Untitled Document

1. It is a condition of acceptance of entry into any pennant that the club agrees to comply with the rules as set out.

2. All matches in A, B, C and Mixed Pennants will be played according to the draw.

3. Clubs entering a grade or division must host a round of the pennant which the club controls and are responsible in the same way as a sanctioned open day. Players taking part in pennants have the same rights and responsibilities as any visitor legitimately playing in a club competition.

4. The grade/divisions shall be known as :- A Grade - B Grade - Bill Bright Shield. C Grade - Brian Fitzpatrick Memorial Shield. Mixed - Nepean Bowl.

6. Clubs are required to furnish the NGA with the name, address, email address and telephone number of pennant team contact as requested by the pennant organiser.

7. Matches are to be played over 18 holes. Matches level after18 holes shall be played out on a sudden death basis until a winner has been established. The sequence of holes to be decided by the host club's match committee or its representative. Should an official not be on hand to give direction the sequence shall be 1,2,3 etc.

9. Points shall be awarded as follows :- 2 points-win, 1 point-draw and 0 points-loss.
Pennants in which there are an even number of teams and the teams play each other twice half points will be allocated for these matches.

10. In the event of a dispute concerning Golf rules and documented Pennant Rules the March Committee of the host club or its delegated representative to give ruling.

11. If any club withdraws it must notify the Nepean Golf Association and all clubs against which it is drawn. Each match from which a team withdraws will be treated as a bye i.e. the opposing team will be credited with the same points as if they had won.

12. In the event of two or more teams being level on points at the completion of the rounds the winners shall be decided by :- B and C Grade (i) comparison of the results of reserve matches of tied teams. (ii) comparison of individual game wins of tied teams. (iii) taking into account result of matches between tied teams (iv) play-off on a neutral course or declare the teams joint winners. Mixed (I) comparison of individual game wins of tied teams. (ii) taking into account the result of matches between tied teams (iii) play-off or declared joint winners. Play-offs will only be conducted if according to the NGA Match Committee time and situation are suitable.

13. If any team match in a round of B, C and Mixed Pennant be washed out or called off due to an extenuating circumstance the round is cancelled and the points shall be split. If an A Grade match is called off the team with the highest qualification rating shall proceed in the competition.

14. A team for the various pennants shall compromise:- A, B & C Grade - 5 players plus a reserve. Mixed - 5 pairs.

15. Handicaps for grades shall be :- A Grade - no handicap limits. B Grade -handicaps 9 plus. C grade- handicaps 17 plus. Mixed - no handicap limits. Players must be on 9 plus (B Grade) and 17 plus (C Grade) on the day the pennant commences.

17. For a player to be eligible for B and C grade pennants he must have returned at least 12 competition cards subject to handicapping from competitions he played in during the preceding calendar year (i.e. 1st January to 31st December ). In these competitions the player must have played off a handicap that is on or above the minimum requirement for the particular grade for at least 75% of the cards returned . For example a player who returns 20 cards subject to handicapping( this doesn't include cards from non handicapping events such as foursomes , ambroses etc.) in the preceding calendar year must have played off a handicap of 9 0r more for a minimum of 15 cards (75% of 20) to be eligible for B Grade.

18. No players will be eligible to play for more than one club within the same grade or division in any one season.

20. Only players with AGU handicaps are eligible for Mixed, A, B and C Grade Pennants.

21. A player who qualifies for a particular grade of pennants on the day the pennant commences B Grade (9 plus) and C Grade (17 plus) remains eligible for the particular pennant for its duration. This includes breaking ones handicap below the grade minimum limit.

22. Clubs may be requested to supply handicap records for Mixed, B and C Grade teams or individuals at any time during the pennant season or at the completion of the pennant.

23. Players taking part in NGA Pennants may use any form of locomotion subject to the rules covering the same of the club hosting the pennant. The onus is on players to ascertain the rules for the use of automatic locomotion of the host club prior match date and are obligated to abide by them.

24. Every effort should be made to play the match on the scheduled day. If it becomes necessary for the course to be closed due to flooding lightning etc. an administrator of the host club should inform the NGA pennant organiser as soon as such a decision has been made. Should the pennant round be cancelled on Saturday or Sunday or the pennant coordinator can't be contacted it is the hosting clubs responsibility to inform each individual team contact (list of team contacts in relevant Pennant Supplement). In the case of a team forfeiting a match the team contact are required to inform the pennant coordinator , opposing team contact and the host club.

25.With respect to the onset of darkness, matches are not to proceed to the next hole once the official time of sunset for the day on which the match is being played has passed. The result of the match being as it stands when the hole being played is completed. This may cause the match to be drawn. Darkness Onset Times: B & C Pennants 1st March 7.34 pm, 8th March 7.25 pm, 15th March 7.16 pm, 22nd March 7.06 pm, 29th March 6.57 pm, 5th April 5.49 pm. 18th April 5:31 pm, 19th April 5.30 pm, 3rd May 5:15 pm.
Daylight saving commenced Sunday 5 October 2008, at 2am when clocks were put forward one hour.
Daylight saving ends Sunday 5 April 2009, at 3am summer time when clocks are put back one hour.

26. A decision to delay or suspend play because of weather conditions that make the course unplayable rests in the hands of the host club match committee or their representative in the first instance. Should an official not be in attendance the opposing captains may come to an agreement the course is unplayable. The decision as to whether it is safe to play rests entirely with each individual player. Except in the case of lightning being detected matches are to stop immediately and players seek safety. (Appendix 1 Indicates what some research says about lightning and it is suggested reading). If a player plays in adverse conditions he accepts full responsibility for his actions. Should a player decide not to play because of the prevailing conditions the result of the match shall be decided by the NGA Match Committee after hearing the reason for the match being stopped.

27. Players are required to comply with the dress regulations, golf shoes and buggy wheels of the host club both on the course being played and any other regulation pertinent to players both on and off the golf course. To ensure this condition is complied with clubs should ascertain prior to the commencement of the series, the requirements of other clubs in the NGA. And advise their players and supporters accordingly. Non compliance could result in players not being able to play or gain access to the clubhouse.

28. Players' code of behaviour is that which is set out in the AGU Booklet "Golf Etiquette" which is available to clubs from the NSW GA. Failure to comply with the code will lead to disciplinary action by the NGA.

29. B ,C and Mixed Pennants are to be played as a complete round robin of teams entered unless one ore more rounds are cancelled. If the number of teams is sufficient B, C and Mixed will be divided into divisions and semi-finals and finals will be played. Teams for the A Grade Pennant qualify in the Mick Simmons Shield held in conjunction with the Nepean Open Amateur then a knock out involving the qualified teams is played.

30. The matches shall be played under the rules adopted from time to time by the Royal and Ancient Golf club of St Andrews and local club rules.

31. A, B and Grade matches are to be played in the following groups, team order and tee off order.Group 1 1v1 and 2v2. Group 2 3v3 and 4v4. Group 3 5v5 and RvR. "Players must play in order of (whole number) handicap with the No 1 player being the player with the lowest handicap and so on in handicap order down to No 5 player who has the highest handicap. The reserve player need not be the player with the highest handicap." Players in each group shall hit off in pairs with fives, threes and ones hitting off first on the on the front nine when both pairs are ready to hit off and fours , twos and reserves hitting off first on the back nine when both pairs are ready. Should there be a hold up and the pair with the honour not be ready, then the other pair should hit to avoid slow play.

32. The Captain or Manager of each team shall advise the official representative of the host club the names of the players in playing order at least ten (10) minutes before the nominated starting time If a club is unable to submit a full team, the opposing Captain or Manager and the NGA must be notified in writing that the team shall consist of a certain number of players, who must play in descending order from number one position. The team will forfeit last place, or places, not represented. A club, which plays less than the stipulated number of players, will be regarded as having lost as many Individual Matches as there are players absent. If, after the names of teams have been handed in, a player fails to appear or is unfit or otherwise unable to play, the reserve player must take his place, but he must play in the same team position of the player for whom he is substituting. If a reserve player is substituting for another player named in the team, a notation to the Association must be made on the result sheet. A player will be considered absent if he is not ready to start at the time that his Individual match is due to hit-off. Should the reserve player be required to take the place of an absent team member he must be ready and able to play at the time scheduled for the absent player’s individual match.

33. The order of the mixed pennant matches shall be:- Group 1 1v1, Group 2 2v2, Group 3 3v3, Group 4 4v4, Group 5 5v5.

34. Team lists are to be handed to the starter detailing each players Christian name and surname and handicap in the order. i.e. 1,2,3,4,5& R. Failure to comply will result in the captain being requested to re-submit the list in the correct order.

35. The host clubs shall ensure the result sheets are completed with the details as set out in rule 32 as well as the result of each individual game and the match. Both captains should sign the result sheet as correct. The results should then be faxed to the Pennant Organiser (4735 1730) and telephoned to AAP on Sunday night.

36. Each A, B and C Grade team is required to nominate one official reserve. Official reserves must play their match if they are both in attendance and are not required to fill another position. For breaching this rule the player involved receives a three match suspension from the NGA Pennants.

37. Result of reserve match must be recorded on result sheet for A, B and C Grade.
Handicaps are to be written on cards for Mixed, B and C Grade pennants. Failure to do so after one warning from the NGA results in loss of points for match involved.

38. Any club playing a player in competition matches who is not eligible to play for such a club, will lose the individual match or matches in which such a player took part.

39. Any ineligible player taking part in an NGA pennant will be suspended for the remainder of the season.

40. Team members may not agree to waiver any rule of condition as set out. Breach of this rule is disqualification of those involved.

41. Mobile phones maybe carried on the course during pennants, but must be switched off and only used in an emergency. Breach of this rule by either the player or his caddy during the course of a match will cause the player involved to be disqualified.

42. Spectators who bring a mobile phone onto the course and it goes off will be required to return to the clubhouse.

44. Pennant team complimentary refreshments should be limited to a maximum of a drink and a light snack.

45.Clubs are required to submit a list of at least six players and their details as requested prior to the clubs first match for the season.

46. The NGA Match Committee reserves the right to alter, add to, delete or amend any or all of these conditions at any time.

47. The NGA interpretation of the meaning of a rule is final and debates will not be entered into.

48. A player may not compete in an NGA event unless they or their legal guardian (for players U18 ) has signed a waiver in the form CONSENTING RECOGNITION OF RISKS FORM.

49. Mixed Pennant Rules
The mixed pennant is a mixed handicap Twoball Best Ball Stableford Matchplay (hole for hole) interclub team competition.
Teams to consist of 5 mixed pairs.
Order of pair nomination to be handicap order. (lowest handicap aggregate pair being number one pair and so on down to the highest handicap aggregate pair being number five)
The rounds of the mixed pennant will take place according to the draw as circulated.
Maximum handicaps Men 27 . Women 36.
The competition shall be scored as an individual stableford (played off the stroke index). The pair with the highest individual stableford score on the hole wins the hole. If both pairs have an equal highest individual stableford score the hole is halved. If no one scores on the hole it is halved. The winner of the match is the pair that has an excess of wins over the remaining holes.
Putting Order: Balls belonging to the same side may be played in the order the side considers best.

50. All players clubs must conform with the provisions specifications and interpretations of golf clubs as set out in the Rules of Golf Appendix 11.

All players should note that a number of drivers have been listed by the R & A Rules Committee as ‘non conforming’ and should not be used in competitions after 1st January 2008. members are responsible for checking their own clubs.

Non - conforming clubs are LISTED ON: - www.randa.org

It is recommended team managers obtain list of a list of non-conforming clubs and have them available at all times during matches.

Penalty for carrying non conforming club or clubs: At the conclusion of the hole at which the breach is discovered , the state of the match is adjusted by deducting one hole for each hole at which a breach occurred ; maximum deduction per round 2.
Penalty for making a stroke with a nonconforming club: Disqualification.

It is important all players are aware the safety issues involving lightning and take appropriate action if lightning is detected.
Appendix 1 Lightning
New studies using lightning detection systems have found that on average, lightning will hit within six to eight miles of the last strike. You can determine how many miles you are from a lightning strike by counting on the fact that light travels much faster than sound. Nearly a million times faster in fact. So when you see a flash, count the seconds until you hear the thunder and divide by five. If the thunder takes 10 seconds to reach you, the lightning struck two miles away. Not a good time to walk the dog!

But you don't have to be that close to an active electrical storm to be at risk, the most dangerous part of a storm has proven to be along the fringes. If there's no rain, people often stay outside, and when the storm clears, they head right back out. And that's when many people get hit. Lightning can strike within 10 miles of a storm's rain shaft, even reaching out some distance from the anvil to strike in a clear blue sky.

30/30 Rule: By the time the flash-to-bang count is 30 seconds, you should be in a safe location. And you shouldn't resume outdoor activity until 30 minutes after the last thunder is heard.

Striking Blind: Researchers have shown that lightning is essentially blind as it reaches toward the Earth. It's only in the last 100 feet or so that it begins to select a place to strike. Positively charged "streamers" emanating from objects on the ground reach up toward the lightning's leader until a connection is made. Then, Wham! The tallest objects are likely to make the connection first. That means if you're the tallest object around, or standing near the tallest object within 100 feet, you're in a dangerous zone. There is a theoretical "cone of protection" 45 degrees out from any object that's 100 feet tall, because the tall object should be hit instead of you. But on the other hand, the threat of being shocked by ground current makes this idea less than optimal. If you're caught outside in the danger zone, and can't get to shelter, the best thing to do, according to Brian Bennett who devised safety guidelines for college athletics, is to crouch down near some small trees or shrubs with taller trees in the area. Minimize contact with the ground and stay low by crouching on the balls of your feet. Cover your ears with your hands and tuck your head down.