General

• All events will be handicapped and run as individual stableford rounds
• Events are open to all male and female golfers who hold an official Golf Australia Handicap on Golf Link
• NEW for 2014/15. Each qualifying round now also has some limited spaces available for social golfers. Social players will play in seperate groups and not be part of the main grade prizes or order of merit Race to Bonville.
• In the event of a tie at all events, a count back will be used to decide the winners and final finishing positions. The standard Golf Australia count-back method will be in effect
• The Rules of Golf as approved by R&A Rules Limited will apply
• The Rules of Amateur Status as approved by R&A Rules Limited will apply
• The event is approved for the payment of expenses Rule 4-2g/GA/2/2013

Fair Play

• We endeavour to ensure fair play is practiced by all event participants. We reserve the right as event organizers to investigate any incident of reported unsportsmanlike conduct
• Players adjudged not to have conformed to any event or club rules and regulations, may be withdrawn from the Golf Link Race Series by Golf Link tournament officials
• Strict dress, etiquette and competition regulations apply at all events. Details of club specific rules can be found on each club's website, it is the responsibility of the competitors to know the rules and regulations
• Every Golf Link Race Series event will have nominated event organizers. The decision of event organizers are final on all matters
• Players cards must be marked and signed by another player and returned to event organizers immediately after play
• Some local rules may be used at each event and this decision will be made on the advice of the host club and players duly notified

Golf Link Mates Members

• All Mates members will be eligible for a $20 discount of entry into any of the qualifying rounds
• Only Mates members can obtain the $20 discount and the booking system will verify all Mates members via their Golf Link number at the time of booking
• Please note that only one booking can be made on each Golf Link number per event (to book other friends in, you will need their Golf Link number)

Qualifying Rounds

• Events will be held between October 2014 and April 2015
• 6 qualifying rounds will be contested in New South Wales and Victoria, 4 in Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia, along with 2 events held in Tasmania
• Every qualifying event winner will automatically gain entrance into their relevant state final, at no charge
• Entry to each qualifying round event includes 18 holes of golf on the day, a food and drink component and eligibility to win daily prizes and state final qualification

Order of Merit

• Each state has a separate order of merit and players may only compete on one pre nominated ‘home’ order of merit
• Players shall earn order of merit points at each individual qualifying event, these points will be awarded based on the players performance on the day and their position within the overall competition field
• Order of merit points will be awarded at qualifying rounds in the following order:

• All players outside the top 22 positions at qualifying events will earn 20 order of merit points based on participation
• The order of merit leaderboard will be updated after each qualifying round
• 10 Bonus points will be awarded to nearest the pin, longest drive and grade winners at each qualifying round. Note: the overall daily qualifying round winner will not be entitled to bonus grade winner points
• For the purpose of awarding grade points, the following handicap grades apply based a players Golf Australia handicap: A Grade: + handicaps to 9.4, B Grade: 9.5 to 15.4, C Grade: 15.5 to 36(men) to 45 (women)
• After the final qualifying round in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia, the leading 40 players plus ties on the order of merit will all be invited to enter their relevant State Final
• Players who have competed in 4 or more qualifying rounds in New South Wales and Victoria and 3 or more qualifying rounds in Queensland, South Australia and Western Australia will also be eligible to enter their State Final as will all golfers who finished in the top two of their grade at any of the qualifying events
• Players outside the qualifying parameters are able to play on the day of the State Final at full price entry, however they are not eligable for the days major prizes or qualification to the national final at Bonville
• The winner of each states order of merit will qualify for the National Final and represent their state team
• In the event of a tie on the final Order of Merit, the winner shall be decided on a count back based on the most recent complete round score returned. The player with the best stableford score from the most recent round being the Order of Merit winner
• No points may be earned on any of the order of merits after the final qualifying event in each of the respective states and whilst players are welcome to compete in events outside of their ‘home state’, no points can be carried over between states

State Final

• Entry to the state finals is not done through an online tee sheet, players eligable will be contacted directly by Golf Link after the completion on the final state qualifying round
• The state final will be 18 holes individual stableford and will determine the final 4 players to qualify for the national final and state team to join the order of merit champion
• The winners being those with the most stableford points on the day in A, B and C grade, along with the best placed female not otherwise qualified. These players will qualify for the national final and state team
• In the event that any of the national final qualifiers are unable to attend the national final, their place shall be offered to the first non-automatic qualifier from within their category at the state final and so on down the list
• All decision's on player eligibility for national final qualification are at the discretion of tournament organisers. Note: Players on a Provisional handicap status will be NOT be elligible to qualify for the national final.  
• Entry fee to the state finals will be according to a player’s final position on their state order of merit. A breakdown of the cost to enter each states final is below:

• Entry to each of the state finals includes 18 holes of golf on the day, a meal at the post golf presentation and eligibility to win daily and overall prizes, including qualification to the national final

Tasmania

• 2 events will be held in Tasmania
• The events will be played as 18 hole individual stableford rounds, the top two players from each event will qualify for the national final, along with the best female score over the two events
• Entry to the events includes 18 holes of golf on the day, food and beverage voucher, post golf presentation and eligibility to win daily and overall prizes, including qualification to the national final
• No order of merit will run in this state

National Final

• The 2014/15 Golf Link Race Series national final will be held at Bonville Golf Resort from Monday 4th to Wednesday 5th May 2015
• The national final will be contested by five qualifiers from each of the competing states, a total of 30 players
• Competitors will play for both the overall individual national title and the state team title
• Full details of the national final will be provided to players once qualified
• Qualification to the national final includes an entry fee of $300 per player and includes the following at Bonville Golf Resort: 1 optional practice round on the Monday, 2 competition rounds played over the Tuesday and Wednesday, practice balls on all days, 3 nights’ accommodation, welcome cocktail party on the Monday, breakfast daily, evening meal and drinks on Tuesday and similar on Wednesday at the closing presentation. There will also be a selection of prizes available to be won at the national final and team shirts provided
• Rates have been agreed for those finalists wishing to bring friends and family to various parts of the national final and such details will be provided upon qualifying for the national final

Hole in One

• There is a $1,000 prize for any player scoring a hole-in-one in any of the 2014/15 Race events
• Any hole in one claim must be verified by all playing partners on the day and reported to the tournament organiser at completion of play
• Players may win multiple hole in one prizes
• The tournament organizer reserves the right to investigate all hole in one claims and if any doubt or uncertainty exists, hole in one claims will not be approved or paid

Grades

• Prizes will be awarded to the winner of A, B and C grade at all order of merit qualifying events – the winner being the golfer with the best stableford score
• Players finishing in the top two of their grade at every order of merit qualifying event will be eligible to enter the state final
• For the purpose of the Race Series, the following handicap grades apply, grades based on a player Golf Australia handicap: A Grade: + handicaps to 9.4, B Grade: 9.5 to 15.4, C Grade 15.5 to 36 (men) and 45 (women)
• The winner of each order of merit qualifying event by grade, will be awarded 10 bonus points (note the overall winner of the day is not eligible for these grade bonus points)
• At the state final, players will be competing only against players from within their grade and each of the three grade winners on the day will be guaranteed a spot in the national final
• There will be a separate award at the national final for the winner of each grade over the course of the final. The winner shall be the player in each grade with the best accumulative score (note the overall Race Series national champion will not be eligible for a grade winning prize)

Weather Policy

• Golf Link reserves the right to cancel and if possible re-scheduled an event due to potential un-safe or unplayable conditions.
• Heat: If the expected maximum temperature (as per the BOM the day prior to the tournament round) is forecast to be at or above 38 degrees celsius for the closest capital city or major closest town on the day of the event then the event will be cancelled. Whilst Golf Link will attempt to contact all players, it is the players responsibility to check the forecast on the BOM website the day prior to an event to see if the event will be cancelled.
• Rain: If the course is deemed unplayable by the club the day prior to the event then the event will be cancelled. Whilst Golf Link will attempt to contact all players, it is the players responsibility to check with the course the day prior to an event to see if the event will be cancelled.
• All efforts will be made to re-schedule any cancelled events with the course at a future date. Golfers will be given the option of a full refund if they cannot make the rescheduled date or the entry for the rescheduled event will simply carry over.
• Golf Link will also contact all players as quickly as possible once the decision to cancel has been made.

Bookings and Cancellations

• All bookings and cancelations are done in accordance with the standard terms and conditions of Golf Link Partners P/L, exact details can be found at www.golflink.com.au
• Note cancelations inside 48 hours of an event may not be refunded