Competitions - Policies and Practices

Countbacks 
At Bowral, in competition management, the pro shop staff  manage all competitions. The software in use is by MiClub which has been tested to conform with the requirements of Golf Australia. The count back system we use in arriving at competition placings and prizes is along the lines of that recommended  by Golf Australia.

"The winner and other placing are determined on the basis of the best score for the last nine holes. If the tying players have the same score for the last nine, determine the winner on the basis of the last six holes, last three holes, and finally hole-by-hole from the 18th hole. If this method is used in a handicap stroke play competition, one-half, one-third, one-sixth, etc of the handicaps should be deducted. Fractions should not be disregarded. Ties are to be decided over the last nine, last six, last  three, and last hole, in the event of a tie at that point then an 18 hole count back will be carried out. In 36, 54, and 72-hole events, the last 18 holes shall be used and if still tied count-back as per an 18- hole round. In 27-hole events, the 18-hole card shall be used in the first instance."

Types of competitions. 
Information on the types of competitions and how they are played can be found by clicking here. 

Handicapping. Bowral Golf Club administers handicaps to the requirements of Golf Australia. Full detail on the GA Handicap System can be seen by clicking here.

BGC has adopted the following policies
HANDICAPPING POLICY
1. CHECK-LIST OF HANDICAPPING DUTIES, AUTHORITIES, AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE HOME CLUB
2. APPENDIX A - Requirement to Maintain the Overall Distance of a Rated Course
3. APPENDIX B - Common Handicapping Scenarios - Procedures for Pro Shops & Handicapping Administrators (includes application of the correct GOLF Link score status)
4. APPENDIX C - HANDICAPPING POLICY QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
A. Are we going to handicap the Conforming Social Scores of our Members? (NO)
B. Are we going to handicap good Four-ball scores? (YES)
C. Are we going to handicap 9-hole scores (YES)
D. Are we going to handicap scores returned in Aggregate Teams Events? (YES)
E. Are we going to handicap scores returned in Pro-Am Events? (NO)
F. Are we going to handicap good scores returned in Corporate/Trade Days that have been conducted by an entity that is not affiliated with GA? (NO)
G. Are we going to handicap a score returned in a Competition that has been Declared Null and Void (NO)
H. Are we going to handicap scores returned in Novelty Events such as Bisque Par and Three-Ball Competitions? (NO)
l. Are we going to handicap the Score of a Player who has Played Within a Competition Field but who hasn't entered the Competition?(NO)
J. Are we going to handicap good scores from a Competition that has as a Playing Condition That Players are Limited to a Number of Clubs that is Less than 14? (NO)
K. Are we going to handicap players scores who play singles in conjunction with fourball best ball ? (YES)

​HANDICAP COMMITTEE, Don Barker, Noela McMurray, David Burgess, Kevin Kenny, Jan 2022

The competition card. 
A pre-printed competition score card is provided by the pro-shop. This will have the player's name and playing handicap as well as details of the competition being played. The score cards must be scanned at the terminals located in the 'locker room' area or in the pro-shop. 

• If a player fails (for a reason which is not approved by the committee in charge of the competition) to return a complete score as soon as practicable after completion of their round, the round will be recorded as   ‘No Score – Not Approved’.
• A player may discontinue play if they consider, in equity, that extreme weather conditions make it is unreasonable for them to continue. In this case they should alert the Captain or his representative and their card may be recorded as ‘No Score - Approved’. The Captain's representative, in the absence of an explicit nomination , is the pro-shop staff member compiling the competition results on the day.
• Members competing in a round of  competition, outside of normal competitions hours, must return their cards to either of the places nominated above as soon as possible and  before leaving the club after their competition round.  Failure to do this will result in disqualification. Members should satisfy themselves that it will be possible to return the competition card to one of the nominated places before starting a round. The pro-shop or clubhouse being closed is deemed to be an insufficient reason for the non-return of  a competition card and disqualification will result for the player(s) when not submitting a card when required to do so. 

Special Note. To quote Golf Australia  "It should be remembered that club golfers play the game as a recreation"