Below is a list of your responsibilities when entering / playing in a club competition:

1. Please check in with the Pro Shop when you get to the course and collect your card.

2. Sign-in to the competition either via the PC which is located at the top of the stairs which are next to the Pro Shop or the Club V1 App (not the Scottish Golf App)

3. Upon completion of your round, ensure you record your score via the PC up the stairs or the Club V1 App (not the Scottish Golf App)

4. Ensure your card is completed correctly, signed by you and your marker and placed in the Competition Score Card Box next to the PC up the stairs. If you are unsure how to complete a card please seek guidance from the Pro Shop, one of your playing partners or contact the Match Secretary.

5. Any member with a time booked for a weekend competition must ensure that, if they are unable to play, they remove themselves from the competition. This can be done via the BRS App if it is before 19:00 on the Thursday before the competition is played.

After this time you need to contact the Pro Shop either in person or via the phone. If the Pro Shop phone line is busy or no one is available to take your call please ensure you leave a message on the automated service.

Failure to follow the above may result in you being banned from the next competition (excluding mid-week Medals).

When it comes to recording your score for comps and you have a 'zero(s)' on your card, ClubV1 presents you with a couple of options:

1. Played But Did Not Score
2. Did Not Play

It is very important that you select the correct option as it does impact your handicap index.

For a Nil Return (N/R) select 'Played But Did Not Score'. NOTE: A minimum of 10 scores is required for your card to be recorded for handicap purposes so please continue to mark your card for the rest of your round.

For Did Not Play (DNP) select 'Did Not Play'. NOTE: This should generally only be used when you are injured or become ill during the course of your round and you must write this on your card. If there is no written confirmation on your card the Match Team will change the entry to an N/R.

The Match Team will monitor members use of N/R and DNP and may contact you if required, to discuss why they were used. Penalty scores maybe added to your Scottish Golf Handicap record if use is deemed to be invalid.

It is important that you are familiar with our Local Rules. They can change from time to time, especially between October and the end of March each year so check back here now and then to ensure you keep up to date.

1. GROUND UNDER REPAIR (RULE 16)

a. All areas enclosed by white lines and blue stakes
b. Tractor ruts made by greenkeeping equipment
c. Cultivated areas of flower beds
d. The practice bunkers on the practice chipping area at the back of the 9th green

2. IMMOVABLE OBSTRUCTION  (RULE 16)

a. All staked trees not within plantation areas
b. Electrical junction boxes and drain covers
c. All marker posts i.e. distance and water hazards
d. Telegraph poles on the 13th hole
e. The green and white posts next to some bunkers

3. PENALTY AREAS (RULE 17)

a. Water hazards are defined by yellow stakes and/or lines.
b. Lateral water hazards are defined by red stakes and/or lines.
c. At the water hazard on the 16th hole, as an additional option to those available under 17.1, players may drop a ball in the identified dropping zone

4. OUT OF BOUNDS (RULE 18)

On or over any wall and beyond any fence, hedge or white stakes or lines defining the boundary of the course, including driving range, car park behind the 18th hole and the paved area around the club house.

5. INTEGRAL PARTS OF THE COURSE

a. The stone bridge over the burn on the 13th hole
b. The large stones behind the 15th green.

6. TELEGRAPH WIRES

If a ball strikes the telegraph wire running across the 13th fairway, the stroke MUST be cancelled and replayed without penalty by dropping the ball as near as possible to the spot from where the ball was played. If the stroke was played from the tee it can be re-teed within the teeing ground. If the ball is not immediately recoverable another ball may be substituted.

7. PATHS

Lift and drop from any artificial surfaced path or road within the course boundary.

8. MARKERS

Markers on fairways show the distance to the CENTRE of the green.

Red 200 yards
White 150 yards
Yellow 100 yards

9. PRACTICE GREENS / PITCHING AND CHIPPING AREA

The practice Greens on the Pitching and Chipping area behind the 9th green are Wrong Greens so relief must be taken in accordance with Rule 13.1

10. STONES IN BUNKERS

Stones in bunkers are movable obstructions, relief to be taken in accordance with Rule 12.2

11. AERATION HOLES

On the Putting Green and Fairway, a ball which has come to rest in or on an Aeration Hole may be lifted and placed at the nearest spot not nearer the hole which avoids the condition.

12. CLEANING A BALL (MODEL LOCAL RULE E-2)

Between the 1st October and the 30th April each year (dates subject to review) when a players ball lies in the general area (which excludes the teeing area, penalty areas, bunkers and the putting green) of the course, the ball may be lifted, cleaned and replaced without penalty. The player must mark the spot of the ball before lifting it (Rule 14.1) and the ball must be replaced on its original spot (Rule 14.2)

13. TEMPORARY GREEN(S) IN OPERATION (MODEL LOCAL RULE D-2)

There may be times when a putting green for a hole cannot be used for some reason e.g. repair or maintenance or due to weather.

When this happens a temporary green will be in operation i.e. used as a putting green, as defined by the area of the fairway surrounded by white lines. Any putting green that has been replaced by a temporary putting green is classed as a ‘wrong green’ and free relief must be taken under Rule 13.1f.

The following protocols will be followed when start of play is suspended due to fog:

1.Play will be resumed when the right and left hand side fairway bunkers at the first are visible for 15 minutes

2. If a player decides to go home while play is suspended they forfeit their scheduled / booked tee time. If it is a Competition day they will not be able to return and play in the Competition, however they can book one of the ‘casual play’ slots if available or one of the slots after the Competition tee times are finished.

3. The Pro Shop will manage the tee sheet and players cannot pick and choose their revised tee time or playing partner(s)

4. A split tee start may be used when play is suspended for more than one hour. This will be managed by the Pro Shop

Pumpherston Competition Bad Weather Procedure (as at Nov 2025 and applies to Club and Open competitions)

The following procedures should be read in conjunction with our fog delay protocols.

Generally, our Greens Staff attend from 6.00am to prepare the course and their decision to open or close the course will be taken relevant to course and playing conditions at the proposed start time for each competition (also see Note1).

The criteria for assessment of playability will be dependent on 2 main criteria:

Criteria one: Is the course playable

Criteria two: Does playing the course constitute any form of risk to players (e.g. strong winds that could topple trees or lightning risk)

If the greens staff close the course first thing in the morning then the competition start time may be delayed.

If the course conditions, current weather and ongoing forecast are bad, the competition can be cancelled before the scheduled start of play. A communication / announcement via the club website will be published as soon as practically possible.

Delayed Start or Suspension of Play

1. If the course is opened, the competition will begin with the same order as on the start sheet. After three hours delay, if no start time has been decided the competition maybe cancelled in order to save players hanging around indefinitely.

2. The Pro Shop can re-allocate slots as required to run the competition efficiently in the event of call off's from early starters.

3. Generally, entry fees / sweep money will not be refunded unless the competition is cancelled. Players who withdraw on the day due to bad weather conditions will not have entry fees / sweep money refunded if the competition proceeds, the course is deemed playable and the competition is deemed completed.

4. If after starting a competition, the course becomes unplayable due to the weather, the Head Greenkeeper (or their Deputy), The Greens Convener, The Match Secretary, and two or more Committee members  my suspend play (normally via use of a fog horn).

5. On suspension of play, the player should if possible, complete the hole they are playing at the time of suspension. Failing that, they should clearly mark the position of their ball to enable continuation of play when conditions allow.

The Pro Shop will indicate when play is to resume (normally via the use of a fog horn)

Relief from Flooding

1. If the greens start to flood and are you unable to get relief, if a squeegee has been made available please use it. No other tool / implement should be used as you risk damaging the greens.

2. A player who believes the green to be unplayable and with no relief available should telephone the Professional Shop (01506 433337 option 1) and report their findings. If the Pro Shop is not available a player may call a suspension in play if relief as above is not possible.

3. If possible take a picture of the flooded green.

Completing a Competition

1. After a delay or suspension and the player runs out of daylight before finishing their round their scorecard will still count for handicap purposes, unless the competition has been cancelled.

2. If more than 50% of the field complete their round (18 holes) prior to any suspension of play or closure of the course, the scores will be deemed to stand and an outcome published for the competition.

3. If the majority (a majority being more than 50%) of the field are not able to complete their round due to the course becoming unplayable or insufficient light following a suspension, then the competition will be cancelled and entry fees / sweep money will be returned.

NOTE 1: The course maybe closed due to adverse weather conditions and opened when fit for play by any of the following: The Course Manager (or their Deputy), The Greens Convener, The Match Secretary, The Captain, The Vice Captain, The Starter (Pro Shop) and one Committee Member or two or more Committee Members.