2026 Constitution

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
The League shall consist of a maximum, where possible of eight teams. The current league at the start of the 2026 will be eight:
Deanwood Golf Club, Hart Common Golf Club, Hindley Hall Golf Club, Hurlston Hall Golf Club, Longridge Golf Club, Mersey Valley Golf Club, Mytton Fold Golf Club and Wilpshire Golf Club.
The management of the League shall be entrusted to a Committee comprising one representative from each club, together with the Administrator of the League. Each Club shall have one vote at any meeting that involves League business.

The League Committee shall consist of the Administrator and one representative of each Club. Only the representatives of each Club and the Administrator to have a single vote at the Annual General Meeting (AGM); In the event of a tied vote the Administrator will have the casting vote. The Administrator is elected annually with the President and President Elect are nominated by the Clubs in rotation of Club Presidency 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. Neither the President nor President elect shall have voting rights.

The Administrator 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.
All Clubs in the League shall pay an annual subscription at a rate determined by the Executive Committee each year. This is currently £125.
Amendments to the constitution will be made by a simple majority of those present at the Annual General Meeting each year.

The Competition Format
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.

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.

 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.

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. The order of play must be in aggregate handicap order.           This applies to home and away fixtures.

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. The order of play must be in aggregate handicap order.           
Handicap calculations: WHS Handicap Index restricted to 21. The lowest Course Handicap will determine the handicap difference from each of the other players. Handicap difference will be 75% (then round to nearest 1.0) of each Course handicap. This must be observed and agreed before commencement of play.

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. 

Team shortages: In the event of a team failing to provide one or more pairs, if any teams know that their members will not make the match, the games in question will revert to a stableford game, normal stableford rules apply, that is unless the absent players are on their way and will miss the last tee off time, in which case they will be allowed to catch up to the other 3 players and join in the match, it will then remain a better ball match play.  

                     
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.”
The home team Secretary is responsible for advising the League Secretary of match results within twenty-four hours of completion of the game.
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 their League position.
Green Fees and hospitality to be determined by the home Club and whilst coffee or tea on arrival should be a minimum from the home club, there is not obligation in future to include catering after each match. This will be at the discretion of each home team and must be communicated with the opposing team no later than 48 hours prior any game to assist the home Club caterer/kitchen.

Each year a trophy is awarded to the team winning the League 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.
A new competition will be played from 2026, to be called the Jim Clegg Trophy. This will be played between the top four teams in the League at the end of each season. The top four teams will be seeded according to their final League positions. Number one seed will play number four seed, number two seed will play number three seed, with the winners of each playing in the Final. Home venues will be determined by highest seedings.                                           The finals match must be concluded on the day, the last match to be played beyond the 18th hole until a winner is declared by winning the hole outright.

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 Stableford points will win the Presidents’ Day Trophy, as well as a cash prize, determined by league funds, to be held for one year.
Subsequent celebrations are at the discretion of the home Club, with catering and food determined by cost.

Nigel Fairhurst
NW Seniors League Secretary 
7th January 2026.