São Brás Golf Society Constitution and Rules
The 2022/23 Committee of the Sao Bras Golf Society is made up of :-
Chairman (Ty Gardner)
Captain (Adrian Jones )
Secretary (Simon Davey)
Treasurer (David Keeble)
Vice Captain (Robin Moore)
COMMITTEE RESPONSIBILITIES
Constitution
Each office/officer will be voted on at the AGM each year. The captain shall nominate a vice captain who will be verified at the annual AGM. Each office will be up for re-election every year.
Our season runs from the 1st October until the 30th September the following year, membership applies to the same time frames.
The membership fees for the following year will be voted on each year at the annual AGM.
The Membership Fee for season 2021/22 is €50, this is non-refundable. New members may apply for membership at any time of the year but there will be no apportionment for part-year membership. Membership fees shall in some shape or form (other than a minimal float amount) all be returned to members by way of competition prizes, subsidised events etc etc. The committee shall decide on the best way to implement this.
Our home course for the season will be voted for at the AGM, for season 2021/22 this will be Benamor.
Our monthly Stableford competition shall normally be on the 1st Friday of each month. (Stableford scoring) however please consult the events sheet on the events page for confirmation.
We are unable to guarantee a year round fee at Benamor but we fully expect it to remain between 40-50 €’s.
Guests are welcome into our society events; however they will not be eligible to win any society prizes. If more than one guest a small prize will be provided guests will pay €5 to the Society each time they pay.
Conduct:- All members are expected to act in a gentlemanly manner when playing in society events and venues, either on, or off, the golf course. Any member who takes any actions, that in any way, detrimentally affects the well-being of the society, and its members, in any shape or form, can be expelled from the society. Expulsion will need a majority vote of committee. No expelled member shall be entitled to any refund of their membership fee.
Standard Rules of Golf will be used for every game, unless otherwise notified in advance. However, we have adopted some, society-specific adaption's, that we feel will help to keep our game flowing and reduce round times.
Ready, Steady Golf. In order to speed up play we play ready, steady, golf. This means that regardless of whose “honour” it is, if a player can take his next shot without interfering with other players he may do so. This applies on the tees, fairways and greens. Please use common sense wherever possible to speed up play.
NEW S.B.G.S PLAYING RULES 2021/22
Note – Both our current Rules and the New V&A Golf Rules are designed to speed up play !!!
RULE 1
If you cannot score a Stableford Point on any hole (too many shots) please pick up your Ball
RULE 2
NO ‘Give Me’ putts on competition days.
RULE 3
OUT OF BOUNDS
A player hitting a ball out of bounds will play the next shot as close as reasonably possible to the point at which the original ball crossed the line of the out of bounds. Add one penalty shot to the score. Where there is any doubt as to where that point is, fellow players should be consulted.
There are compulsory Society dropping zones on the following holes regardless of what line your ball takes add 1 penalty shot to your score and then take your next shot as follows:-
Hole 10 – for balls out of bounds to the left, the dropping zone is the area of grass to the left of the path before you start the steep incline to the green.
Hole 14 – for balls out of bounds to the right of the fairway the dropping zone will be parallel with the wooden steps to the right of the path.
RULE 4
INTERNAL HAZARDS
These are those marked by red or yellow stakes – you are allowed to play your ball if you wish to in the hazard, however If the ball is deemed unplayable or lost in the hazard then drop a replacement ball as close as reasonably possible to the point at which the original ball crossed the boundary of the hazard. – Add one penalty stroke to your score. The line of entry should preferably be confirmed with fellow players.
RULE 5
LOST BALL
– In Bounds – Drop a replacement ball as close as possible to the area in which it was lost preferably confirming this with fellow players – Add one penalty stroke to your score.
RULE 6
STRIKING ANOTHER BALL ON THE FAIRWAY
Should your ball strike another ball anywhere, fairway or green: replace the other ball that was struck by your ball to its original position and play your own ball from where it came to lie.
RULE 7 Countback
– For tied stableford point scores the following calculation will be used to decide the winner – Total points on last 9 holes, if still tied the best points score on the 18th, then 17th, then 16th and so on until a winning score is established.
1. Player of the year.
Taking into consideration only scores from the 6 qualifying stablefords. In the event of a tie, the winner will be the player who scored the most points in the last (of their 6 ) qualifying stablefords. Repeat as necessary.
2. 2 Day Challenge
Should there be a tie after the 2nd day the winner will be the player who scored more points on the second day . Should there still be a tie it will be decided on the last 9 of the 2nd day and then countback from the 18th hole on the last day .
3. 3 4s & 5s
Should there be a tie for any place . Using only data from the 6 qualifying rounds . The winner will be the player who scored more points on the last of their 6 qualifying rounds. ( Note this may not be necessarily from the same month as the other tied member) Repeat as necessary until decided.
4 Other Day/Monthly competitions Stablefords etc.
In case of a tie . Use the back 9 and if still tied countback from hole 18 as necessary.
RULE 8
Procedure for raising matters of concern
Any member who has a matter of concern should in the first instance contact the Secretary where it will be recorded and investigated. Should the matter not be able to be resolved within 4 weeks to the satisfaction of the member it will then be raised to full committee level whereupon the Chairman will endeavour to resolve the issue at a committee meeting. Finally following these steps any member will have the right to ask that the matter be raised at the AGM should a satisfactory resolution not have already been found.
NEW USGA / R&A RULES 2023
New USGA / R&A Rules 2019
Note – Both our current Rules and the New V&A Golf Rules are designed to speed up play !!!
RULE 1
If you cannot score a Stableford Point on any hole (too many shots) please pick up your Ball
RULE 2
NO ‘Give Me’ putts on competition days.
RULE 3
OUT OF BOUNDS
A player hitting a ball out of bounds will play the next shot as close as reasonably possible to the point at which the original ball crossed the line of the out of bounds. Add one penalty shot to the score. Where there is any doubt as to where that point is, fellow players should be consulted.
There are compulsory Society dropping zones on the following holes regardless of what line your ball takes add 1 penalty shot to your score and then take your next shot as follows:-
Hole 10 – for balls out of bounds to the left, the dropping zone is the area of grass to the left of the path before you start the steep incline to the green.
Hole 14 – for balls out of bounds to the right of the fairway the dropping zone will be parallel with the wooden steps to the right of the path.
RULE 4
INTERNAL HAZARDS
These are those marked by red or yellow stakes – you are allowed to play your ball if you wish to in the hazard, however If the ball is deemed unplayable or lost in the hazard then drop a replacement ball as close as reasonably possible to the point at which the original ball crossed the boundary of the hazard. – Add one penalty stroke to your score. The line of entry should preferably be confirmed with fellow players.
RULE 5
LOST BALL
– In Bounds – Drop a replacement ball as close as possible to the area in which it was lost preferably confirming this with fellow players – Add one penalty stroke to your score.
RULE 6
STRIKING ANOTHER BALL ON THE FAIRWAY
Should your ball strike another ball anywhere, fairway or green: replace the other ball that was struck by your ball to its original position and play your own ball from where it came to lie.
RULE 7 Countback
– For tied stableford point scores the following calculation will be used to decide the winner – Total points on last 9 holes, if still tied the best points score on the 18th, then 17th, then 16th and so on until a winning score is established.
1. Player of the year.
Taking into consideration only scores from the 6 qualifying stablefords. In the event of a tie, the winner will be the player who scored the most points in the last (of their 6 ) qualifying stablefords. Repeat as necessary.
2. 2 Day Challenge
Should there be a tie after the 2nd day the winner will be the player who scored more points on the second day . Should there still be a tie it will be decided on the last 9 of the 2nd day and then countback from the 18th hole on the last day .
3. 3 4s & 5s
Should there be a tie for any place . Using only data from the 6 qualifying rounds . The winner will be the player who scored more points on the last of their 6 qualifying rounds. ( Note this may not be necessarily from the same month as the other tied member) Repeat as necessary until decided.
4 Other Day/Monthly competitions Stablefords etc.
In case of a tie . Use the back 9 and if still tied countback from hole 18 as necessary.
RULE 8
Procedure for raising matters of concern
Any member who has a matter of concern should in the first instance contact the Secretary where it will be recorded and investigated. Should the matter not be able to be resolved within 4 weeks to the satisfaction of the member it will then be raised to full committee level whereupon the Chairman will endeavour to resolve the issue at a committee meeting. Finally following these steps any member will have the right to ask that the matter be raised at the AGM should a satisfactory resolution not have already been found.
NEW USGA / R&A RULES 2023
- Ball Moved by Natural Forces: A new exception provides that a ball at rest must be replaced if it moves to another area of the course or comes to rest out of bounds after being dropped, placed or replaced.
- Back-on-the-Line Relief Procedure: The back-on-the-line relief procedure, often used for penalty area and unplayable ball relief, has been simplified so that the player now drops their ball on the line, and the ball must come to rest within one club-length of where it is dropped.
New USGA / R&A Rules 2019
- Dropping Balls – balls are now dropped from knee height
- A ball can be putted with the pin still in the hole – this allows a putt to be made without having the hole tended – there is no penalty for hitting the pin when in the hole
- Clubs can now be grounded in Hazards, in bunkers it is OK to touch the sand at address but not improve your lie
- The time to search for balls is reduced to 3 minutes
- You can deem a Sand Bunker unplayable and drop out of the bunker (no nearer the hole) for 2 penalty shots – Rules about being allowed a ‘no penalty relief’ from Water in Bunkers remains the same
- If you double hit the ball (usually on your follow through) there is no penalty.