N - Qualifying Competition

A Qualifying Competition is any competition in which Medal Play Conditions prevail and for handicap adjustment and record purposes full handicap allowance is applied and a Competition Scratch Score is calculated, subject to restrictions and limitations contained in the System or imposed by the Unions - (see clauses 9.2(c) and 14.2(g)).

When the conditions of a competition impose handicap limits to establish a result it will be a Qualifying Competition provided full handicap allowance is applied for handicap adjustment and record purposes.

M - Medal Play Conditions

Medal Play Conditions prevail during Stroke Play, Par and Stableford competitions over 18 holes under the Rules of Golf from Medal Tees. Medal Play Conditions shall not prevail when the length of the course played varies by more than 100 yards (91 metres) from the length of the Measured Course.

Note: Special rules apply when the length of a Measured Course has been temporarily reduced or increased - (see clause 7).

DECISIONS

1. Qualifying Scores

(a) It is considered to be outside the spirit of the Handicapping System to declare any Stroke Play, Par or Stableford competition to be a Non Qualifying Competition when played under Medal Play Conditions.

Note: A declaration that a competition is a Non Qualifying Competition disqualifies all scores returned in that competition for handicapping purposes. Thus a player returning a score below his handicap will not have his Exact Handicap reduced nor will a score above a player's Buffer Zone increase his Exact Handicap. Clause 19.4(b) does however allow scores in Non Qualifying Competitions to be one of a number of considerations when deciding to effect or recommend a handicap adjustment.

(b) A competition will not lose the status of a Qualifying Competition if played under conditions when, because of work proceeding or ground conditions in the area, pegging up or the use of fairway mats has been made obligatory by the club on a restricted area of the course (e.g. closely-mown areas), provided the playing of Qualifying Competitions under such conditions has the prior approval of the Union or Area Authority