The Badgers Golf Society - Rules and Regulations (updated March 2009)

The fundamental and over-riding rule of the Badgers Golf Society is that it is a friendly society and that golf should be played in the spirit of the game. Failure to comply with this requirement may result in disciplinary action being taken and, ultimately, ejection from the society. When playing in a society competition members should adhere to all rules of the host Golf Club (they will usually be found on the reverse of the scorecard); should they oppose the rules as set out by the Society below, direction should be sought from a committee member prior to commencing play from the first tee. During society golf days and competitions, members are required to comply with the following at all times;

1. Members are required to wear their white Badgers shirt at all times whilst attending a society  day. Failure to comply will result in a two (2) shot penalty for the day. Badger shirts must always be maintained to an acceptable standard, being washed and ironed before use; failure to comply will result in a one (1) shot penalty Alan.

2. All society competitions will be played using the Stableford scoring system utilising the players current society handicap as recorded by the Committee. For a guide on the Stableford scoring as utilised by the Badgers Golf Society, please click on the link below to download 'Badgers Stableford Scoring' word document; Click here to download this file

3.  During society competitions, players must swap their card with one of their playing partners and record both their opponents score (Player A) and their own score (Markers Score) on the scorecard during the round. Before submission of the cards to the committee at the end of the round, Stableford scores should be recorded on each card and both player and marker are required to sign the respective cards. Incomplete or unsigned cards will be immediately disqualified. Team captains must also keep note of the team score during the round, failure to provide a complete card will result in disqualification from the team competition.

4.  During society stableford competitions, a player MUST pick up if they cannot score on a hole. For most players this means that 3 over par on a hole is your maximum score.

5.  From the tee: if a ball is thought to have gone in to trees or out of bounds and might be lost, a provisional ball MUST be played from the tee, incurring a two (2) shot penalty. If you wish to play a provisional ball you must declare it as a provisional ball to all of your playing partners and get their agreement that the ball is likely to have been lost. Should the original ball be found in play within five minutes, this should be played without penalty and the provisional picked up.

6.  Lost ball; if after you have looked for a maximum of five minutes a ball is found to be lost, then a dropped ball may be taken from the point at which the ball was deemed to have been lost. The drop should be taken from a position agreed with your playing partners where you believe the ball to have been, for a one (1) shot penalty.

7.  If you believe that your ball has gone out of bounds or you are uncertain about where your ball went, you must take a dropped ball and declare it as in Rule 3.

8.  If a water hazard is encountered, the ball may be dropped in line with it's entry into the hazard (but no nearer the hole). The drop should be taken from a position agreed with your playing partners where you believe the ball to have been, for a one (1) shot penalty.

9.  A ball may be searched for for a maximum of five (5) minutes. After the allotted period of time the provisional ball (if the first was lost off the tee) or a drop ball must be played.

10.  Late payment; if a player has not paid by the due date advised by the Committee then they may be deemed to be not playing and a place will not automatically be allocated to them for the event.

11.  ‘Gimmes’ on the putting green are subject to the discretion and agreement of your playing partners but should not be sought. There is NO shot penalty for a ‘gimme’, although if Sharpie offers to halve any more tricky ten footers we may dock him a few shots.

12.  Marking of cards: You must mark someone else's card and NOT your own and you should mark their shots and stableford score on the card as you play the round. Both you and the persons whose card you have marked should sign it at the end of the round to confirm the score is correct.

13.  If a player has an official club handicap and a society handicap, then they must play off the lower of the two.

14.  Any objections or complaints about the event in which you partake should be raised with a member of the committee on the day of the event. The committee will then investigate and collectively decide on what action, if any, needs to be taken.

15.  Before the first person tee's off on an event day, the captain or relevant committee member will remind all player's of the slow play and lost ball rules.

16.  In the event of a draw for position, countback of the stableford score on the last three holes (16, 17, 18) will be used with the higher score winning. Should there still be a draw, the stableford score of the next three holes will be used (13, 14, 15) and so on until a winner can be identified.  Under no circumstances will the Sharpie System be utilised to determine the winner (i.e. who has pissed the fat man off least wins).

17.  Members may bring guests to Society days, however they will not be eligable to play in the Society competition nor be considered for any prizes. Members should also ascertain the playing handicap of their guest and advise the Handicap Secretary prior to the day.  Members will also be held accountable for the conduct of their guest on the day.

18.  Failure to attend a society day having previously committed to do so and without notification to the Committee will incur a two (2) shot penalty to handicap.  The Committee also reserve the right to administer a one (1) shot penalty to Marco Franchi just for turning up. 

19.  Failure to complete a society day having previously committed to do so and without notification to the Committee will incur a two (2) shot penalty to handicap.

20.  The society disciplinary procedure is; Stage 1: Verbal formal warning. Stage 2: Written formal warning Stage 3: Punishment will be undertaken.

21.  The committee reserves the right to enter disciplinary action at any stage depending on the seriousness of the breach of the rules. The rules the society abides by are in accordance with the rules of golf, not those that Sharpie conjures up on the day.