THE
GOLF LADDER is a private tournament open to amateur golfers with a
residence within a 30km radius of Estoril and a certified handicap in accordance
with the European Golf Association (EGA). The tournament runs on a yearly basis,
starting on 1st January and ending on 30th November of each year. On that date
the
THE
GOLF LADDER specific rules are as follows:
1.
The “Ladder” has a maximum of 25 steps. The participants, in accordance with the
present rules, are ranked, each one occupying one of the steps.
The
object of the tournament is to climb the “ladder” up to “the summit”. Members
shall play a “two-ball match play over 18 holes”, the format of the game, with
the highest handicap receiving the full difference of handicap to the other
contestant. In the event of a tie after 18 holes the match shall be decided by
sudden death over holes 1, 2, 3 and so on or any other holes i.e. 17 and 18,
subject to the agreement of both players, unless, of course, one of the players
concedes the match.
Ladies will play from the red and Gentlemen from the yellow markers.
In
principle, all matches shall be played at Estoril Golf Club, however, should
both players agree and are willing to play - without any reservations - another
course of their choosing, the respective match can be played on any other course
within the greater Lisbon area, provided the course is rated under the EGA
rating system and approved by the Portuguese Golf Federation.
2. Every participant will be entitled to gain a higher place if he/she can defeat a participant above him/her. At the end of each year the contestant that reaches the top of the “Ladder” will be proclaimed “The Summit” – the overall winner – to be decided on a "Play-off" among the "TOP 4" players at the end of the season, i.e. on 30th November.
The contestant with better performance / improvement / more steps gained, will be proclaimed “The Climber” at the end of the season.
There will be no accumulation of prizes, “The Summit” will be preferred over “The Climber”. In the event of a tie for the latter the winner will be the person with the lowest handicap.
3. To move up, a contestant occupying any step on the “Ladder” has to challenge the first, the second, the third or a higher positioned contestant.
3.1. If the challenger “A” and challenged “B”, occupy two successive steps, a
real swap of positions occurs, should the challenger win or in case the
challenged has to offer a “climb-over” (Rule 3.5) to the challenger.
3.1.1. If challenger "A" fails to beat challenged contestant "B" there is no change of their positions.
3.2. If the challenged contestant “C” is the second above the challenger “A” - with a contestant “B” between “A” and “C” – and the challenged loses or has to offer a “climb-over” (Rule 3.6) to the challenger, the challenger “A” moves to the position occupied by the challenged “C”. As a result of this, contestant “B” will move down to the position previously occupied by the challenger “A” and challenged “C” will move down to the position previously occupied by the contestant “B”, thus keeping the relative position between ”B” and “C” unchanged.
3.2.1. If challenger "A"
fails to beat challenged contestant "C", the challenger “A” is penalised for
his/her high expectations… - and moves one step below, swapping position with
the contestant occupying that step. Contestants “B” and “C” remain in their
respective initial positions.
3.3. If the challenged
contestant “D” is the third above the challenger “A” – with contestants “B” and
“C” between “A” and “D” – and the challenged loses or has to offer a
“climb-over” (Rule 3.6) to the challenger, the challenger “A” moves to the
position occupied by the challenged “D”. As a result of this, contestant “B”
will move down to the position previously occupied by the challenger “A”,
contestant “C” will move down to the position previously occupied by contestant
“B” and challenged “D” will move down to the position previously occupied by
the contestant “C”, thus keeping the relative position between, ”B”, “C” and
“D”, unchanged.
3.3.1. If challenger "A"
fails to beat challenged contestant "D", the challenger “A” is penalised for
his/her high expectations… - and moves one step below, swapping position with
the contestant occupying that step. Contestants “B”, "C" and “D” remain in their
respective initial positions.
3.4. If the challenged contestant “X” is the fourth, fifth, sixth, etc., above the challenger “A” - with a contestant “B”, “C”, “”D”, etc., between “A” and “X” – and the challenged loses or has to offer a “climb-over” (old Rule 3.6) to the challenger, the challenger “A” moves to the position occupied by the challenged “X”. As a result of this, contestant “B” will move down to the position previously occupied by the challenger “A” and challenged “C” will move down to the position previously occupied by the contestant “B” and so on, thus keeping the relative position between ”B”, “C”, “D”, etc., unchanged.
3.4.1. If challenger "A" fails to beat challenged contestant "X", the challenger “A” is penalised for his/her high expectations and moves as many steps below as the number of steps that separate challenger and challenged at the limit to step 25, as a result of what all those between challenger A initial position and final position, climb up one step. Contestants “B”, "C", “D”, etc., remain in their respective initial relative positions.
3.5. In case a contestant at any step fails to challenge any contestant in
accordance with the rules, within a period of 2 months from the last match
played, he/she will be subject to be dropped to a lower step.
3.6. In case a contestant is unavailable or turns down the challenge of a
contestant below him/her, within a period of 20 calendar days, he/she loses
his/her position, dropping to a lower step, the principles under 3.1, 3.2 and
3.3 above applying, as appropriate
3.7. There are no time constraints to renew a challenge between two players who have just played a match, provided both are in agreement. In case the initial challenger “Y” having lost the first match loses again against challenged “Z”, during the same season and before playing any other match, challenger “Y” moves one step below, swapping position with the contestant occupying that step.
4.
Should at any time a contestant resign, his step will be occupied by the
contestant immediately below him/her, all the others below him/her moving one
step up, thus opening a vacancy at the bottom step of the “Ladder”, which will
be filled in as appropriate.
5. In case of health or justified force majeure problems, subject to “THE GOLF LADDER” administrator agreement, any contestant may apply for suspension.
5.1. Although not playing during the impediment, he/she will be kept as "passive" on the list and will not be counted for "climbing over" purposes of other members. He/she will, in any case, retain his/her relative position, until he/she returns to "active" status.
5.2. Temporary absence from home for more than one week, provided the administrator is notified of the impediment in advance, is also covered by this rule, including for “climbing over” purposes of other members, as per Rule 5.1.
5.3. All long term and temporary absences covered by this rule shall be highlighted in THE GOLF LADDER POSITION page with the symbol I and, whenever possible, showing the duration of the absence.
6.
At the end of each year, the ranking order for the following year will be
decided, in principle, by a draw among the registered members; any existing vacancies will be
filled in by invitation and, in principle, will occupy the lowest available step in
chronological order.
7.
All communications on the results of matches, possible anticipations, challenges
turning down, suspension requests, withdrawals, etc., should be communicated
immediately, to the administrator of “THE GOLF LADDER”, by e-mail, fax or post,
for the appropriate action and information to members, including changes of
position, decisions on “climb-overs”, interpretation of these rules.
Revised w.e.f. 01.03.2009
