1. LEAGUE FORMAT

 

a. All matches to be one round of eighteen holes, four-ball better ball, played off handicap by a team of 14 players (7 pairs), each Club to play each other home and away. These matches will start at 11.00am where possible, or at a time agreed by both teams.

b. All fixtures on Matchday 10 will commence at 11.00am.

c. Each match will score one point, with a half a point each for halved matches.

d. In the event of more than one team finishing with an equal number of points, the team with the highest number of away points shall be the winners of the League.

e. Should more than one team have won an equal number of away points, there shall be a play-off under the above conditions at a mutually agreed neutral course.

f. Should the playoff result in an equal number of matches, the 7th pair in each team shall determine the winners by a sudden-death play-off.

g. Players representing their clubs shall be male, of amateur status as defined by the Royal and Ancient Club of St. Andrews. Players shall only be eligible to represent their home club and shall only represent that club in the competitions governed by the South Devon League in the year of those competitions.

h. It shall be the responsibility of both Clubs to report the results to the Secretary of the League via the league captains WhatsApp group by 7p.m. on the same day as the match.

i. No caddies will be allowed. A buggy can only be used for medical reasons and prior approval must be given by the opposing team captain or the League Chairman / Secretary.

j. It is the responsibility of all team Captains to ensure that their team is made aware of the tee time, dress codes on the course and in the clubhouse, especially when visiting other clubs.

k. Home clubs are to provide the use of at least 1 buggy free of charge to the opposing team (if the home club utilises buggies on its course and conditions of the course permit) subject to availability.

l. Ready golf to be adopted during league matches.

m. A match fee of £182 per club shall be paid to the host club on the day of the fixture.

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n. All participants are expected to uphold the highest standards of sportsmanship. The League Committee reserves the right to impose sanctions, including suspension or expulsion for serious or repeated breaches.

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2. FIXTURE DATES

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a. The fixture schedule is to be fixed by the League Secretary 2 years in advance.

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b. The League Secretary to notify Club Managers of the fixture dates and gain confirmation of their agreement to fixture dates.

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c. All matches must be played on the published fixture dates unless:

If, due to extreme weather the host clubs full course is closed, the fixture has to be rearranged, or played on a neutral course to suit both clubs as soon as possible but must be played before the last scheduled date.

For any other exceptional circumstance, the League Secretary may agree to an alternate date providing it is played before the original fixture date.

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d. A rearranged date should be agreed by both clubs and notified to the League Secretary. It is incumbent on the host club to provide suitable rearranged dates in accordance with the league rules and where future league fixtures restrictions allow.

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e. If the above criteria, referred to in 2c and 2d above, is not met or a match is not played two points will be awarded to each team.​​

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3. HANDICAPS

a. The maximum handicap index is 11.3

b. Players of a higher handicap index may play off of the maximum handicap index as
show in point 3.a above.

c. All competing golfers must hold a current competitive handicap. The league defines this as a golfer with at least five qualifying scores from qualifying competitions in their WHS record which have been recorded in the 12 months leading up to the match date.

d. Order of play on the 1st tee will be high to low in combined playing handicap order – if agreed between captains on the day, individual match order can be amended to accommodate personal circumstance.

e. The maximum difference in Handicap Index between playing partners shall be 5. If a player exceeding the Handicap Index limit is competing, for the purpose of calculation, his handicap index shall be taken as 11.3

f. Normal R&A rules for calculation of handicaps/shots are to be used. Shots are to be calculated as 75% of the difference in playing handicaps from the lowest golfer in each match.

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g. A breach of league rules, either intentionally or unitentionally, will result in the "guilty pair" losing their match. Any other pairs affected by this action will be deemed to be halved unless they are won by the non-offending team.

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h. Any disputes not resolved between team captains shall be referred to the League Secretary whose decision shall be deemed as final

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4. JUNIORS

a. Up to two junior members (less than 18 years of age on the 1st January of the year in which the competition is played) are eligible to play.

b. Juniors cannot be paired together.

c. Home clubs are responsible to ensure the welfare of juniors (defined as being under the age of 18 on or before the 1st January in the current league year) is maintained in accordance with its own welfare policy as provided by England Golf.

d. Any team selecting Junior members, must make the opposing team captain aware ahead of the fixture taking place.

e. Adults interacting with children/young people in sport are in a position of trust and influence and should always ensure that children are treated with integrity and respect and that their self-esteem is enhanced. All adult sections in sport should be guided by what is best for the child/young person and carried out in the context of respectful and open relationships. Verbal, physical, emotional, racial or sexual abuse of any kind or threat of such abuse is totally unacceptable within sport, as in society in general.

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Adults working with children/young people have a responsibility to protect them. All contact with juniors must remain proper and professional.

 

5. COMMITTE CONSTITUTION

 

a. The committee shall be made up of 2 representatives from each of the 6 competing clubs, usually the Team captain and Club Managers well as the League Chairman and Secretary as appointed from time to time.

 

b. Clubs are encouraged to ensure attendance at committee meetings and may bring other club representatives as they so wish.

 

c. A quorum for any committee meeting shall consist of at least one representative, either in person or by proxy, from a minimum of four different clubs. No business shall be transacted at any meeting unless a quorum is present. If a quorum is not present within 30 minutes of the scheduled start time, the meeting shall be adjourned and rescheduled at the discretion of the Chair.

d. Any decisions to be made at meetings will be undertaken by a simple vote, with each club attributed one vote.

e. Any decision will be passed if a simple majority of those attending, either in person or by proxy, vote in agreement. In the event a simple majority is not obtained  the decision will be treated as rejected.

f. Neither the Chair or Secretary will hold any voting rights.

g. Any proxy votes must be delivered to League Secretary ahead of the scheduled meeting start time.

h. In order for a proposal to be considered at the meeting, such proposed decision must be sent to League Secretaryfor onward transmission to the member clubs not less than 48 hours prior to the scheduled meeting start time

APPROVED BY SDL COMMITTEE 17th NOVEMBER 2025