Club Rules & Regulations
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
STARTING SHEETS
The Starter in the Professional’s shop will control all play; the starter will operate the starting sheet. In competitions/medals, the starter has the authority to move forward/back players’ tee off times to aid the management of the competition. Members failing to co-operate with the starter will be automatically disqualified from the competition.
Starting sheets will be placed on the General Notice Board seven days in advance, except for Saturday and Wednesday Medal Competitions.
Competition Starting Sheets will be removed from noticeboards on the day of play and operated by the Starter. Once operated by the starter they will become available for general play.
A member and their playing partners may only reserve one tee time; multiple reservations are not permitted.
Telephone reservations may be made to the Starter on the day of play.
Members are solely responsible for their name appearing on the starting sheet.
The names of each player must appear on the starting sheet (‘& co’ is not acceptable). If any spaces appear in the starting sheet it will be accepted as an invitation for partners to append their name to the time.
BAG TAGS
Members must display their Membership Bag Tags and ensure that their guests are displaying their visitor’s ticket.
SUSPENSION OF PLAY
The signal for the suspension of play will be 2 loud blasts on a klaxon.
When play is suspended by the committee, the players in a match or group may, if they wish and without delay, finish the hole they are playing. Players cannot continue to play a hole, other than the one they were in the process of playing, once play has been suspended.
Play can only re-commence after the committee or their delegates have ordered a resumption of play.
This will be signalled by 3 loud blasts on a klaxon.
Penalty for breach of this rule: (Rule 6 – 8b) – Disqualification
The decision to suspend play will be made by the following authorised representatives of the committee:
Match & Handicap Committee,or
The Professional or his assistant(s), or
Greens Committee or Staff.
PLAYING TIMES
1. LADIES
All day without restriction except on Gentleman’s Competition days when play may not commence within the reserved Medal/Competition Times. (normally prior to 4pm on Saturday Competitions).
TUESDAYS – From April to October, inclusive, the 1st tee will be reserved at specific times in the morning, afternoon and evening for play by Lady Members. These times may vary throughout the season
2. RESTRICTED MEMBERS
Restricted members shall have normal playing rights except as follows:
WEEKDAYS – Play cannot commence between 5 and 8pm
SATURDAYS – April to September – No play can commence before 6pm
October to March – No play can commence before Noon
SUNDAYS – Play may not commence before 11am
WEDNESDAY MEDALS – May play with Ordinary Members from White Medal tees, however, play must commence prior to 5pm. They are entered into the Restricted Medal and may not compete in the Club Medal; they may enter the sweep via the Professional’s shop.
3. JUNIOR MEMBERS
Junior members have normal playing rights except as follows:
WEEKDAYS – After 5pm must be accompanied by an Ordinary Member.
SATURDAYS – April to September – Not before 6pm
October to March – Not before 2pm
SUNDAYS – After 11am, if they are accompanied by an Ordinary Member
After 2pm, if they are unaccompanied
Junior Members may reserve times on the Starting Sheet, except on Wednesday Medal Days.
Unless accompanied by Ordinary Members, Juniors must give way to Adult members on the course and practice ground.
Junior Members who are authorised by the Committee to have playing privileges in Ordinary Members’ Competitions may only reserve their own start time. This time cannot be with other Authorised Junior Members and may only be reserved by them from the Tuesday prior to the Competition.
4. STUDENT MEMBERS
Student Members have the right to play except for the following times:
WEEKDAYS – Cannot commence after 5pm
SATURDAYS – April to September – Not before 6pm
October to March – Not before 2pm
SUNDAYS – Play cannot commence before Noon
5. NON PLAYING MEMBERS
Can only play a maximum of 6 times per annum (April – March) at privilege rates and must be accompanied by a member who has the right to privilege tickets. They are not entitled to their own Privilege tickets.
PRIVILEGE TICKETS
Members using their privilege tickets for guests must:
a) Enter the names of their guests in the visitors book in the Professional’s Shop
b) Play alongside their guests (in the same group)
c) Visiting guests can only receive the use of privilege tickets a maximum of 6 times in any one-year (April – March), no matter which member accompanies them.
Members may not use their Privilege Tickets when participating in Visiting Parties or in golf outings organised by or on behalf of external companies or societies.
LIABILITY
Members are liable for accidents caused on the Golf Course, Practice Ground or Clubhouse precincts. Members are reminded that they are solely responsible for the security of their possessions, 3rd party liability on the course, practice ground, clubhouse and other areas operated by the club. Members are strongly advised to ensure they have adequate insurance cover.
SAFETY
Safety on the course and practice ground in paramount. Members must give way to the public on the two rights of way over the course; elsewhere courtesy should always be afforded to the public.
TEE AREAS ON THE COURSE
White Markers – Used solely for club competitions unless otherwise authorised by the committee
Yellow Markers – Used by all male members for all other play
Red Markers – Used solely by Lady members, their Lady guests and Lady visitors
SLOW PLAY
Slow play irritates everyone on the golf course, members should be aware at all times of their position on the golf course. It is their responsibility to maintain their position on the course and avoid undue delays. Any group that has lost a complete hole on the group ahead of them should wave faster groups, or those immediately behind them, through irrespective of the number of players in the group.
Players searching for a ball, unless found almost immediately, should allow the following groups to pass through. They should not wait until the ball has been declared lost (5 minutes) to signal to the group behind. Play should not continue until it is safe to do so.
A round should not take longer than 3 and a half hours (210 minutes), each player in the group is responsible for its pace.
In a competition, the Match & Handicap Committee, reserve the right to penalise each player, in any group, that they consider guilty of slow play.
If a player consistently disregards the requirement to observe the etiquette of the game during a round, or over a period of time, to the detriment of others, the Committee may well introduce appropriate disciplinary action.
PRACTICE
Practice play is restricted to the practice ground and is strictly forbidden on the course.
Practice play must be from the designated lanes and must be in the direction of the farm.
Players using the practice area must follow the restrictions listed at the practice ground (no long irons/woods can be used).
Pitching/Chipping to or from the practice putting green is forbidden.
GREEN STAFF
Players should at all times co-operate with greens staff to facilitate course maintenance
Whilst the flagstick is removed from a hole, players must not play to that green until the flagstick has been returned to the hole by greens staff.
Pitch Marks should always be repaired before leaving the green and divots replaced with care elsewhere on the course.
Golf bags should always be left at the side of the green and caddy cars/buggies must not encroach on the apron of the green. All direction signs on the course must be obeyed.
HANDICAP
Members are solely responsible for maintaining their own correct handicap. Members are responsible for the return of all their scores and the Match and Handicap Committee will display on the noticeboard each member’s handicap based on the scorecards received up to that date. Members must not assume that their handicap is absolutely correct, any queries should be directed to the Match and Handicap Committee.
All ‘away’ scores must be returned as soon as possible to the club and must be prior to the next club competition/medal. Members must complete the away score return form which includes the date, competition, CSS and SSS, their gross score, a copy of their scorecard showing the gross score (may be unsigned by marker) must accompany this form to allow for any 19.8 rule adjustments. Any ‘away’ score returned without any of this information will not be accepted and may result in the member’s handicap being suspended.
Members must always play off the lowest handicap at all times.
Members who are also members of other golf clubs must declare to Match and Handicap Committee their ‘home’ club. The ‘home’ club will be responsible for monitoring and maintaining their handicap.
Members seeking a handicap or whose handicap has lapsed should follow the instructions on the noticeboard. Guidelines are also available from the Secretary or Match and Handicap Committee.
LOCKERS
Lockers always remain the property of the club, they are not transferable and the Secretary should be informed when a locker is vacated.
The Locker master key may only be obtained from the Secretary.
NOTICEBOARDS
Club noticeboards may only be used on the authority of the committee.
PARKING
Members/Guests/Visitors may park their car in the car park within the designated bays. Cars must not be parked in any area of hatched lines, reserved bays or in the vicinity of the greenkeepers sheds.
The gate to the course must be kept clear and will be padlocked. If required, in an emergency, the padlock keys are available from the Greens Staff, Professional’s Shop, Secretary and bar.
HOUSE RULES
The lounges will be open to all members, members guests and temporary members. It is a requirement of the Club’s licence that members’ guests details must be entered in the visitors’ book).
Persons under the age of 18 but over the age of 14 may sit in the area beyond the pillars within the Main Lounge except when the bar is open. When the bar is open, they must be accompanied by a person over the age of 18 and sit in the aforementioned area. A person under the age of 18 may not approach the bar area.
During the restaurant’s opening hours, only food supplied by the caterer may be consumed on the premises.
Persons under the age of 18 should not enter the small (television) lounge unless in special circumstances or authorised by the committee.
Persons under the age of 18 are not permitted:
Ø To play the gaming machines or be involved in any form of gambling or game of chance (including prize draws and raffles)
Ø To purchase or request to be purchased any tobacco product or alcohol
Club property, including any property loaned or hired to the club, must not be abused or tampered with in any way.
Members and visitors should not interfere with any switches, thermostats or electrical controls within the clubhouse. In case of difficulty a member of club staff or committee should be approached.
All persons using the clubhouse must be smartly dressed, appropriate to the occasion, and must adhere to the dress rules.
No person will be allowed in the clubhouse wearing Football/Rugby type shirts and shorts, vest-type shirts, collarless t-shirts, track and shell suits. Gentlemen should not wear hats and shorts if worn, must be tailored and worn with full-length hose or sports socks.
Articles of clothing should not be draped over heaters or chairs.
Smoking is only permitted in designated areas and not in the vicinity of the bar.
Golf shoes may only be worn in the Locker Rooms; they are not permitted in any other area of the clubhouse.
Dogs, other than guide dogs, are not permitted within the clubhouse.
Members are responsible for ensuring their guests conform to all the house rules.
Members receive 7% discount on all purchases at the bar when they use their Membership Card and account to pay for said goods. A loyalty scheme is also in force for members using their card for purchases at the bar.
The Membership Card and Account can be used to pay for purchases at the bar and restaurant.
In the interests of security members are encouraged to use their card to enter the clubhouse.The door entry PIN number will change on a frequent basis.
Mobile phones should not be used within the lounges of the clubhouse. They should be switched to silent and if answered, calls should be taken out-with the lounges. Only members of the emergency services may initially answer calls within the lounges.
Any person not conforming to the dress code or abiding by the aforementioned rules may be asked to leave by any member of Club Staff or Committee.
COURSE RULES
Players are expected to be smartly dressed at all times, the emphasis being on smart and casual dress.
No person will be allowed to play on the course if they are wearing jeans, Football/Rugby type shirts and shorts, vest type or collarless t-shirts. Shorts if worn must be tailored and worn with full-length hose or sports socks.
Players must wear golf shoes, unless they are under the age of 18 or have some form of disability preventing them from doing so. Persons under the age of 18 may wear trainers.
Mobile phones, if carried on the course, must be switched to silent.
Dogs are not allowed on the course.
Members are responsible for ensuring their guests conform to all the course rules.
CO-OPERATION IN MAINTAINING CLUB STANDARDS IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF EVERY MEMBER.