Scratch 5-a-Side

Womens Scratch 5-a-side leagues

Qualification

A team from an affiliated club will consist of five female players. Different players may be selected by the club for each round. Any player who is a member of more than one club affiliated to MIDDLESEX GOLF may only play for the club that is their Home Club for handicap purposes.

A maximum of two teams from each affiliated club.

Format

Teams compete in one of three divisions; divisions one, two, or three. Divisions will contain no more than six teams.

Each club will play one home or away match against all other teams in their division. Whether teams play home or away will be determined by lot by the County Secretary. The divisional matches will be played between March and August. No matches can be played prior to or after this period. Matches must be played on a weekend within the designated window set by the County Secretary. Clubs will play no more than one match per calendar month. Each match, except the final, will start at or before 2:00pm on the last Sunday of the month or on an earlier weekend mutually arranged between the two teams.

The format of the competition is five 18-hole singles matches played off scratch from the same set of tees. The team winning the most individual matches wins the overall match.

The winning team will be awarded one point and the losing team will receive zero points. If a match is halved both teams will receive half a point.

A minimum of three players may constitute a team. The opposing team will receive the individual match points for any player that is not fielded. Hence, if a team cannot field at least three players their opponents will receive a walkover, consisting of one match point and three individual match points.

If a club enters two teams the five lowest handicap women that are available and willing to represent the club must be nominated for the club’s ‘A’ team. Those who are nominated in the ‘A’ team must play in a minimum of two matches during the league stage. If a player fails to do so, the ‘A’ team will be deducted 1 match point. A player nominated in the ‘A’ team must not represent the ‘B’ team. If a player does so, the ‘B’ team will be deducted 1 match point.

If a player from the ‘B’ team represents the ‘A’ team twice in one season year they are no longer able to represent the ‘B’ team.

After all matches in the league are completed the two teams that progress to the final from each division will be the clubs with the highest number of match points. In the event of a tie, the winner will be the club with the greater number of individual matches won. If there is still a tie, the winner will be the club with the greater number of individual matches won in the final three matches of the season.

The teams winning divisions two and three will be promoted to divisions one and two respectively. The teams finishing in last place in divisions one and two will be relegated to divisions two and three respectively.