SAFEGOLF accreditation for Durham received in 2020 from England Golf:

The County’s policy documents on young people and vulnerable adults can be found by clicking on the below.

Children and Young People Safeguarding Policy and Procedures

Safeguarding Adults Policy

SafeGolf Certificate

We are here to help with any queries on Safe Golf accreditation.

Safeguarding Policy

League Secretaries:

North East League: Ian MacDonald – 07796 951503

North West League: Stephen Tait – 07932 942812

Southern League: Chris Lawson – 0797 3796982

DCGUJ LEAGUE RULES:

1. League Organisers shall decide and agree League fixture dates. Please read in conjunction with rule 12.
2. Each team shall consist of 5 players.
3. White tees (men’s competition tees) are to be used for boys and red (ladies) tees are to be used for girls.
4. All juniors who are under 21 on January 1st of the competition year and who are members of the participating club shall be eligible to compete. Caddies must be under 21 on January 1st of the competition year and not a PGA professional.
5. Handicap: both boys and girls will play off their playing handicap generated by the course handicap from the home club. The maximum handicap index shall be 30.4.
6. All games shall be played over 18 holes under match play rules of golf. In singles games, players will play in ascending handicap order and handicap allowance shall be full playing handicap differences.
7. Strokes are awarded against the competition tees stroke index for the course being played. Females playing against males, will receive, in addition, courtesy strokes amounting to the difference in par between the ladies’ and men’s courses. Females will play off the men’s card but ladies’ tees.
8. Outside assistance will not be allowed. Ball spotting is permitted. Rules advice may be sought by players from the nominated JLO of either team on the match day if required. All spectators must remain at least 40 metres away from junior competitors except in a medical or other emergency. JLOs (henceforth, the term JLO shall encompass any other nominated officer representing the junior team from a golf club who is known by another preferred title) are not permitted to advise on club choice, stroke to take or other direct interference with the match.
9. The scoring will be for a total of 10 points, two points for each win and one point for a half.
10. The home club is responsible for sending the result to the league secretary by 11 pm. on the night of the match via email or text.
11. All games must be started by 6pm and JLOs must exchange the team sheet prior to the first game starting. Ideally, players should start their matches in order of the lowest to highest handicap. If a team fields less than 5 players, the first match to drop out is the 5th, then the 4th etc. i.e., all players after the missing player’s slot move up a team position and the non-played match is awarded to the team with a player available.
12. Pre-arranged fixtures can only be cancelled in the event of course closure. The match must be replayed in accordance with rule 13. Failure to play the match for any other reason will result in a 10 – 0 defeat. JLOs will be allowed reasonable opportunity to agree rescheduling due to unforeseen circumstances or golf club accommodating difficulties or similar. Both JLOs must agree, and the League secretary informed. Any perception of an advantage attempted to be gained by such a rescheduling, can be appealed against by the aggrieved JLO. That appellation must be immediately given to the opposing JLO who then has reasonable time to reconsider. In the event of non-agreement, full details shall be forwarded to:

    rules@durhamcountygolfunion.co.uk

    The committee decision shall be final and binding.

13. Any postponed matches must be replayed within 14 days of the original fixture date and no later than the Friday of the penultimate week of the fixtures season. Failure to play cancelled matches before this date will result in both teams receiving no points. However, if two JLOs were to mutually agree to reconvene a postponed match at a reasonable time (i.e. a rest week or school holiday) that may be longer than 14 days, then the League Secretary must be informed immediately of that decision. In the event of non-agreement, full details shall be forwarded to:

    rules@durhamcountygolfunion.co.uk

    The committee decision shall be final and binding.

14. Should there be a tie at the end of the season it will be decided in order of:
    
    1. 1st overall team points.
    2. 2nd total team match points.
    3. 3rd team games won.
    4. 4th head-to-head team points won.
15. Players shall always walk during the stipulated round unless permission to ride a golf buggy has been granted by the DCGUJ committee, the player has Medical Practitioner certification, the player meets EDI (Equality Diversity & Inclusivity) stipulations, and the golf course allows the use of golf buggies.
16. 16. Deliberate and / or persistent failure to follow the rules by players will result in the hole and then the match being forfeit. If parents (or similar) act incorrectly they shall be asked to leave the course. Refusal to do so will result in that game being abandoned. Continued refusal will invoke the event being abandoned.

    The DCGUJ committee: rules@durhamcountygolfunion.co.uk will decide on any issues arising and that decision is final.

17. If temporary cessation of play is required e.g., Lightning, play will resume 30 minutes after the last lightning flash. More permanent stoppage due to poor light, course flooding etc.: – matches concluded will count. Non-concluded matches will be considered halved. If play is abandoned due to the possibility of physical risk: – matches concluded will count. Non-concluded matches will be considered halved. Verbal and klaxon notes from an air horn can be used to signal the players. If a klaxon is used; immediate stop is signalled by one long note: a non-immediate stop is signalled by 3 short notes; a restart is signalled by 2 short notes.
18. A player starting the league season playing for a particular Club may not play for another Club in any of the DCGUJ three leagues during the same season.
19. Players and caddies are not permitted to use alcohol or tobacco during the matches. Consumption of alcohol or tobacco during the match will result in an automatic loss of the game.
20. The 3 way play offs will be held on the three courses winning their leagues. Team A v team B at course C and so on.
21. Should there be a tie at the end of the play offs season it will be decided
    • (1st) overall team points.
    • (2nd) cumulative holes won across the two matches.

Each player shall be a fully paid up member of a Durham County Golf Club and under the age of 21 at midnight on the 31^st of December.

Foursomes rules:

Each team will consist of two players who must be members of a Durham County Golf Union affiliated golf club.

Matchplay rules apply as indicated in the 2024 rules of golf provided by the R & A. Matches will be played and administered under these rules.

Handicap allowances will be half the difference between the total handicaps of each team. The maximum Handicap Index for both junior men and junior women will be 30.4

Junior women competitors will receive courtesy strokes before calculating the half difference differential. Courtesy strokes will be the difference between the men’s and women’s course rating for that golf course.

Junior men will play from the white tees (men’s competition tees). Junior ladies will play from the red tees (women’s competition tees).

If a mixed sex team requires to play a provisional ball or stroke and distance for a ball out of bounds or lost outside of a penalty area, the partner will play the next stroke from where the previous stroke was made.

In mixed sides, handicap strokes will be taken off the men’s card.

Golf clubs may change their competing players between rounds of the competition.

A player may not represent another affiliated golf club having once represented one affiliated golf club, in that playing season.

5 player team rules:

Each team will consist of five players who must be members of Durham County Golf Union affiliated golf clubs.

Competitors within a team will play in ascending order of handicap. If fewer than five players represent the side, players will still play in order of ascending handicap and any non-competed matches will be forfeited.

Matchplay rules apply as indicated in the 2024 rules of golf provided by the R & A. Matches will be played and administered under these rules.

The maximum handicap index for both junior men and junior women will be 30.4.

Junior women competitors will receive courtesy strokes before calculating handicap differences. Courtesy strokes will be the difference between the men’s and women’s course rating for that golf course.

The handicap allowance will be the full difference in handicap strokes, between each player in each match.

Junior men will play from the white tees (men’s competition tees). Junior ladies will play from the red tees (women’s competition tees).

A player may not represent another affiliated golf club having once represented one affiliated golf club, in that playing season.

When a junior woman competes against a junior man, handicap strokes will be taken as per the stroke indices of the women’s card.

Five player team JLO responsibilities: this

The home team shall be responsible for arranging match dates. Matches must be completed within the date indicated for each round within the competition. Allowance may be considered in extenuating circumstances if: both JLOs agree and formal notice of that agreement is tendered to the Durham County Golf Union junior secretary:

 admin@durhamcountygolfunion.co.uk

The home team shall offer five dates of which two shall be weekend dates. Dates must be offered within seven days of receiving the draw. If the “away JLO” is not heard from the home JLO they shall contact the home JLO and request dates.

Please don’t give the last day as a date to play matches. Please allow 3 to 4 days to mitigate extenuating circumstances.

Should there be problems of contact or agreeing dates between JLOs then please keep a record of attempts to contact or evidence of attempts to agree dates. This information will be used in consideration as to which side will progress in the tournament. Please use the Durham County Golf Union junior secretary email:

admin@durhamcountygolfunion.co.uk

Results should be submitted to the Durham County Golf Union junior secretary, as soon as practical after the completion of matches. The winning team JLO is responsible for this.

Juniors must play completely Independently. Caddies are not allowed unless agreed by both JLOs and only when extenuating circumstances arise. Any such caddy must be a similarly aged person to the player.

All spectators must keep a minimum of 40 m from competing juniors. There must be no collusion or collaboration. Spectators are greatly valued in ball spotting but that is where their help and advice ends.

Advice on rules of golf can be gained from:

rules@durhamcountygolfunion.co.uk                 

Juniors’ Officers

Treasurer

Secretary

Treasurer