IWGU Standard Local Rules & Conditions

A. LOCAL RULES

The following Local Rules, together with any additions or amendments published by the IWGU at the golf course, will apply under rule 33-8 to all Inter-Club leagues, Competitions and Championships run by the IWGU. The term Championship below applies to all IWGU events.
Note: These Local Rules are in addition to any Local Rules published by a host club (e.g. on a club’s score card, or noticeboard). Where there is any conflict between Local Rules published by the host club and the IWGU Standard Local Rules, the IWGU Standard Local Rules have precedence.

1. Trees which are staked or otherwise identified or protected (e.g. by wrapping or wire). If such a tree interferes with a player’s stance or the area of his intended swing, the ball MUST be lifted, without penalty, and dropped in accordance with the procedure prescribed in Rule 24-2b (Immovable Obstruction).

2. Immovable Obstructions Close to Putting Green
Relief from interference by an immovable obstruction may be obtained under Rule 24-2. In addition, if a ball lies off the putting green but not in a hazard and an immovable obstruction on or within two club-lengths of the putting green and within two club-lengths of the ball intervenes on the line of play between the ball and the hole, the player may take relief as follows:
The ball must be lifted and dropped at the nearest point to where the ball lay that (a) is not nearer the hole, (b) avoids intervention and (c) is not in a hazard or on a putting green. The ball may be cleaned when lifted.

Relief under this Local Rule is also available if the player’s ball lies on the putting green and an immovable obstruction within two club-lengths of the putting green intervenes on his line of putt. The player may take relief as follows:
The ball must be lifted and placed at the nearest point to where the ball lay that (a) is not nearer the hole, (b) avoids intervention and (c) is not in a hazard. The ball may be cleaned when lifted.

3. Stones in Bunkers are movable obstructions (Rule 24–1 applies).

4. Distance-Measuring Devices (Rule 14–3)
In all IWGU Championships, a player may obtain distance information by using a device that measures distance only. If, during a stipulated round, a player uses a distance-measuring device that is designed to gauge or measure other conditions that might affect his play (e.g. gradient, windspeed, temperature, etc), the player is in breach of Rule 14–3, for which the penalty is disqualification, regardless of whether any such additional function is actually used.
Note:    i. Trolleys with a distance-measuring capability: May be used provided any other features, which are non-conforming, are disabled (e.g. ‘taped up’ or switched off).
ii. Multi-functional devices (such as a mobile phone) with a distance-measuring application: May be used provided the application is restricted to “distance only” and the device does not have any other “non-conforming” features or applications installed.
See Rules of Golf Appendix IV, section 5.

Unless otherwise specified above or the breach is covered by a Rule of Golf, PENALTY FOR BREACH OF A LOCAL RULE:
Match play – Loss of hole; Stroke play – Two strokes


B. CONDITIONS OF COMPETITION

The following Conditions of Competition, together with any additions or amendments published by the IWGU on the relevant entry form or at the golf course, will apply under Rule 33–1 to all IWGU Championships.

1. Eligibility. Entries. Withdrawals.
Refer to IWGU’s “General Conditions” and Conditions of Competition for the particular league, competition or championship: At www.iwgolf.blogspot.com

2. List of Conforming Driver Heads
The specimen Condition in the Rules of Golf (2012–2015 edition; pages 137–138) is in effect.
Note: An updated List of Conforming Driver Heads is available on the R&A’s website (www.randa.org).

3. List of Conforming Golf Balls
The specimen Condition in the Rules of Golf (2012–2015 edition; page 142) is in effect.
Note: An updated List of Conforming Golf Balls is available on the R&A’s website (www.randa.org)

4. Deciding Ties
The method of deciding ties will be published on the entry form and within the rules for each competition or championship. Where a card count back is utilised the method recommended by the R&A as described in the Rules of Golf (2012–2015 edition; pages 143–144) will be used. Where a tie still exists after the final stage (comparison of the recorded scores at the 18^th Hole) the competition will be declared a tie.

5. Results of Match or Championship: Competition Closed
a) Match play: The result of a match is deemed officially announced when it has been recorded by the Match Secretary.
b) Stroke play: The results of the competition are deemed officially announced and the competition is closed when the Championship Trophy is presented to the winner.

6. Disputes will be settled by a committee, formed by the Match Secretary (three to form a quorum). That Committee’s decision shall be final.


C. REGULATIONS

1. Dress Code
Competitors are required to comply with the dress code regulations of the host club.

2. General Behaviour
Any competitor who during the course of an event (including practice days) misbehaves by, for example, swearing, spitting, abusing others, throwing clubs or purposely damaging the golf course, clubhouse, or other club property, or acts in a manner which otherwise might bring the game into disrepute may be barred from entering or playing in IWGU Championships for such period as the Championship Committee may decide.

3. Mobile Phones (including pagers and similar devices): May not be used on the course by players or caddies for making/sending or receiving calls or texts except in cases of emergency.
Note: Local Rule 4 (above) covers the use of mobile phones when used as a distance-measuring device.

If a serious breach of the above Regulations occurs, or where there are repetitive breaches, a player may be disqualified under Rule 33–7 for a serious breach of etiquette and/or may be barred from entering or playing in IWGU Competitions and Championships for such period as the IWGU Committee may decide.

Matchplay events 2012

The entry forms for the IWGU matchplay events have been sent out to clubs for display on noticeboards. Please put your entries down at your home club and pay entry fee through the club secretary.

• Island Fourball
• Island Mixed Foursomes
• Island Scratch Singles Matchplay

The events are open to all golfers from Island Clubs and in the pairs event you may play with a member from another club if you wish but must nominate one of the clubs as your home club.

Entries close on 11 March.

Changes to the Rules of Golf 2012

On 1st January 2012 the Rules of Golf are amended by the R&A and the new version of the rule book comes into force. These should be readily available to all golfers at your club and via the R&A web site (http://www.randa.org/).

Please ensure you are familiar with the rules and the changes coming into force. The first section of the rule book covers these changes in some detail.

The key changes include:

• That a ball is addressed when the club is grounded and taking the stance is no longer an element of addressing the ball.
• That if a ball moves after address and this is known or virtually certain to be not caused by the player that there is no longer a penalty (eg moved by wind or water)
• A new Appendix IV describing devices permitted to be used whilst playing, please note section 5 of this appendix with regard to Distance Measuring Devices (DMDs). This states smart phones may only be used as DMDs if they do not contain any application which will give information other than distance to assist the player. Essentially this prohibits smart phones from use as DMDs as weather information is specifically banned from such devices and all smart phones have weather apps or web access as standard.
• Amateur status rules have been changed to permit prize vouchers to be used for any services at a club therefore you may now use vouchers how ever you wish within your club.

Please ensure you read the rules, there are more changes than I have listed here and it is your responsibility to know the rules of the game. A review of standard competition rules for IWGU events is taking place and will be published early in 2012.

Fixtures 2012 - Date/Venue Change

Owing to the Hampshire Golf Union Championships being held at Shanklin & Sandown the IWGU Championship has been moved to the weekend of 23/24 June and will be held at Freshwater Bay Golf Club by kind permission of the Captain, members and committee of the club.

Roger Webb Trophy's Final 2011

Roy Truman and Carol Bingham from Shanklin and Sandown have secured the Roger Webb, Mixed Foursomes Trophies in a final which looked as if it was getting away from them until a 6 hole win streak turned the match on its head as they beat Tony Williams and Julie Miller (also Shanklin and Sandown) to the title.

In the early holes the match stayed close, Truman and Bingham won the first following a mistake from their opponents but a nett par at the 3rd hole brought the match all square before Williams errant tee shot at the 5th allowed the lead to swing back to Truman and Bingham.

Williams and Miller took control of the match from there until the 10th with a run of 4 won holes out of 5 holes including the days only birdie at the par 5, 8th hole, and at 3 up they were looking favourites to win. But Truman and Bingham were far from finished and consecutive 4s at the 11th and 12th brought them back to within 1 hole.

The match turned completely at the 13th as both pairs found trouble from the tee after a hold up from catching up to a group in front and hit second balls. Truman's ball was well in the left woods and they elected not to declare their second ball as a provisional thus playing 3 from the tee. Williams ball was found in the right woods but was buried in deep rough with an impeded backswing and Miller failed to extracate the ball. Williams attempt popped up from the bad lie and struck his own bag incurring a penalty which cost them the hole. A bizarre incident which brought the match back to all square.

The next 3 holes all went the way of Truman and Bingham who closed out the match with par golf, winning 3&2

Island Fourball Final 2011

 

Shanklin and Sandown pairing of Dave Woodhouse and Bryce Wilson played a text book four ball round to claim the Hovertravel sponsored IWGU 2011 Fourball Matchplay tournament on a blustery Freshwater course against past winners Matt Leek and Paul Venables from Cowes.

Wilson stated his intentions on the first hole rolling in a 15 ft birdie putt to win the hole after Leek's birdie putt had lipped out. They retained their one hole advantage until Venables birdied the par 4 fourth. A solitary par three from Woodhouse on the difficult, into the wind, 5th returned the Shanklin pair to one up until Venables holed out for birdie at the par 5 eighth (a nett eagle) to level the match.

Woodhouse not to be out done played the shot of the day at the short par 4 ninth putting his second to within eighteen inches for a gimme birdie returning the pair to one up where they stayed till the difficult par 3, 14th. All missed the putting surface and both the Cowes players unable to make par meant that Woodhouse being the first of the Shanklin pair to make his putt for 3 took them for the first time to two up.

The par 3 fifteenth was playing long with two of the players reaching for timber and only Leek making the green, however a costly three putt allowed Wilson to chip and putt for a par to take the match to dormie. Despite an outstanding drive from Leek on the sixteenth no one could better a par and the hole was halved in 4s making Woodhouse and Wilson the winners having kept a tight rein on the match all the way, an excellent final played in the true spirit of the game.

Autumn Meeting 2011

 

Matt Barnicoat (Shanklin and Sandown) has taken a big leap into contention for the 2013 Bermuda Island Games with a second qualifying tournament victory in as many weeks. Playing in the Hovertravel sponsored, IWGU Autumn Meeting at Ryde Golf Club, the former Ryde member made the best possible use of his local knowledge returning a score of 74 in breezy conditions. Playing in the first group of the day, Matt, who played in the 2009 Aland Games, added the Autumn Meeting scratch prize to his recent matchplay victory beating Matt Leek (Cowes) by one shot. Third place went to Nat Riddett from Freshwater Bay who was one further shot back on 76.

 

In the Handicap Competitions Osborne's Brian Wright took the honours with a nett score of 69, beating 3 other players with the same nett score courtesy of his excellent back nine which was level par gross! Leek took second ahead of Lee Pettit also from Osborne. Wright also won the Veteran's trophy for players aged over 55 ahead of clubmate, Tony Cappello.