Regulations

Handicap regulations

From 2021, there will be a standardised system for calculating handicaps, the Word Handicap System (WHS). The aim is to ensure that players of different abilities have a fair chance on courses of varying difficulty and the results are comparable with each other. The European Golf Association (EGA) and Swiss Golf (ASG) have adapted their previous handicap system to the WHS.

You can download the new WHS brochure here:
 WHS brochure

These are the most important basics in the World Handicap System:

• The calculation of the handicap in the WHS is based on the last 20 handicap-effective results played. From these results, the best 8 results are selected, from the average of which the handicap is calculated. There is no time limit for the results that are included in the calculation. Particularly good results that provide information about the player's potential are also taken into account in the calculation.
• All previously valid forms of play for handicap-effective tournament or leisure rounds remain in place.
• As before, a handicap-effective result is required to obtain the first handicap. A valid handicap camp is calculated in any case, even if fewer than 20 handicap-effective results are available for a player.
• The influence of exceptional course and weather conditions on the results is taken into account. Handicaps are updated on a round-by-round basis.
• The maximum score that can be achieved on a hole for the calculation of the handicap remains the net double bogey (= zero stableford points). The maximum handicap for men and women remains 54.
• The Course Rating System of the United States Golf Association (USGA) will continue to be used to rate golf courses and is part of the Word Handicap System. This means that the handicap can be transferred between different courses and different countries even more easily than before.

General competition conditions

SCOPE OF APPLICATION
These competition rules are issued in accordance with the Official Guide to the Rules of Golf (effective January 2019), Committee Procedures, Part III Competition Section 5-7, and apply to all Stableford and stroke play competitions at Golf Club Ybrig. The game management may issue local rules for each competition before it begins, which supplement the official rules of golf.

COMMITTEE
The members of the respective match management will be announced in the announcement of the respective tournament.

EQUALITY OF RESULTS
In the event of a tie, a tie break will be held between the first-ranked players according to the results of the last 9,6,3,2,1 holes (Matching Scorecards - Section 5A(6)).

GAME DELAY
The measures against "slow play" (Pace of Place Policy - Section 5G) apply.

PLACE RULES
The separately issued "Local Rules" apply.

GAME INTERRUPTION
All players must suspend play if the referee suspends the game (Suspension and Resumption - Section 6E(1))

Immediate interruption of play (e.g. in the event of imminent danger): If the referee orders an immediate stoppage of play, all players must stop play immediately and may not take another stroke before the referee orders play to continue.

Interruption of the match for other reasons (e.g. darkness or unplayable pitch): If the game management interrupts the game for other reasons, the further procedure depends on where the individual groups are located:

• Between two holes: If all players in the group are between holes, they must stop play and may not play a stroke to start the next hole until the referee orders play to continue.
• During the play of a hole: Once a player in the player group has started the hole, the players may choose whether to interrupt the game or play the hole to the end.

Immediate stoppage of play due to danger: by launching a missile
Other game interruption: by launching a missile
Resumption of the game: by the game management and Ranger

GOLFCARTS
A player and his caddie must walk at all times during the scheduled round. Exceptions due to health reasons may be authorised by the game management.

END OF THE BETTING GAME
A competition is considered officially finished when the announcement of the ranking begins or the result is posted in the clubhouse (When the Result of the Competition is Final - Section 5A(7)).

Measures against slow play

These rules apply to all Stableford and counting game competitions at Golf Club Ybrig (Committee Procedures, Part III Competition Section 5G - Pace of Play Policy).

The following principle applies: Play "Ready Golf" in a safe and responsible manner. "Ready Golf" can lead to considerable time savings for the round. Players may use this method in a stableford counting game in accordance with the rules.

The player whose turn it is must first play and only then may they help their team-mates to find the ball.

1. a group has "lost its position" if it

• takes on average more than 14 minutes to play a hole (i.e. more than 4:12 for a whole round), and
• Each subsequent group is considered to have "lost its position" if it lags behind the front group by the time of a start interval and has exceeded the time allowed for the holes played.

2. a group that has lost its position is motivated by the game leader (usually a ranger) to play faster.

3. if the deficit has not been significantly reduced 2 holes later, the group is subject to the time control.

4. the following procedure applies to a group under time control:

• When it's your turn, you have to walk quickly to your ball or to the tee of the next hole and then take a shot within 40 seconds.
• The time taken to determine the distance and choose a club counts as the time needed for the next shot. 
• On the green, the timekeeping starts as soon as the player has had sufficient time to pick up, clean and return the ball, repair any damage that obstructs his line of play and remove any loose natural materials in the line of play. Time spent looking at the line of play from a position behind the hole and/or behind the ball counts as time needed for the next shot.
• An offence against the time control is committed if the player does not immediately go to his ball or get ready on the tee, or if he does not hit a shot within the prescribed time.
• In Stableford competitions, an offence is also committed if a player continues to play a hole even though he can no longer receive Stableford points.
• The time control ends when a group is back in position and the players are informed accordingly.
  
  

5. penalty for violation of the time control (according to note to rule 5.6a):

• Penalty for first offence: one penalty stroke
• Penalty for second offence: Basic penalty
• Penalty for third offence: disqualification

If a player delays the game unreasonably between two holes, the penalty is incurred on the next hole.

Avoid wasting time

Slow play is one of the biggest and most frequent annoyances when playing golf and often leads to tension between players. It is not uncommon for an 18-hole game to take five hours or longer. This cannot even be sufficiently justified by unequal age, golfing ability or physical condition and does not have to be the case. Here you can find out what you can do about the biggest time thieves.

The essentials right up front

We always play and walk quickly and avoid wasting time unnecessarily. We play provisional balls, invite faster players to play through and leave the green quickly.

What does "unnecessary loss of time" mean? An example calculation
Ten seconds are quickly lost because it is unclear who will play next, we have not yet decided which club we want to use or we cannot find a tee. If this happens every second shot, this means an average of 90 shots per player for a group of four:

45 x 4 x 10 seconds = 1,800 seconds = 30 minutes!

Extrapolated to a whole lap, these supposedly insignificant 10 seconds result in half an hour of unnecessary time loss.

What does the label actually say about this?

Four areas are explicitly mentioned in the etiquette on the subject of "game flow":

• In the interest of all, always play without delay.
• Subsequent players must be invited to play through immediately (not after 5 minutes) as soon as it becomes clear that a longer search for a ball is required. This also applies to tournaments.
• When a hole is completed, the green must be left immediately.
• If there is more than one hole to the front, the following group must be invited to play through.
   

And what does the rule of golf say?

The relevant rule 27 clearly states that the ball is considered lost after 5 minutes of searching. If the original ball is subsequently found and then played, disqualification is possible. In competition conditions, the measures against slow play apply at Ybrig Golf Club.
 

How we can speed up our game

On the tee we should

• arrive at the first tee at least 10 minutes before the tee time.
• be ready with the right club, the ball and a tee when it's our turn.
• develop an efficient stroke preparation and only make one test swing.
• note down the result of the previously played hole while the other players are teeing off or after we have teed off ourselves.
• study the playing line just once.
• always play a provisional ball in case the original ball is lost or out of bounds outside a water hazard.

In the field we should

• Always walk quickly between strokes.
• pay attention to where the other players hit the ball.
• always run directly to our ball and do not follow other players unless we are helping to find the ball.
• coordinate and support each other when searching for balls, for example by systematically searching the area next to each other.
• think about and prepare the next shot while we walk to the ball or while someone else in my group is playing.
• estimate the distance to the destination while walking there (markings, GPS, laser devices)
• determine the direction beforehand, choose the right club and make just one test swing.
• play ourselves as soon as it's our turn.
• do not comment on every stroke of the other players.
• always play a provisional ball if the ball cannot be found immediately outside a water hazard or could be out of bounds.
• Invite subsequent players who are waiting to play through when it becomes clear that a ball is not easy to find.

The equipment should be

• on the fairway always line up directly opposite us at ball height.
• Never leave it in front of the green, but park it immediately to the side of the green in the direction of the next tee.
• If necessary, place the equipment appropriately for a fellow player.

If the ball is in the obstacle, we should

• As a precautionary measure, do without test swings altogether.
• take the rake into the sand bunker and lay it down carefully without checking the sand.
• rake and leave the bunker immediately after we have played the ball out of it.
• assist the other players in removing the uneven ground in the bunker if this can speed up the game.

On the green we should

• mark the ball immediately, clean it and repair the hole in your own ball and any other holes.
• study and prepare your own putt while a teammate is putting and place the ball if it does not disturb the other players.
• putt immediately when it's our turn.
• finish immediately if a ball is close to the hole (do not mark 30-centimetre putts again).
• operate the flag immediately so that the competitor can play.
• repair spike marks after the hole and leave the green immediately.
• Put away clubs such as putter, pitching wedge etc. on the next tee.
• do not write down the result on the green, but on the next tee shot.
• never discuss stroke numbers and never congratulate other players when they are waiting to hit the green.

What should I pay particular attention to during competitions?

• In Stableford we should pick up the ball when we can't score any more points (don't putt).
• In four-ball best-ball, we should pick up the ball immediately if we can no longer improve our partner's score (do not put out).
• In the hole game, we can give away short putts or, in a hopeless situation, an entire hole prematurely.
• In the counting game, we should announce our own score out loud to the counter when we take our ball out of the hole.
• Unreasonable delay may be penalised with penalty strokes or disqualification.

We can also

• You can also play a friendly game or a 6 or 9-hole round with half a set of clubs and even carry them in some circumstances. It's much quicker and also fun.

This is not a call to push! However, we should always orientate ourselves towards the front, know who is playing next, be ready for our shot and make sure that we stay ahead.

Extra Day Score

Extra Day Scores (EDS) are handicap index-effective rounds of play and count in the same way as handicap-effective tournaments. An EDS can only be played on a homologated golf course of a golf club affiliated to Swiss Golf. EDS from abroad are not accepted.

Who can play an EDS round?

• Over 18 holes: all players (except juniors with a handicap index < 12.0)
• Over 9 holes: all players (except juniors with a handicap index < 12.0)

Procedure

Before starting the round, you must register with the club secretary of the golf club on whose course you wish to play an EDS. During registration, you will receive a scorecard on which the following information will be noted:

• Date of the EDS round
• Surname, first name, home club and handicap of the player
• Surname, first name, home club and handicap of the marker
• Number of holes to be played (9 or 18)
• Colour of the counting tees from which the game is played
• Cost of EDS round CHF 15.00

The scorecard signed by the player and the scorer must be handed in at the secretary's office after the end of the round. Every result from an EDS must be counted for the handicap index; this also applies to no returns. If a player fails to hand in the card on the day of the match the result will be counted as "NR". It is not permitted to play more than one EDS per day.

Marker

• The marker must have a handicap in a golf club affiliated with Swiss Golf or one of the handicap index leading public golf organisations.
• A Pro can be a marker.
• At Golf Club Ybrig, the marker must have a handicap of 36.0 or better.
• The marker may be a member of the family.