I DEFINITIONS ESLGA

Committee: During tournaments the ESLGA Committee shall consist of at least two of three members, the President, the vice president/treasurer and the Secretary-General or their designated deputies, thus representing the Board of ESLGA.

Championship Committee: The Championship Committee is an honorary committee, formed by at least three members: the President of ESLGA, the President of the National Senior (Ladies) Golf Association of the organizing country and the President of the Club, where the tournament is being played, or their deputies. The Championship Committee watches over and shall strive for a good atmosphere during the event and ensure that the tournament is being played in the true spirit of the game. This Committee may give advice to anyone at any time.

Tournament Committee: The Tournament Committee is formed by the organizing country and is responsible for the organization of the tournament. As Committee, its responsibility is defined in the Rules of Golf 33 and 34. The composition of the Committee is up to the organizing country, but shall consist of at least one official referee and one person nominated by the ESLGA Committee. Also a Tournament Director shall be designated.

II GENERAL

The Marisa Sgaravatti Trophy is an annual tournament of the European Senior Ladies Golf Association (ESLGA), open to amateur golfers of ESLGA Members. The tournament will take place in the countries of the ESLGA, rotation not being obligatory. The ESLGA’s General Meeting is entitled to grant the organization of this tournament to a particular Association during one or several years, its choice not being based on who applied first, but on criteria such as accessibility, general quality, economy, climate and other factors. Every year the ESLGA’s General Meeting will establish the location and the date of the tournament at least three years ahead. The language in force is English.

III ENTRY REQUIREMENTS AND FEES

1. Teams For the tournament, ESLGA members may enter one team of four to six players with a handicap of 6,5 or higher. The half year handicap history by the date of enrolling to the tournament of team members is needed to show.

2. Entries Entry forms will be sent out by the organizing country at least six months before the competition. Entries must be made by e-mail to the organizing Association at the latest four months before the competition, while player’s names, handicaps and rankings must be announced three weeks before the first day of the tournament. Subsequently no substitutions shall be permitted.

3. Qualification A player must be:

a) An amateur as defined by the rules of amateur status as approved by the R & A Rules Limited.

b) A member of the Golf Federation of the Country or a member of a Senior Ladies Association, recognized by or associated to the Federation,

c) 50 years old or more the day before the Trophy starts, and

d) A citizen of the Country she represents or has been a resident of that country for a minimum of five years. e) For new players send ID card

4. Handicap

a) EGA handicap: the lowest handicap is 6.5 EGA, exact handicap on closing date for entries. Captains are responsible for the accuracy of the handicaps when they send in the entry forms.

b) The captain has to bring the handicap history of each player starting from the beginning of the current year.

5. Fees The entry fee shall be determined by the Member Association organizing the competition, in accordance with the ESLGA Committee with one practice day to be granted before the competition.

IV FORMAT OF THE COMPETITION

6. Form of play Team will be composed of a maximum of 6 players and a minimum of 5. Each team may have a captain who may be a player or non-player but who must be an Amateur as defined in 1 (a) above. The Trophy will consist of two phases:

36 holes qualifying, Tuesday and Wednesday
Match play within flights, Thursday and Friday.

7. First phase – stroke play

a) Two qualifying rounds stroke play to be played on consecutive days. The draw for the stroke play will be made in twos and threes from different nations (8 or 10 minutes interval).

Captains may place their players in any order they wish on either day but must notify the Trophy Committee of this order :

for the first round by Monday 5 p.m.
for the second round by Tuesday at 5 p.m.
If by the end of the first day the captain has not handed in any order before 5 p.m., her team will resume the same position as for the first round.

b) The best four scores out of five will count each day. The total aggregate of eight scores over the two days will constitute the score of the team.

c) In the event of a tie, the total of the five scores of the last day will count.

d) If there is a further tie, the total of the five scores of the first day will count. Then the best score of the last day will count. Then the second best score, and so on.

8. Second phase – match play

Based on the results of the stroke play, flights will be formed as follows and played by match play.

a) The four teams with the best results enter flight 1. The other flights will be composed of 4-3 or 2 teams depending upon the number of teams participating.

b) Each team will play 5 singles.

c) Flight of 4 first day: 2 vs. 3 and 1 vs. 4

second day: winner v. winner and loser vs. loser Flight of 3 first day: 2 vs. 3 second day: 1 vs. winner Flight of 2 first day: 1 vs. 2

NOTE: After 18 played holes, if an individual match is tied, the match continues without delay with extended holes till the match is settled. If however either team has already been declared winner in at least 3 individual matches, tied matches will not extend beyond 18 holes. Such match is declared halved and both teams earn ½ point. Similarly, the same applies to an individual match already in play on extended holes. Such match is discontinued and declared halved with both teams earning ½ point.

d) One point for each match that is won and ½ point for a halved match. If a player fails to play one match, the opponent gets that point.

e) Order of play for the match play.

On the eve of each match, each Captain must notify the Trophy Committee in a sealed envelope the names of the players in their team and the order of play. This envelope shall not be opened before the Committee has been able to receive the opponent’s sealed envelope,

for Thursday match: within 30 minutes of the completion of the second round stoke play.

for Friday match: within 30 minutes of the completion of their respective flights.

9. Substitutes

Substitution of any of the six players is allowed for any reason.

The Trophy Committee must be notified immediately of any change in a team.

Qualification phase: If a substitute player is brought in, the Trophy Committee must be notified 20 minutes before the first teeing off time of the player being replaced.

Sanction: disqualification of the player.

Match play phase: if a substitute is brought in, the Trophy Committee must be notified 20 minutes before the first teeing off time of the team. Only if the substitute is brought in on the day of the match the substitute will play as the last player the others moving up in the original draw.

Sanction: loss of the match

10. Rules

The rules of golf will be the ones defined by the the R & A Rules Limited and the United States Golf Association as well as those established by the local Tournament Committee.

a) A player may only take advice from her caddies or an appointed team Captain. Such a person must be identified to the Trophy Committee prior to the start of the Trophy and must be an Amateur as defined in 1(a) above.

b) The ball that the player uses shall be named on the current list of conforming balls issued by the R & A Rules Limited and the USGA (see above). The list will be available on the first tee (starter) and the competitors shall ensure that the golf ball they are playing is on that list.

c) The use of golf carts is not allowed.

d) Slow play rules will apply to this Trophy. At the Captains’ meeting prior to the Trophy a standard will be set for the speed at which the game will be played. Sanction following Appendix I part c 9.

e) Caddy – definition 7 – Everyone can have the caddy of her own choice with the exception of professionals (coaches). Fellow team members and team Captains will be allowed.

f) No players should be substituted to the list of entry form 3 unless a serious reason as arisen.

The Trophy Committee is sole judge of any such substitution.

g) The Tournament Committee reserves the right to amend the Rules and Conditions should it be necessary.

11. Practice

A player who is competing in the championship will not be allowed to practice on the championship course for

a period of thirty days prior to the first official practice day, unless she is a member of the golfclub at which the

championship is being played. Only registered team players will be permitted to practice during the official

rounds and in the official practice rounds.

V SPECIAL RULES

12. Drug abuse

The guidelines of each member country with regard to drug abuse are applicable to all European Championships and International Matches. The organising country should inform the participants about the rules of conduct on the notice board before the Trophy starts.

13. Disqualification

A team disqualified during the qualifying phase automatically assumes last place in the Trophy.

14. Failure to start – starting time

The player must start at the time established by the Committee.

Rule 6-3 shall apply: If the player arrives at her starting point, ready to play, within five minutes after starting time, the penalty for failure to start on time is loss of the first hole in match play or two strokes at the first hole in stroke play. Otherwise, the penalty for breach of this Rule is disqualification.

15. Play suspended because of bad weather

a) If one of the first two qualifying rounds is washed out, the one round played alone will count (but all

five scores must be handed in).

b) If the first two qualifying rounds are washed out, one qualifying round will be played on the third day and match play on the fourth day as follows :

Flight of 4 3 vs. 4 and 1 vs. 2 Flight of 3 2 vs. 3

c) If three days are washed out, the Trophy will consist of only one stroke play round over 18 holes.

d) If the first three days are playable and the last day washed out, it is between the two teams of each match. The team that has achieved the best qualifying score wins.

e) If the third day is washed out, the matches that should have been played that day, shall be played on the fourth day as follows :

3 vs. 4 and 1 vs. 2

f) If four matches are washed out the only match that has been played counts for the final result.

If three matches are washed out, and the result of the two matches being played is a tie, the result will be defined by ups. If two matches are washed out there is still an odd result which stands. If one match is washed out and the result of the four matches being played is a tie, the result will be defined by ups.

g) The Tournament Committee reserves the right to make a decision in equity when it is impossible to complete a match or series of matches in accordance with the Rules of Golf, following the Guidelines for Team Matches from the R & A Rules Limited.

16. Use of walkie talkie – mobile phones and walkman

Walkie-talkies are for use by the Tournament Committee officials only. The Team Captains are not allowed to use them.

Use of mobile phones by a player, caddie or team Captain on the golf course is not recommended. However, in case of emergency or danger (for medical reasons etc.) or to call the Tournament office, a mobile phone may exceptionally be used. In any case a mobile phone should be switched off in order to avoid distracting the other players.

Use a mobile phone to ask for a give advice in breach of rule 8-1: disqualification (R14-3) 2. Use a mobile phone as authorized by the rules but distracting other players:

a. First offence: the player is guilty of a breach of etiquette and should switch off her mobile phone. b. Subsequent offence: the player is guilty of a serious breach of etiquette and the Committee may impose a penalty of disqualification under rule 33-7.

17. Use of distance measuring device

Devices, measuring distance only can be used.

VI TROPHY and PRIZES

18. Prizes

The Trophy will be presented by the Hosting Country to the winning team who holds on to it for the ensuing year. The winning country will be responsible for the cost of engraving, insuring and maintaining the Trophy.

The Tournament will present medals to the members of the winning team, second team and third team.

VII RECOMMENDATIONS

19. Captains’ Meeting The Captains’ meeting will take place at the end of the practice day. The Tournament Director, Head Referee and all Team Captains should attend. Local rules, course conditions and “Pace of Play policy” (Rule 6-7) will be explained; questions from captains will be answered. Location of the recording area shall be indicated.

20. As the friendly and sporting character of the tournaments is an important goal of the ESLGA, participants should experience the tournament as most enjoyable, while playing and behaving in the true spirit of the game. The final results should be ready at the Closing/Prize giving ceremony and to be presented and distributed to all team captains. Members of the Tournament Committee, referees and Captains should speak and understand the English language. To avoid slow play:

• the course will always be played from the red tees, whatever the course length is.
• pin positions to be reasonably placed
• the Tournament Committee should provide forecaddies where necessary
• the captains should inform their players:
  to be on the right starting tee 15 minutes before the starting time
  when searching for balls, to give priority without delay