2014 Rules and Rounds Timetable

The 2014 Daily Mail Foursomes Rules and Conditions are detailed below and are available to download at the end of each section. The Rounds timetable for 2014 is available to download below.

Winter Conditions: the referee has published some acceptable winter conditions in the FAQ section of the website (please see menu above for FAQ link).

If you have any questions please contact the Tournament Office at draw@mailgolf.co.uk.

If you wish to view Mail on Sunday National Golf Club Classic rules please go to www.mailgolf.co.uk and enter the Mail on Sunday Classic competition area.

2014 Daily Mail Foursomes Rules & Conditions

All bona fide golf clubs in England, Scotland and Wales are eligible to submit one team of two in the men’s championship and one team of two in the women’s championship.  Each competitor must possess a club handicap.  Playing handicaps are restricted to a maximum of 18 for men and 30 for women.  Players with a handicap over those are eligible but must play off 18 for men and 30 for women.

All players must have an active handicap.  Refer to CONGU for exceptions.

Players who are members of more than one Club may attempt to qualify for the Tournament at any of them, but can represent only one Club in the Competition proper.  If a competitor ceases to be a member of the Club being represented, the team must withdraw from the Tournament immediately. 

Employees of the group which publishes the Daily Mail or any company associated with the organisation of the tournament and members of their families may not compete.

Players under 18 on 1^st January 2014 will not be eligible to enter the Tournament.

2.        Qualifying Competition

Each affiliated Club is invited to stage its own foursomes competition, the winning pair to qualify for the Daily Mail Tournament.  The format for this qualifying competition can be decided by the club.  Only one men’s and one women’s pair can represent each club.  Where it is not possible to arrange a special qualifying competition, a Club may nominate a pair to represent it in the Tournament.  The Secretary must register the club by 31^st January 2014 either online at www.mailgolf.co.uk or by submitting the entry card to the Tournament Office.

3.        Eliminating Rounds

a)        Knock-out principle: eliminating rounds in the Tournament will be on a knock-out principle decided over 18 holes foursomes (i.e. alternate strokes) match-play off handicaps current at the time of play (see Rule 1).  If the match is tied after 18 holes, play continues until a hole is won on a “sudden death” basis. 

b)       Handicap difference: half of the difference between competing pairs’ combined handicaps will be taken as the basis for play, half a stroke or more counting as one stroke.  The partnership entitled to receive strokes will receive them at the appropriate holes.  All players must produce their current handicap certificate for their opponents to see, if required.  It is the players responsibility to check their respective handicaps and the shot allowance prior to teeing off in their match.

c)        Players: players’ names do not need to be confirmed until the team has played its first match in the Tournament.  The pair that competes in the first match must play together in all further Tournament matches.  No player substitutes will be acceptable.

d)       Matches: a computerised draw will be made for each round based upon club’s geographical location.  Clubs from different counties may be drawn to play each other from round one onwards. Competitors will be notified of their matches either by email or by post. 

e)        Arranging a match: the partnership named as “home” players will have the choice of course and it will be their responsibility to contact their opponents by no later than the date specified in the match-notification correspondence to arrange a date for the match to be played.  When agreeing dates a combination of at least one week day and one weekend day should be offered.  No match extensions will be allowed. If a match is not played by the date specified the Tournament Director will decide, on the basis of availability which team will go through to the next round. A minimum of a fortnight will be allowed for the playing of each eliminating round.  These rounds will take place from February to September until the Tournament has been reduced to sixteen pairs.

f)      Course conditions: The home team has the responsibility to ensure that the course is fit for play and to inform visiting golfers of the Local Rules prior to match day.  If it is essential that Winter Rules be in operation, then these should still allow for the fair and proper playing of the match (a full list of which winter rules are acceptable and which are not can be obtained from the tournament website www.mailgolf.co.uk). If not, the match should be switched to the away course providing it complies with the acceptable Winter Rules and is available. 

h)        Caddies: caddies, as defined in the Rules of Golf, are permitted.

i)       GPS: During matches players may use devices that gauge or measure distance only.  Use of a device that is designed to gauge or measure other conditions that might affect play (e.g. gradient, wind speed, temperature etc) is prohibited and is in breach of R&A Rule 14-3, for which the penalty is disqualification, regardless of whether any such additional function is actually used.  If you suspect an opponent is in breach of R&A Rule 14-3 you must make a valid claim at the time of the match as no subsequent claims will be considered. 

j)        Motorised Buggies: Players and supporters must walk the courses at all times during a competitive round of golf.  Only golfers with authorisation from the Tournament Referee due to medical conditions are allowed the use of golf buggies during a competitive round, however the Organisers have no jurisdiction whatsoever over individual golf clubs when it comes to the use of buggies on their course.

k)       Speed of Play: Players must at all times play without undue delay.

4.        Greens Fees

There is no entry fee for the Tournament, but courtesy of the course must be extended to visiting competitors when the match is played.  It is also hoped that home clubs will endeavour to make a practice round possible for visiting clubs, if requested to do so, or, if that is not possible, at least offer the visiting team a reduced green fee.  A practise round can be played on the day of play or beforehand. 

5.        Notifying Results

It will be the responsibility of the winning pair in each match to notify the result to the Tournament Office either online or by post on the card provided.  As there are seven qualifying rounds to organise it is vital that results are notified as soon as possible.  For matches played over the last weekend the winning pair should enter the result online, by email to draw@mailgolf.co.uk or by phone as soon as the match is finished.  Results will be published in the Daily Mail where possible.

6.        Finals

a)        The Last Sixteen  pairs will compete in the match-play Finals in October 2014.

b)       Each match will consist of one round of 18 holes played off current handicaps unless circumstances make some other arrangement necessary.  In the event of a halved match, competitors must continue to play until a hole is won.  The partnership entitled to receive strokes will receive them at the appropriate holes.

c)        Subsidiary competitions will be arranged for those competitors defeated in the Last Sixteen and Quarter Finals.

d)       Green fees for the sixteen pairs at the Finals will be paid by the Daily Mail.

e)        Arrangements will be made for all finalists to receive meals and overnight accommodation from Sunday evening to Tuesday afternoon at the invitation of the Daily Mail.

7.        Tournament Suspension of Play at the Finals

 If a significant amount of playing time is lost due to the weather, the Tournament Committee may elect to play a Foursomes Stableford competition to decide which teams will advance into the next round.

8.        Prizes

The men’s and women’s winning pairs in the 2014 Finals will each receive one of the Daily Mail Silver Challenge trophies to be held for a year by their Club and all competitors reaching the Last Sixteen will receive individual prizes.

9.        Disputes

Any disputes regarding Rules and Conditions must be discussed with the Tournament Referee, whose decision is final.

The Tournament Referee can be contacted at Daily Mail Amateur Foursomes Golf Tournament, PO Box 486, Fleet, GU51 9FG.

Approved by The R&A for the payment of expenses in accordance with the Rules of Amateur Status Rule 4-2g RA/4/2014.

Download a copy of these rules here.

2014 Rounds Timetable

Download a copy of the rounds timetable here.