RULES AND CONDITIONS

General

• All play in the Tournament will be played under “The Rules of Golf” as specified by The R&A together with any local rules made by the host golf club or The Tournament Director.
• The Tournament is “Approved by The R&A for the payment of expenses – Rule 4-2g RA/18/2012”
• The Four Nations Golf Challenge™ (FNGC) is open to male and female golfers who are current members of a golf club, have a handicap issued by a CONGU affiliated golf club and must have submitted a minimum of three qualifying scores to his affiliated golf club during 2011. Entries must be made in Pairs; male, female or mixed. Golfers under the age of 18 on 30th. April, 2012 may enter but must be partnered by an adult.
• When registering to enter the FNGC, each Pair must designate a ‘home’ course for their Regional Qualifying matches.
• The use of electronic distance measuring devices may be used in Regional qualifiers (subject to local rules).
• By entering into this event, competitors automatically give permission for their name and contact information to be made available to other competitors.
• All participants agree that by registering for the FNGC, that Concierge Golf Ltd, the Directors and the organisers of the Four Nations Golf Challenge™ shall not be liable for any claims for injuries, damages to person or property or financial loss in connection with any of the Regional or Final Qualifying or Grand Final events.
• The organisers reserve the right to cancel the Tournament at any time but in doing so will refund all entry fees in full. Once registered, if a competitor subsequently withdraws from the FNGC, no refund of Entry Fee will be made.
• The maximum handicap allowed is 28 for men and 36 for women. For all matches, three-quarters of handicap will be applied. For the Regional Qualifiers (Matchplay) and The Grand Final (Matchplay), strokes will be taken on the basis of three-quarters of the difference and taken from the lowest handicap of the fourball. For the Final Qualifier (Stableford), competitors will play off of three-quarters of current handicap. In addition to their normal stroke allowance, Ladies will also receive the difference between the Men’s and Ladies standard scratch scores from the tees to be used. These shots will be added to the Lady’s handicap before the three-quarters calculation is applied. Mixed matches will then be played against the Men's card
• When matches are mixed, Ladies will receive their shots in accordance with the stroke index on the Men’s card
• All queries should be directed to the Tournament Office by email: stewart@fournationsgolfchallenge.co.uk

Regional Qualifying

• There will be “Regional Qualifying” competitions to determine the Pair from each regional bracket who will progress to the one-day Final Qualifying event. These matches will be played in an 18 holes fourball better ball matchplay format within one of the “selected” Regions and at a venue agreed between each pair. Strokes will be taken on the basis of three-quarters of the handicap taken from the lowest handicap of the four.
• Each Country will have appropriate “selected” Regional brackets consisting of sixteen Pairs in each, resulting in a maximum of four matches before the winning Pair reach Final Qualifying. There will also be “selected” Regions to enable Regional competitions outside of their chosen country. (i.e.: You do not have to live or qualify in the Country you are representing. E.g.: A Scotsman living and playing his golf in England can enter a Regional Qualifier for Scottish golfers in England). However the Organisers expect competitors to have a 'birth right' to represent their selected country.
• The pair which plays in each match must be the same as that named on the entry form. Changes in players are not allowed once entries have closed on 23 April 2012. The first drawn pair for the first round match will be the ‘home’ pair. The home pair will be responsible for contacting opponents to arrange a mutually suitable date and ensuring play is possible at the designated ‘home’ course at the time agreed. Both Pairs should share any green fees payable.
• Current and valid handicap certificates must be shown to Regional opponents prior to commencement of a match. If a competitor does not provide a current and valid handicap certificate on the day of the match he/she must provide proof of handicap to the FNGC Organisers within 48 hours of completion of the match, if required to do so by his opponents.
• The winning pair in each round must notify the organisers by e-mail to stewart@fournationsgolfchallenge.co.uk or by calling the Tournament Office on 01276 35505 by the prescribed date. Failure to do so will result in disqualification. Failure to play a match by the prescribed date will result in the disqualification of both pairs. The FNGC organisers will arbitrate where possible.
• The winning Pair which registers their result first will benefit from home advantage in the next round.
• If either Pair has to cancel an arranged match within 48 hours of the arranged match being due to be played, then the other pair may claim the match.
• The venue for any match should be the designated ‘home’ course of the ‘home’ Pair and venues may only be changed to the opponent’s designated ‘home’course if mutually agreed.
• If the courtesy of the course is not granted to the away Pair then the total cost of the green fees should be equally shared by both Pairs.
• Play will be from the Club’s competition tees if allowed. Otherwise, the Club’s tees of the day will be used. Ladies will play from the designated Ladies tees.
• If regional qualifying matches are all square at the end of 18 holes then the match will be determined on a ‘sudden-death’ play-off commencing at the first hole played, with any handicap shots given as appropriate.
• If after mutual agreement, a match has to be abandoned due to bad-light or the course becoming unfit for play, the away pair may request that the re-match be played at their nominated home course.
• Regional qualifying rounds will be played from May 2012 through August 2012.

Golf Club Qualifying

• Affiliated Golf Clubs in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales may, by agreement with Concierge Golf Limited, host a 'Club Qualifier' for the FNGC.
• 'Club Qualifiers' should be for members of an affiliated Golf Club only and be open to Pairs competing in a Fourball Betterball Stableford competition. Pairs may be all male, all female or mixed. Juniors may enter but must be partnered by an adult member.
• 'Club Qualifiers' must be completed by 31st August, 2012 at the latest.
• Affiliated Golf Clubs hosting a FNGC ‘Club Qualifier’ must complete a formal agreement with Concierge Golf Limited prior to the staging of such an event.
• Concierge Golf Limited reserve the right to amend or cancel the FNGC Final Qualifying and Grand Final events at any time but in the event of cancellation, will refund all 'Club Qualifier' entry fees in full to the respective competitors.

Final Qualifying

• The winning Pairs from the Regional Qualifiers together with the winning pairs from the Club Qualifiers will be invited to participate in a one-day Final Qualifier scheduled at a suitable venue to be confirmed.
• The Final Qualifier format will be 18 holes fourball betterball stableford played off of three-quarters of handicap.
• The leading six pairs from each Nation will qualify to represent their Country in the FNGC Grand Final.

The Grand Final

• The “Grand Final” will be held at a premier golfing resort to be determined.
• The “Grand Final” will consist of two 18 holes fourball better ball matchplay semi-finals (matches determined by ‘Draw’) between amateur golf teams representing England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. The semi-finals will determine the teams who, in the same 18 holes fourball better ball matchplay format, will then compete in the final and play-off for third and fourth places.
• If for any reason the “Grand Final” is unable to be played at the venue or date communicated, then an alternative date and venue will be communicated.
• The 24 successful pairs from the Final Qualifying event will be invited to represent their relevant Country in the “Grand Final”, to include Welcome Reception, three nights’ accommodation inclusive of breakfast, lunch and dinner, two rounds of tournament golf, full use of practice facilities, team clothing, International ‘Cap’ and Presentation Dinner.
• All competitors in the “Grand Final” will be responsible for all other additional expenses including travel.
• Friends and family of the competitors in the “Grand Final” will be welcome to attend the “Grand Final” at their own expense.