Rules & Fair Play

Terms & Conditions

The Graft Golf League is built on the spirit of the game: Integrity, Competition, and Grit. By registering for the season, all players agree to abide by the following framework.

1. Player Eligibility & Handicaps

  • WHS Requirement: All players must hold a valid World Handicap System (WHS) index & have 20 previous rounds on their Handicap Record. 
  • The last date for league entry is 19th July. 

2. Scoring & The "Best 6" Format

  • The Goal: Your league standing is calculated using your top 6 Nett Stableford scores from the season.
  • Card Limits: You may submit a maximum of 12 cards per season.
  • Course Variety: To ensure a level playing field, a maximum of 3 cards from any single course (including your home club) will count toward your final "Best 6" Final Standings.

3. Integrity: The "Call Your Shot" Rule

To prevent "post-round reporting" (only submitting good scores), we operate a strict Pre-Declaration policy via the Graft Golf League App:

  1. Declare: You must start your round in the app before 11am on the day of your round. 
  2. Verify: Every round must be played with a marker (another league member or a playing partner with a WHS handicap).
  3. Submit: Scores must be uploaded and "signed" digitally within 4 hours of finishing your round. Scores must also be submitted on to the England Golf App. 
  4. Proof: We reserve the right to request a photo of the physical, signed scorecard for every scorecard.

4. The Majors & Fixed Events

  • Attendance: Majors (Opening/Closing) are fixed-date events. While not mandatory for the league title, they offer on the day prizes  and are the only days where the whole community competes simultaneously.
  • Tie-Breakers: In the event of a tie for the Season Championship, the winner will be decided by the highest score recorded on the Final Sunday Major. If still tied, a "countback" on the final card will apply.

5. Equipment & Local Rules

  • Standard Rules: All play must be conducted in accordance with the R&A Rules of Golf.
  • Local Rules: Players must respect the local rules of whichever course they are playing.
  • Gimmies: There are no gimmies in Graft Golf. Every ball must be holed out.
  • Technology: Distance-measuring devices (Rangefinders/GPS) are permitted and encouraged to maintain pace of play. Use of the slope function is not permitted. 

6. Code of Conduct

Graft Golf is a modern league, but we uphold traditional standards of etiquette:

  • Pace of Play: Always keep up with the group in front.
  • Repairing the Course: Fix your pitch marks and rake the bunkers. "The Graft" applies to looking after the course, too.
  • Sandbagging: Any player found to be artificially inflating their handicap or submitting fraudulent scores will be immediately disqualified from the league with no refund.

7. Refund Policy

Season Membership: Once a player has registered for the season, a full refund is not possible. This is because your membership fee immediately covers fixed league costs, including your digital app access, the production and shipping of your custom Member Pack (Graft Polo, Bag Tag, and Ball Marker) and the advance booking of venues based on total player numbers.

Major Event Withdrawals: We understand that life happens. If a player is unable to attend a specific physical Major event, a refund for the event portion of the fee will be issued, minus any non-recoverable costs incurred by the league (such as pre-paid green fees, catering deposits, or personalized event materials).

Notice Period: To be eligible for a partial Major event refund, players must provide at least 14 days' notice. Cancellations made within 14 days of a Major are non-refundable unless a replacement player can be secured from the waiting list.