix B (Men), Appendix C (Ladies) and Appendix D (Seniors), subject to having submitted at least 6 Acceptable Scores (including a minimum of 3 in Competition play) in the 12 months before the date of playing the first match in the competition.
- Entry sheets for the Mens Singles, Mens Foursomes, Mixed foursomes and F2R better-ball knockouts are available in the Pro Shop well before the competition draw. Payment is required on entry.
- Entry sheets for the Ladies Singles and Ladies Foursomes knockouts are posted in the Ladies Locker Room. Payment will be deducted from your Competition Purse.
- The entry sheet for the Seniors Matchplay Trophy is posted on the Seniors Noticeboard. Entry is free to paid up members of the Seniors Section.
- Knockout competition draw sheets are posted in the locker rooms.
- Refer to Appendix E for the Club Knockout Competition Rules.
Note: While the Rules of Golf do not expressly prohibit the playing of a match whilst concurrently playing in a stroke play competition, it is not encouraged because of the significant differences between the 2 formats.
You may not play in a stroke play competition at Mapperley or submit a score for handicap purposes while simultaneously playing in a match.
2.2 Stroke Play Competitions
The majority of Stroke Play competitions have reserved tee times in the BRS timesheet. Exceptions to this include Thursday and Sunday competitions when entrants may book any casual tee time.
Designated competition tee times may only be used by members playing in the competition. Anyone occupying such a tee time will be charged the appropriate competition entry fee.
Exception: members wishing to submit cards for initial handicap allocation, members submitting their first 3 competition cards and members marking a card for another player may play in the designated competition tee times and will not be charged an entry fee.
Saturday Summer Competitions: Mens and Ladies
- There are generally reserved tee times from 6:50 to 15:00, daylight permitting. Competition play is not allowed outside of the reserved times.
- Enter the draw in the Pro Shop from 7 days before.
- Men pay on entry. Ladies entry fees will be deducted from their Competition Purse.
- Enter by phone from 6 days before (Sunday).
- The draw for tee times is usually made by Thursday at the latest.
- Entry after the draw has been made is allowed on an occasional basis, but this must not be done regularly. Payment of the entry fee at the time of booking is required; failure to do so prohibits entry to the competition.
- Players withdrawing after the draw has been made forfeit their entry fee, unless the competition is cancelled.
- Players may not withdraw from their allocated tee time and play at an earlier or later time.
Exception: at the discretion of the Professional, players may have their tee time moved to accommodate the sharing of a buggy, or to maintain balanced groups when other players have withdrawn from the competition.
Saturday Winter Team Competitions: Open to all
- Players generally sign up in groups of 4 at the start of the winter and play in the same group with the same order of starting each week. There are usually spaces available so you can make up with an existing group when they are short. Contact the Pro Shop if you wish to do this.
- Entry fees are paid the week before. If a group opts not to play due to course or weather conditions, their fees will carry over to the following week.
Tuesday Competitions: Ladies
- Entry for most Ladies competition is available 7 days before through the BRS timesheet.
- Pre-payment to the Ladies Treasurer is required. It is not possible for your name to added to a Ladies competition on the timesheet unless you have a positive balance in your Competition Purse.
- For some ‘big days’ the timesheet will be available earlier and there will be a draw for tee times about a week prior to the competition.
- Players withdrawing after a draw has been made must notify the Lady Captain.
- Players may not withdraw from a drawn tee time and play at an earlier or later time.
Exception: at the discretion of the Professional, players may have their tee time moved to accommodate the sharing of a buggy, or to maintain balanced groups when other players have withdrawn from the competition. This could include players switching from an 18 hole competition to a 9 hole competition, or vice versa. - Competition play is allowed outside of the reserved blocks of tee times in competitions that do not have a draw for tee times.
- Anyone intending playing in a Ladies competition outside the reserved tee times must reserve their tee time on the BRS timesheet and inform the Pro Shop who will change the “Reservation Name” to match the Ladies Competition. This must be done by the day before play at the latest. Once the intent to play has been made players may not withdraw from their tee time and play at an earlier or later time.
Exception: at the discretion of the Professional (as above).
Wednesday Competitions: Seniors
- There is a block of reserved tee times for Seniors from 7:00 to 10:00 on Wednesdays. Competition play is not allowed outside of these reserved times.
- Pre-payment to the Seniors Treasurer is required. It is not possible for your name to added to a Seniors competition on the timesheet unless you have a positive balance in your Competition Purse.
- For competitions that are not subject to a pre-draw, roll up at the ‘Seniors Desk’ in the clubhouse on the day.
- Groups are made up in order of arriving. Those playing in the 16 hole competition go out before the 9 hole players.
Sunday and Midweek Summer Competitions: Open to all
Book yourself and up to 3 other members in any casual tee time. Pay in the Pro Shop on the day. If you intend playing in a competition outside of normal Pro Shop opening times you must contact the Pro Shop and pay your entry fee in advance.
Sunday Competitions: Ladies
Book yourself and up to 3 other members in any casual tee time. Entry fees will be deducted from your Competition Purse.
Sunday Competitions: Mixed
Book yourself and up to 3 other members in one of the reserved competition tee times. Pay on the day.
In order to maximise course availability for members and visitors there must be a minimum field of 3 fourballs entered a week in advance for mixed Sunday competitions to be staged.
2.3. Team Matches against other clubs
Members with a valid Handicap Index in the Full Membership categories listed in Appendix A and Student / Flexible members are eligible to play in:
- League and Inter-club matches organised by the Nottinghamshire County Associations (NUGC/NCLGA)
- Mens, Ladies, Seniors & Mixed friendlies, Taskers, Mens Summer League, Ladies Winter League
In matches played at Mapperley it is the responsibility of the Organiser/Team Captain to ensure that the names of the home players are entered onto the BRS timesheet. This is important so that it can confirmed that all players belong to eligible membership categories and so that Flexible members have the appropriate number of Flexi points deducted from their account.
2.4. Time of Starting
- All competitors in singles competitions and at least 1 competitor in team competitions must report to the Pro Shop and must have paid the appropriate entry fee before playing.
- Competitors must be on the allotted tee and ready to commence play 5 minutes before the allotted starting time. The penalty for breach of this Rule is disqualification except that if a player arrives at the allotted tee ready to play within 5 minutes after the starting time or plays no more than 5 minutes early, the penalty for failure to start on time is loss of two strokes at the first hole (stroke play) or loss of first hole (match play). If the Committee decides that exceptional circumstances prevented the player from starting on time there is no penalty.
- Where the starting time of a competition is deferred due to closure of the course arising from adverse weather conditions, the time sheet will stand from when the course is opened. Any player who has lost their tee time due to the course closure may play at the next available tee time.
- Anyone absenting from a pre-drawn competition without having made contact with the Professional and/or their playing partner(s) prior to the competition without good reason, may lose the right to compete in Club Competitions for a specified period, or for more persistent offences, to have their handicap suspended for an appropriate period.
2.5. Suspension of Play
Due to adverse Course or Weather conditions
Deciding when to suspend play due to adverse course or weather conditions is the responsibility of the Committee.
Exception: A player may stop play if he or she reasonably believes there is danger from lightning, but must report to the Committee as soon as possible.
Guidance on stopping and resuming play is provided in the Rules of Golf, Committee Procedures, section 6E.
- No competitor can make their own decision that the course is unplayable. They can bring the matter to the attention of the Committee who will carry out an inspection. If the Committee decide the course is unplayable the competition will be suspended.
- A player that is not able to complete their round when play is resumed after a suspension will have their entry fee refunded.
- If less than 50% of entrants are able to complete their round the competition will be abandoned and all entry fees will be refunded.
- A player leaving the course when play has not been suspended by the Committee will be disqualified and will not have their entry fee refunded, unless the competition is subsequently abandoned.
- When the terms of a competition make scores acceptable for handicap purposes and a player played at least 10 holes prior to the suspension or abandonment of an 18 hole competition (or played all 9 holes of a 9 hole competition), the scores must be submitted for handicap purposes.
- See section 3.2 for information about suspension of play in single round competitions played over several days.
- See section 9.4 for information about suspension of play in Seniors competitions.
- See the MGC Local Rules, section 4, for more information on the bad weather policy and suspensions in play.
Due to Illness, Injury or Other Reason
If a player becomes unwell or injured during the round and cannot continue or has to leave the course for any other reason determined to be valid by the Committee, the player’s score will be excluded from the Competition.
When the terms of a competition make scores acceptable for handicap purposes and a player played at least 10 holes prior to discontinuing play, the scores must be submitted for handicap purposes.
