CONSTITUTION 2025

Title

The league shall be called ‘North West Seniors Golf League’.

Objective

The objective of the League is to enable senior golfers over the age of 55 years to participate in, and enjoy, games of golf with their contemporaries and friends from other clubs in the League. The aim is to continue to play competitive golf.

The Organisation of the League

1.     The League shall consist of a maximum, where possible of eight teams. The current league at the start of 2025 is seven:

Deanwood Golf Club, Hart Common Golf Club, Hindley Hall Golf Club, Hurlston Hall Golf Club, Longridge Golf Club, Mytton Fold Golf Club and Wilpshire Golf Club.

2.     The management of the League shall be entrusted to a Committee comprising one representative from each club, together with the Secretary of the League. Each Club shall have one vote at any meeting that involves League business.

3.     The League Committee shall consist of the President, one representative of each Club immediate Past President and the Secretary. Only the representatives of each Club to have a single vote at The Annual General Meeting (AGM); In the event of a tied vote either the Secretary or President, the latter if present holds president and will have the casting vote. The Secretary is elected annually with the President and President Elect are nominated by the Clubs in rotation and shall hold office for one year; with the President Elect succeeding to the office of President at the AGM that is held at the start of each season.

The Secretary shall present the annual accounts, audited independently, to the AGM held at the start of each season at the Presidents’ home club. A fourball competition will be played following the Annual General Meeting with a draw taking place to create a competition between players from the League Clubs.

4.     All Clubs in the League shall pay an annual subscription at a rate determined by the Executive Committee each year. This is currently £125.

5.     Amendments to the constitution will be made by a simple majority of those present at the Annual general Meeting.

The Competition Format

1.     All senior golfers playing in the League must be members of a Club playing in the League, must have attained the age of 55 on the day of any game throughout the season and possess an official club handicap.

2.     Each team shall consist of twelve players. Games will be played on the ‘yellow’ course from the tees that are determined by the Club Greenkeeper or Club official that are controlled by the World Handicap System (WHS) and R & A golf rules.                                                  Where a player of a Club; that are ‘five-day members’ of that Club and play in the League; it is required that those players maintain their handicaps with official mid-week competitions that are also controlled by WHS rules.

3.        Clarification: The ‘Yellow’ course will be set out on the day by the Club Greenkeeper or Club official and be used on that day by all playing the course, without exception. This as required under R & A rule 6.2b will apply to all matches played in the North West Seniors League and has done so since 1997. A tee ‘box’ must be present.

4.     Each game shall comprise of a six four-ball better-ball match play competition with all matches should start from the First Tee; unless all four players have the same number of shots or no shots. This for the object of fairness; should there be exceptional circumstances discretion must be observed. This applies to home and away fixtures.

5.     Each Home Seniors Captain may send the away Captain his team sheet prior to play or they can if they wish exchange team sheets at the venue before play commences. The home team Seniors Captain must provide the team sheet completed with the home players first, prior to the away Seniors Captain adding his team names.

6.       Handicap calculations: Handicap Index WHS Handicap Index but restricted to 21 Course Handicap Calculated as (Handicap Index x Slope Index) + Course Rating - Course Par. Difference subtract the lowest Course Handicap from each of the other players. Multiply the difference by 90% (then round to nearest 1.0) Course handicap and course slope difference must be observed and agreed before commencement of play.

7.     In each game, two points shall be awarded for a home win in a four-ball games and three points for an away win. If a match is halved then one point will be awarded to each pair. There is therefore a maximum of eighteen points for an away team and twelve points for the home team.                               

8.     Team shortages: In the event of a team failing to provide one or more pairs the points for each match affected shall be awarded to the opposing team. Should a team provide an odd number of players (e.g.: 9 or 11) the single player may compete against two opponents in the game or by agreement by the two team captains, a player can be ‘borrowed’ from the other club. In either event, the two or three points can be awarded to the winning side, determined by whether they are the home or away team.

9.     Where poor playing conditions occur as a result of the weather: “If all games have passed the 9th green the score in all games at the time of suspension of play will stand. If the last match has not cleared the 9th green on suspension of play the match will have to be replayed.”

10.   The home team Secretary is responsible for advising the League Secretary of match results within twenty-four hours of completion of the game.

11.  If there is a tie-on point at the end of the season the team that had better results against each other during the season will determine the League winners.

12.  Green Fees and after match meals with coffee or tea on arrival to be provided by the home club.

13.   Each year a trophy is awarded to the winning team to be held for one year. Cash prizes are awarded to the first, second and third teams in the League, the value determined by league funds at the end of each season.

End of Season Celebration

At the end of each season a Presidents’ Day shall be held at the home club of the President, the format being teams of twelve (12) representing each club, the best ten team scores will contribute to a team total. The team with the most Stapleford points will win the Presidents’ Day Trophy, as well as a cash prize; determined by league funds; to be held of one year.

Nigel Fairhurst

NW Seniors League Secretary 2025