Oake Manor Seniors’ Section - General Terms of Competitions – 2026 to 2027

Applicable to all Oake Manor Senior Section Competitions - Play shall be governed by the Rules of Golf as approved by the United States Golf Association and the R&A and Local Rules printed on the Oake Manor scorecard or published on the Club notice boards from time to time. Penalty for breach of any of the Local Rules is the General Penalty (Match play: loss of hole; Stroke play: 2 strokes) unless otherwise stated.

COMMITTEE - All references to “The Committee” mean the Oake Manor Seniors’ Section Committee.  In all normal circumstances, the Committee will be represented in all these matters by the Seniors’ Competition Secretary and/or Assistant Competition Secretary.

ELIGIBILITY TO PLAY – The following general terms apply to all Senior Section Competitions BUT there are special terms that apply to some competitions, see Annex A & Annex B. Note that these may be varied prior to the running of each competition.

a. All entrants must be aged 55 or over on the day of the competition.

b. All entrants must be a member of the Oake Manor Seniors’ Section and have paid their annual membership fee prior to the start of the competition.

c. All entrants must have a Handicap Index.

d. Trophies – In order to win a trophy, a player must have played in 5 or more Oake Manor Senior Section Qualifying Competitions, where an acceptable score has been submitted over the past 12 months on the day before the competition. See Annexe A for list of trophies.

Note: a variation to this rule (d. above) applies to the Pairs Knock-Out Competition only. It states:  “Have played in 5 or more Oake Manor Qualifying Competitions, where an acceptable score has been submitted over the past 12 months on the day before the final of the competition.”

ENTRY TO A COMPETITION

a. Although tee times for a competition are determined by either a player entry on a competition sheet on the Seniors Notice Board; electronically via IG or by a published list of tee times for a drawn competition,  entry to the competition is only formally made by signing the entry sheet in the Pro shop on the day of the Competition AND by paying the entry fee at the same time. R&A Rules Limited has ruled that a Committee must lay down a procedure for entry (see Committee Procedures 5.A.2) and if a competitor fails to enter a competition in the correct manner, they do not have an acceptable score.  Accordingly, such a player does not have a score either for the competition or for handicap purposes. Consequently, any computer entry to the Intelligent Golf system by the individual concerned will be deleted and any submitted scorecard will be ignored in finalising the competition.

b. Entry to the Seniors’ Summer Knockout Competitions is made by a player putting his name on the entry sheet on the Seniors Notice Board AND paying the appropriate entry fee to the Seniors Treasurer prior to the date of the draw for the competitions.  Failure to meet these entry conditions will mean that the individual has NOT entered the competition.

TEEs TO BE USED AND FORM OF PLAY - These vary from competition to competition and will be published for each individual competition.  If a player is in any doubt as to these matters, then he is to confirm them with the Pro Shop prior to teeing off on the first tee.

PRACTICE – On any day of a stroke play competition, practice on the course before a round is prohibited, except that the player may practise putting or chipping on or near his first teeing area or any practice area Rule 5.2 (1st breach: General Penalty on first hole; 2nd breach: Disqualification)).

Practice on the course on the day of a Match Play Competition before a match play round or between rounds is permitted (Rule 5.2a).

PACE OF PLAY - All players must play without unreasonable delay [Rule 5.6].  The Rules of Golf recommend that a player makes a stroke in no more than 40 seconds after he is or should be ready to play without interference or distraction (Rule 5.6.b.(1)). In stroke play Rule 6.4.b(2) allows players to play out of turn in a Safe and Reasonable Way (Ready Golf). members are encouraged to follow these guidelines.

Players are expected to maintain the pace of play and keep up with the game/match in front on the course. If a game/match cannot keep up with the game ahead they should allow any faster game/match through.  Two ball games/matches have priority on the course when the course ahead is clear.

DOUBT AS TO PROCEDURE IN MATCH PLAY (Rule 20.1b applies) - In match play competition only, if a doubt or dispute arises between the players, a player may request a ruling under Rule 20.1b(2).  As no immediate ruling will be available on course the players must continue the match without delay.  The Committee may consider a request for ruling only if the player making the request notifies his opponent before any player in the match plays from the next teeing ground or, in the case of the last hole of the match, before the result of the match is final (as determined by the Committee).  DOUBT AS TO PROCEDURE IN STROKE PLAY (Rule 20.1c applies) - In stroke play competition only, if a player is doubtful of his rights or the correct procedure during play of a hole, he may, without penalty, complete the hole with two balls.  Under Rule 20.1c(3), after the doubtful situation has arisen and before making another stroke, the player should announce to his marker or another player that he intends to play two balls and which ball he wishes to count, if the rules allow. Before returning his scorecard, the player must report the facts to the Committee, even if he scores the same with both balls. If he fails to do so, he is Disqualified.

ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITIONS - In the event of adverse weather conditions or a dangerous situation arising during a stroke play competition, the Committee/Pro shop shall be responsible for any suspension and resumption of play.

Heavy rain alone is not a valid reason to stop play and come off the course.  If you have

occasion to think that conditions make it impossible to continue play, and you come off the

course, you must report to the Pro shop and be prepared to justify your decision.

If in the opinion of the Committee, adverse weather or playing conditions make it impossible to

complete an event in accordance with the Terms, the Committee shall be empowered to vary

such Terms to the extent necessary to achieve a result.

If during a round you believe there is danger from lightning, you may stop play BUT you must

report to the Committee for a decision.

SUSPENSION OF PLAY / RESUMPTION OF PLAY (Rule 5.7b) - If it becomes necessary to suspend play, the Committee or Pro Shop will notify the players appropriately.

a. If the situation is not dangerous players may be permitted to either discontinue play immediately OR complete the play of the hole they are on.  They may not tee off on the next hole until play is resumed by the Committee or Pro Shop

b. Discontinue play for Dangerous - Situations.  Players MUST discontinue play immediately. Penalty for breach: Disqualification.

c. When play is discontinued, the player may leave his ball in place OR mark its location before lifting it.

d. Resume Play.  When allowed to do so the Players must resume play immediately from the spot where it was discontinued.  If the player had lifted his original ball when play was suspended, he must place a ball on the spot from which his original ball was lifted.  If a player’s ball or its marker has been moved during the suspension of play (including by wind or water), a ball or ball-marker must be placed on the spot where the original ball lay at the time of suspension.  If that spot is impossible to determine, it must be estimated, and a ball placed on the estimated spot.

SCORING - In stroke play only, upon completion of the competition round, the player must check the accuracy of the hole-by-hole entries on his scorecard and settle any doubtful points with the Committee.  The player must then ensure that his card is signed by his marker(s), sign it himself, put the scores onto the Club computer system or via the IG phone app. and then place it in the Seniors box by the notice boards (be aware that the Club box is nearby as well).  The card is deemed to be returned when the player has placed the card in the Seniors box before leaving the Club at the end of the competition.  In team competitions (generally some form of Bowmaker) the nominated player in the team is to sign the scorecard and return it to the Seniors Box.  No computer entry is required.  Failure to return a card or a correctly completed card in any competition will result in disqualification. from the competition.  In accordance with the WHS Rules of Handicapping, the submitted score in individual play may still count towards Handicap Index calculations and/or may result in a Penalty score or scores being applied or possible disciplinary action.

SCORECARDS – Players are requested to ensure that details at the top of their scorecard are completed fully and legibly.

CLOSE OF COMPETITION — The competition is deemed to be closed when all results are posted on the scoreboard and the Winner(s) has (have) been announced.

RESOLUTION OF TIES - Unless the Terms of a competition state otherwise ties shall be resolved in the following manner:

a. In match play if a match is all square after eighteen holes, additional holes shall be played until one side wins a hole.  The play of additional holes shall start at the hole where the match started.

b. In Stroke Play the matching of scorecards (Count Back) is to be used to determine position in the Competition.  The current computer software will undertake this function but if this is not available the outcome will be determined based on the last 9 holes, then the last 6 then the last 3 and finally on the last hole. If this method does not decide a winner or a place then the result will be decided on the last 6, 3 or 1 holes of the first 9 holes of the round.  If this does not decide a winner or a place, then joint winners or places shall be announced, and each competitor rewarded in equal measure.

PRIZES -The Committee will decide the values of prizes in all competitions.  All trophies will be held at the Club in the Trophy Cabinet and displayed with the winner’s name.

ANNEX A:      List of Trophies.

Oake Manor Seniors Section Championship
Roger Clarke Trophy
Captains Putter (John Matthews Putter)
Past Captains Cup
Grandads Cup
John Robbins Trophy
Order of Merit
Summer Eclectic Div. 1
Summer Eclectic Div. 2
Singles Knockout
Pairs Knockout

ANNEX B:      Details of individual competitions.

Singles & Pairs Knockouts

Names are to be written legibly on the entry sheet on the Seniors' Section notice board.

The dates for completion of both the preliminary and first rounds of both competitions will be shown on the entry sheets.  Please bear these in mind when entering the competition/s.

Entry fees should be paid to the treasurer (preferably by BACS) or put in an envelope, which has your name, the name of the competition and the amount paid written on it and put in the SENIORS' Section box by the notice board BEFORE the closing date for entry.  If the entry fee and the Seniors' Section Subscription have not been paid by the closing date for entries, you will not be entered in the draw.

The draw for the competitions will be carried out by the Seniors’ Section Competition Secretary or Assistant Competition Secretary on the date specified on the entry sheets and will be posted in the clubhouse as soon as possible thereafter.

In both competitions, the player/pair higher up on the draw sheet will be responsible for contacting his/their opponents to agree on a mutually convenient date to play their match which is prior to the completion date set for that round.  THERE WILL BE NO EXTENSIONS PERMITTED TO THE COMPLETION DATE FOR ANY ROUND for an individual match

If the course is closed or a significant number of holes are out of play for an extended period, then the closing date for each round may be adjusted at the discretion of the Seniors' Section Competition Secretary.

If a date for playing a match in any round cannot be mutually agreed upon, then the match will be played on the nearest Monday to the closing date for that round in the 08.10 slots in the Seniors' reserved tee times.  Should only one player or pair be on the tee at that time then that player or pair can claim the game by reporting to the duty professional.  If neither side appears then both sides will be disqualified.

Alternatively, if a date for playing a match in any round cannot be mutually agreed upon, then the match winners may be agreed between the pairs without the match being played provided that both pairs are in full agreement and notify the Seniors' Section Competition Secretary accordingly.

All matches will be played from the yellow tees. Singles matches will be played from a Playing Handicap of 100% of Course Handicap. Pairs matches will be played from a Playing Handicap of 90% of Course Handicap. The player with the lowest Playing Handicap plays off zero strokes relative to the other player(s). The other player(s) receive(s) the difference between their own Playing Handicap and that of the player with the lowest Playing Handicap. If you are unsure, either use the IG app to calculate handicaps, or ask in the pro shop.

Withdrawal of an individual due to illness, injury, or other reason - If a player in the singles has to withdraw from the competition before the completion of any round, then his opponent shall go forward to the next round.

In the event of the withdrawal from the competition of a member of a pair prior to the playing of their first match in the competition then a substitute player may be found. After the playing of a pair's first match, no substitution is permitted and either the remaining member of the pair can "represent" the pair in accordance with Rule 23.4 of the Rules of Golf or he can withdraw and an automatic progression to the next round for the opponents will take place.

Order of Merit:

Run concurrently with the Eclectic competition generally over 9 rounds, depending on the weather, with the best 3 Stableford scores to count.  Handicap 95% of course handicap. Prizes are handed out each month, with no end-of-season monies for winners.  A trophy will be awarded.

Summer Eclectic:

Run concurrently with the Order of Merit.  If at any time a round cannot be played (i.e. weather) that round will simply be cancelled.  Following the vote at the 2024 AGM, there will be a Division 1 and a Division 2, with the number of entrants being divided equally between the divisions, based on final handicap. The best gross score for each hole will be entered with 50% of the player’s current course handicap being deducted from the total gross score to provide an adjusted result. This does mean interim scores and rankings may be subject to change if a handicap changes later in the season.  The final result will be based on the player’s course handicap at the time the final round is played. In the event of tied adjusted scores, 50% of a player's handicap index will be used to separate the players’ rankings. Prize monies will be given out at the end of the competition.

Grandad’s Cup:

This is a competition run in conjunction with a normal Yellow Tee Stableford on a Monday in early October. The normal Seniors Section Stableford is run as a competition.  Cash value Pro shop credits for this competition will be awarded based solely on the Stableford scores of the players.

Players who wish to compete for the Grandads cup, a trophy presented to the Seniors Section by Martin Stockley, must annotate their card with the number of grandchildren they have before putting it in the Seniors Section Box. The grandchildren must be direct-line grandchildren and not those "inherited" through marriage etc. (11/07/16 Committee meeting decision). Great-grandchildren DO NOT count.

0.5 points are added to players Stableford score for each grandchild that a player has and the Trophy will be awarded to the grandad with the highest combined score of their Stableford and “grandchildren” points.

Past Captains’ Cup:

From 2025, this Trophy will be available for anyone to win, not just past captains.

Revision v12 – 22/07/25.