Competition rules – long version

General

Competitions played on Loimijoki Golf Oy's course follow the latest applicable international rules of golf, the R&A's and USGA's Rules of Golf, taking into account the course's local rules and the Finnish Golf Union's general competition regulations.

However, the rules of the competition being played take precedence if they conflict with the general competition regulations. Participation in competitions requires an official handicap, unless otherwise stated in the competition program, invitation, or sign-up list. The official upper handicap limit for women and men in internal competitions is 54, and in open competitions 36, unless otherwise stated in the competition regulations. In an open competition, a player always represents their home club. The competition committee has the right to cancel a competition if the number of entries is low. Registration Registration for competitions is done with the caddie master, online, or in the manner stated in the competition invitation. Registration closes at 12:00 the day before the competition, unless otherwise stated in the invitation. By registering, you also commit to following the rules, handicap regulations, sport doping regulations, and the principles of ethical values and fair play established by the Finnish Golf Union.

Tee times for competitions are drawn by lot. The caddie masters have the right to adjust the starting lists before publishing them, for example to accommodate tee time requests. The competition's sponsor has the right to adjust the playing groups

Right to participate Players from clubs belonging to the Finnish Golf Federation may take part in the Open competitions, provided they have a valid membership and handicap card. Foreign players may take part if they can present reliable proof of membership in a club belonging to some international golf federation. Late entry Late entry to the Open competitions is not accepted. If possible, late entries may also be accepted into the club's internal competitions. Restrictions The number of players is stated in the competition invitation. Players are selected for the competition in order of registration. If more players register than stated in the competition invitation, a waiting list is kept, from which players are added in place of any withdrawals. Cancellations Cancellation of competition participation can be made to the caddie master before the registration period closes. After the registration period, withdrawal from the competition must be for an acceptable reason, which must be reported to the caddie master without delay. Bad weather or an unsuitable tee time are not acceptable reasons. An acceptable reason for cancellation is illness or another similar reason. If a competitor fails to show up without notice and without an acceptable reason, they must pay the competition fee afterwards at the club office. Before the fee has been paid, the competitor cannot take part in the club's next competition. Repeated no-shows without notice result in the competitor being banned from participating in the next two competitions organized by the club.

Starting time A player must be ready to begin play no later than their announced exact starting time. Rule 5.3 Tee times and group sizes In stroke play competitions played with staggered starts, play is generally in groups of 3. The interval between starts is 10 minutes. In shotgun-start competitions, the group size is 4.

Competition fee The competition-specific fee and any applicable green fee must be paid before your tee time. Use of golf carts in competition: Use of a golf cart in competition is permitted for those over 70. An exemption to use a cart can only be granted to a player against a doctor's certificate. The certificate must be shown to the competition director or referee before starting the competition.

Slow play A slow group may be placed under time monitoring without separate notice when it is more than 5 minutes behind the set schedule. Players under time monitoring have 40 seconds to prepare for their shot. The player who is first to prepare for their shot is additionally given an extra 10 seconds. Penalty for a time violation in accordance with Rule 5.6a. The competition official will point out slow play, and if the situation does not improve, the official will stay to monitor the group and give instructions to speed up play. Time monitoring is carried out according to available resources.

Withdrawing from a competition A player may only withdraw from a competition for a valid reason, such as sudden illness or injury. This must be reported immediately to the competition director or referee. If a competitor withdraws without notice and without valid reason, they are banned from the club's next organized competition. In a series competition, the ban applies to the next round in that series.

Suspension of play by the organizer When the committee suspends play due to a dangerous situation, players must stop play immediately. Players may not continue play without permission. The penalty for breaching this rule is disqualification from the competition.

• One long horn signal: Immediate suspension of play

• Two consecutive horn signals: Play continues

Equipment During the competition, a mobile phone may only be used for the results service, to call a referee, in case of illness or similar, and as a rangefinder. Otherwise the phone must be kept at least on silent. Other equipment is defined in rule 4.3

Scorecard As a rule, an electronic scorecard is used in all competitions. Paper scorecards are used only as a backup and in competitions separately specified in the competition rules. Results are recorded during the round in accordance with Rule 3.3.b.

After each hole of the round, the marker should confirm that hole's score with the player for the scorecard. After the round, the marker and the player compare results and confirm that the scores have been recorded correctly according to the rules of golf. The round is then closed out in the electronic scorecard.

It's recommended that every player records both their own and their marked player's hole-by-hole score on the scorecard, so that after the round it's possible to compare the results with those entered into the electronic scorecard.

If the marker changes during the round, the previous marker must check the scorecard and sign it for the part they checked, after which the new marker continues and is responsible for the entries from that point onward.

The marker does not act as the competitor's judge — rule interpretations are the player's own responsibility. The marker must report any breaches observed to the referee, competition director, or committee. Scores must be recorded on the card clearly enough that no misunderstandings can arise. The card may be disqualified if the entries cannot be read clearly.

Other competition rules

• Disruptive behavior, intentional damage to the course, or intentionally causing a dangerous situation for another player leads to disqualification from the competition and further sanctions, decided by the club's captains.

• The caddie master and the course and competition committee oversee the groups' conduct in competitions. Caddie masters and the course and competition committee have an obligation to intervene in observed issues.

• The Caddie Master acts as competition director in cooperation with the competition committee.

• The competitor's name and handicap will appear in the start list and results lists, as well as on the Finnish Golf Union's website, unless the player has agreed otherwise with the course and competition committee.

• You can only receive one prize in a competition, unless stated otherwise. The prize is given for the better placement across series, i.e. if third in the scr series and second in the pb/hcp series, the prize is second place in the hcp series.

• Use of a distance-measuring device is permitted.

• Competitors aged 13 and under may play from the red tee if they wish.

• When the transfer rule is in effect, the ball's original position must be marked with a tee peg or another reliable object before moving it.

• The target playing time for an 18-hole, 3-player group is 4 h 30 min.

• The player with the lowest handicap in the group is responsible for the whole group's pace of play and for making sure no gap opens to the group ahead.

• Even in competitions it's recommended to play so-called Ready Golf (does not apply to match play)

• During the competition round it is not permitted to simultaneously play any other match play or stroke play competition organized by the club.

• Distance markers and plates are measured to the center of the green.

• The competition committee is responsible for monitoring and enforcing the rules.

• Internal competitions are the club's championship competitions. Others are open unless the competition invitation states otherwise.

Tiebreakers Stroke play In a handicap stroke play competition, the competitor with the lower exact handicap wins in the event of a tie. A tie between competitors with the same exact handicap is resolved using a mathematical method.

In competitions with a scratch (handicap-less) category, all placings in that category are decided using a mathematical method. When playing without handicap, a player who must go to a play-off is entitled to a 15-minute preparation break, which is counted as starting once the actual competition results are finalized. Other placings are decided using the mathematical method. The play-off is played among those who scored the best result.

Match play In Championship competitions where the championship is played without handicaps, a tie is resolved by playing extra holes until one player scores a lower result. The winner must always hole out. Which holes are played in the play-off is defined separately for each competition. A player who ends up in a play-off is entitled to a 15-minute preparation break, which is counted as starting once the results of the actual competition have been confirmed

Mathematical method 18-hole competitions: In case of a tie, the winner is the player with the best score on the last nine (9) holes (net score in a handicap competition), then the last six (6) holes, then the best (3) holes, then the last hole, and finally a draw. When converting the results of the last 9, 6, 3, and the last hole of a handicap competition into net scores, the player's handicap divided by 2, 3, 6, and 18 respectively is used as the corresponding handicap, with any resulting decimals taken into account. 36-hole competitions: In case of a tie, the result of the last 18 holes is considered first. If the situation is still tied after this, the result is calculated as in an 18-hole competition. Competition office, scorecard return and confirmation of results The caddie master's office serves as the competition office, where registration for the competition takes place and entry fees are paid. After the round, players check the results with each other and approve them both verbally and in the mobile app before leaving play. A player can no longer affect the results in the electronic scorecard once they have left the course area after the competition. The competition result is confirmed once it has been published after all competitors have finished their rounds. If a paper scorecard is used in the competition, scorecards are returned to the office after the competition.

Handicaps and the right to compete. Drawing up and interpreting the Rules of Golf, the Rules of Amateur Status and the handicap regulations are tasks of golf's global governing bodies, the R&A (St. Andrews, Scotland) and the USGA (Liberty Corner, New Jersey, USA). Loimijoki Golf ry maintains, in accordance with the handicap regulations, the handicaps of players who have chosen the golf club as their home club. Loimijoki Golf ry's results register automatically transfers information on a player's handicap to the Golf Union's central register. Through this, the player's handicap information is passed on to all of the Golf Union's member clubs.

The player's responsibility for their handicap

• Acts honestly by following the handicap regulations and avoids using or circumventing the handicap regulations in order to gain an unreasonable advantage.

• Tries to make the best possible score on every hole.

• Submits acceptable handicap results after the round as soon as possible and before midnight.

• Submits acceptable results to the handicap register so that the handicap reflects playing ability as accurately as possible.

• Play according to the Rules of Golf

• Witnesses or checks fellow players' results.