WPGA TEAM MATCH RULES

Revised, January 2025

TEAMS:

 

  1. Teams will be divided into four divisions:  North, East, South and West. The opponents for the championship matches will change from year to year – one year North plays South and East plays West, and the next year North plays West and South plays East, and so on. This allows for competition against different teams.

 

  1. Each club will be represented by four two-women teams. If two clubs wish to join together to field one team, they must, in order to qualify, have no more than 8 members in each club’s women’s group at the end of the prior year.  

 

  1. If a team cannot consistently field 8 players, they must declare BEFORE THEIR FIRST MATCH that they are playing each match with a maximum of either 6 or 7 players in ALL matches. Once a team declares a smaller number of players, that team must play with NO MORE than that number in every match against all opponents but may play with one less, as all teams may do, before needing to request a reschedule.

                                                                                                          

  1. Regardless of the number of players (determined by declaration, as described above), each match will consist of four “carts” or paired matches, making the same number of points available to each team.  Play will be four-ball match play (modified by number of declared players where necessary) net and gross.

 

  1. Starting on April 15, a golf team roster will be comprised of no more than 16 eligible* members. From the team roster, available members who have the eight (or declared smaller number) lowest handicaps will be used for each match except in the 8th spot only (the Captain may substitute at will an eligible player). Captains must maintain handicap order.

 

  1. We are currently abiding by the handicap index as outlined under the USGA rules. The maximum handicap index is 40.4. A player with a higher handicap index may participate on the team, but MUST play with an index of 40.4.  Golfers who play in geographical areas with seasons running through the winter are required to post scores as soon as they return to our region to be eligible to play.

 

  1. Team Captains are to email the Team Match Chair a roster of her eligible* team members by April 15.  When emailing her roster, the Team Captain must state in writing that she has verified the eligibility of her team members.  Rosters may be modified up to the date of the first match, but any additional players must meet the eligibility* requirements.  

 

  1. Team Captains must notify the Team Match Chair of their ability to field a team no later than November 1st of the previous year. If your circumstances change after November 1 and you find you cannot field a team, you must notify the Team Match Chair ASAP.

 

*ELIGIBILITY:

 

  1. A player must be a current member of the WPGA with her dues paid by April 1 and a member of her women’s group with a certified 18-hole handicap based on 5 scores played within the last 24 months, 

 

  1. Golfers belonging to more than one member club can play on only one team. Any golfer changing teams from one year to the next must pay her WPGA dues from the club on whose team she is playing by April 1 of the current team match year.  

 

  1. It is the Team Captain’s responsibility to verify that the team members are eligible to play and have paid their dues by April 1st, No Exceptions!

 

  1. Having an ineligible player will result in loss of any points won by the player and her partner. The opposing team will retain only the points that they won in the match. If a club plays an ineligible golfer(s) in two or more matches, the club will lose all points accumulated during the season. 

 

FORMAT:

 

  1. USGA handicap allowances for multi-ball events are effective. Play will be four-ball match play (modified by number of declared players where necessary), 100% handicap, gross and net.

 

  1. Each two-woman team must be the lowest handicap index pairing in ascending order: For teams declaring that their team will compete with fewer than 8 players, the same ascending handicap rules apply: however, each Captain playing with fewer than 8 players must declare when exchanging her roster with the opposing Captain, which player(s) will play with no partner in which cart number (refer to scheduling, item 1)

 

  1. Scoring for each hole will be one (1) point for gross win, one (1) point for net win, and one-half (1/2) point for a tie in gross or net.

 

  1. Net Scoring:  The player with the lowest handicap of the four-ball match will play scratch. All other players receive the full difference between their handicaps and the lowest player. Strokes will be given as they fall on the scorecard. Maximum handicap index: 40.

 

  1. The indexes for team members shall be calculated on the Saturday before Tuesday’s match.. 

      If a match has been rescheduled, then handicaps will be used 3 days before rescheduled match.

(E.g.- Match being played on Thursday, you will use Monday’s handicap)

Handicaps for each team match are calculated by using the designated Home Course rating.

 

  1. When one regular team member is unavailable, the match must be played with 1 less player than their declared number of players (i.e. for 8 member teams, they must play with seven players; a declared 7 member team must play with 6 players; a declared 6 member team must play with 5 players.)  It will be up to the Team Captain to decide who will play with no partner. Except for playoffs, matches must be rescheduled if a team cannot field a team with no more than 1 less player than their declared number of players for each match during the year.

 

  1. If the situation arises that one player will be absent for part of the match (or at the last minute cannot play) that player’s partner may represent her side for all or part of the match. Her absent partner may join the match between holes, but not during play of a hole. The absent partner’s name and handicap index must be included in the team lineup.

 

  1. It is the host Team Captain’s responsibility to email or text the Team Match Chairs and the away Team Captain the day the match was played, giving the results of each match as well as the total gross and net points on the template provided if possible. (You could also take a picture of the template and email it.) On the subject line of the email: list your division and the two teams (i.e. West: Chester River/Prospect Bay.)  The away Team Captain should contact the Team Match Chair if there is any discrepancy.

 

  1. If any doubt or dispute arises between players, a ruling request must be made in a timely manner - before any player in the match plays from the next teeing area or, if on the last hole, before the result of the match is final. Should it be determined at a later date that a player used a handicap higher than her correct one, all net points for her specific match will be forfeited. Should a player use a handicap lower than her correct one, the points will stand as recorded.

 

  1. The Team Match Chair will compile the results and email the weekly summary to the Team Captains.

 

  1. Team Captains must make sure their team members have posted their scores within 24 hours of play. They MUST be posted as Competition.  A player will be considered ineligible to play if she does not show correctly posted team match scores.   

 

  1. All matches are to be played in accordance with USGA Rules, modified by authorized Local Rules. (see pages 449-510 of the Official Guide to the Rules of Golf.)

 

  1. Artificial measuring devices (including cell phone apps) that provide distance only may be used in all team matches.

 

  1. Carts are mandatory.

 

  1. Spectators will have no input in any Team Match.

 

  1. Cell phones are not to be used for business or personal matters. They may be used for emergency reasons only.

 

SCHEDULING:

 

  1. The host Team Captain should contact the away Team Captain to confirm tee times. The Team Captains must email each other with their team lineups by the Saturday before the match,  so 

 

scorecards can be made. This is to accommodate Pro Shops that are closed on Mondays. 

 

  1. Tee-off time should be, if possible, no later than 10:00 AM and earlier if mutually agreeable with both Team Captains. Starting hole play is left to the discretion of the host Team Captain and/or Golf Pro.

 

  1. Team Match schedules should be adhered to unless the host course is closed to carts (a cart path only restriction is not a reason to reschedule the match).  Prior to the start of a match, determining the playability of the home course will be the responsibility of the home Team Captain and course superintendent. If the course conditions are deemed inappropriate for fair play, the opposing Team Captain will be notified and the match will be rescheduled. In this event, the deadline for canceling a match will be 7:00 AM on the morning of the scheduled match. The host course and team captain will make the final decision to cancel the match. The host club will notify the Team Match Chair.

 

  1. When golf carts are restricted to cart paths only, the host team should try to notify the opposing Team Captain prior to the team’s arrival.  Special exceptions will not be made without a doctor’s note. The “handicapped” golfer’s partner, however, must adhere to the cart path rule.

 

  1. Once a match begins, if both Team Captains consider that for any reason the course is not in a playable condition, or that there are circumstances that render the proper playing of the match impossible, they shall have the power in match play to order a temporary suspension of play. When play has been temporarily suspended, it shall be resumed from where it was discontinued, even though resumption may occur on a subsequent day. NO SUBSTITUTIONS ARE ALLOWED IN THIS SITUATION.

 

  1. Thursday will be the designated make-up day. Every attempt must be made to play the cancelled match within one (1) week of when originally scheduled. Additional time can be requested through the Team Match Chair if agreed upon by both captains. All make-ups must be completed by the Friday before the semi-final playoff date.

 

  1. Team Captains must work out any necessary rescheduling. The Team Match Chairs must be notified of any schedule changes, if a scheduling problem develops, or if a match is cancelled.

 

DIVISION TIES:

 

  1. Division Ties:  If two teams finish the season within their division tied for gross or net, the winner will be the team that had the better record against the opposing team with whom they tied. If the two teams remain tied, the tie will be broken by match of cards of total points starting with Team 1’s cards, then Team 2, etc until the tie is broken.  If all remains tied at that point, the tie will be broken by a match of Team 1’s cards, starting with the #1 handicap hole.

 

  1. If multiple teams finish the season within their division tied for gross or net they will take their combined scores from the teams tied. Once all teams have total accumulative points in the current season, the one with the most points will be the winner of that division gross or net. Example team 1, 2 & 3 are tied. You would add the scores that team 1 got in their match during the current season against 2 & 3. Team 2 would add the scores that they got in their match played in the current season against 1 & 3. Team 3 would add the scores that they got in their match played in the current season against 1 & 2.

 

  1. Team Captains Must Keep All Scorecards.

 

  1. Semi-final and final matches: In case of a tie between divisions in a semi-final or final championship match, there will be a sudden death playoff between each club’s Team 1.  Play will start on the first hole and handicaps will apply (only for Net division).

 

CHAMPIONSHIP SEMI-FINALS AND FINALS:

  1. The winners of the semi-final matches will compete for the championship in gross and net. If one team should win both gross and net titles in their division, that team will compete for gross in the playoffs.  Team Members Playing in Semi Finals/ Finals MUST have played in at least one regular season match to be eligible. 

 

  1. Playoff dates and locations will be scheduled at the beginning of the season. If it works out that a net and gross playoff match can be played on the same day and course, it shall be scheduled.  If at all possible, the playoffs will be played on a neutral course. The semi-finals can be either shotgun start or tee times at the discretion of the host course.  Tee times are requested for the finals.  Starting times should not be earlier than 10 AM to allow for travel time

 

  1. All teams playing in playoffs will give the Team Match Chair their line-up at least two days prior to playoff date so she can have scorecards and carts ready for play. TEAM CAPTAINS, NOT THE TEAM MATCH CHAIR, ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR CHECKING ALL SCORE CARDS. TEAM CAPTAINS SHOULD CHECK INFORMATION WITH EACH OTHER BEFORE PLAY.

 

  1. If, during the semi or final matches, play is called due to weather, it shall be resumed from where it was discontinued. The match will be postponed no more than 2 hours. If the teams have completed at least 13 holes and resuming play on that day is not an option, the points won at that time will stand. If the teams are tied, the tie will be broken by match of cards of total points starting with Team 1’s cards, then Team 2, Etc. until the tie is broken. If all remain tied at that point, the tie will be broken by a match of Team 1’s cards, starting with the #1 handicap hole.

 

  1. If fewer than 13 holes have been completed and continuing play that day is not an option, the remainder of the match will be rescheduled, continuing where play was suspended.  No substitutions are allowed. (If possible, a rain date of the following Tuesday will try to be secured at the host club.)

 

  1. The winning gross and net teams of each division and the overall gross and net. Champions are given a plaque purchased and engraved by the WPGA. These plaques are retained, permanently, by the winning team.

 

Match Team rules will be maintained and reviewed annually for updates and changes by the Match Team Chairs, with assistance, as needed, from the WPGA Rules Chairman.