Rules
Age Restriction
All players, including reserves, competing in the Golfies Tournament must be 18 years or older.
Amateurs Golfers Only
The Golfies tournament is for amateur golfers only. If you have a professional golf status you are unable to particpate at any level.
Only 1 teammate below 5 handicap
Each team may have only one player with a handicap of 4.9 or lower at the start of the tournament (1st September). The second player must have a handicap above 5.0. If a player's handicap drops below 5 during the tournament, they remain eligible to continue playing with their original teammate. However, they cannot pair with a reserve player who also has a handicap of 4.9 or lower.
Ambrose Match Play
The tournament follows a 2-person Ambrose match play format. In Ambrose, both teammates (Player A & Player B) hit from the tee box. The team then selects the preferred tee shot, and the other player picks up their ball and places it within a club length of the chosen ball. This process continues for each shot until the hole is completed.
8 Tee shots each
Each teammate must use a minimum of 8 tee shots over 18 holes. If the match ends before completing 18 holes, one player may use a maximum of 10 tee shots per round, after which the remaining tee shots must be taken by the other teammate. A breach of this rule results in the loss of the hole.
First ball must be played as it lies
When using Player A's ball, Player A must hit first, playing the ball as it lies without lifting it (unless the golf course has preferred lies). Before hitting, Player A must place a marker near the ball. Player B may then place their ball within a club length of the marker, no closer to the hole and in the same course condition. A breach of this rule results in the loss of the hole.
Play balls from the same course conditions
Both balls must be played from the same course conditions. For example, if the chosen ball is in the rough, the second ball must also be played from the rough, even if a club length takes them back to the fairway. This rule applies to all areas of the course, including fairways, bunkers, and other terrains. A breach of this rule results in the loss of the hole.
Balls can be marked and lifted on the Putting Green
The first ball being played may only be marked, lifted, and cleaned on the putting green. When replacing the ball for the first putt, Player A must place a marker next to it. Player B must then place their ball as close as possible to the original ball’s position. The one club-length rule does not apply on the green. Note: The teammate whose ball you are using MUST still play first. A breach of this rule results in the loss of the hole.
No putting out
Players must not putt out before their teammate has putted. If you putt first and then tap in, your team will register two putts, preventing your teammate from having a chance to one-putt. Always mark your ball to allow your teammate to putt after you.
Verifying & Calculating Daily Handicaps
Ensure you have entered your golf link number into your profile prior to round one.
You must update your handicaps on the Golfies app prior to your match. You are required to show your GA handicap to your opponents for verification on the day. Make sure you have this on the GA app. Failure to verify your GA handicap on request may result in disqualification.
Once you have updated your handicaps, your teams' handicap will be calculated on the Golfies scoring app using your daily handicaps, slope rating, scratch rating and par for the course you are playing.
The calculation for your daily handicap is:
((GA Handicap x Slope Rating ÷ 113) + (Scratch Rating - Par)) x 0.93.
The slope, scratch and par rating for most courses will be pre-entered into the Golfies app and you will simply need to select which tee you are playing from.
In the event that that the tee you are playing is not available for selection, there is a manual option where you can enter the tees, slope, scratch and par ratings for the course before you start the match, so make sure you confirm with the proshop what they are from the tees you are playing and the Golfies app will calculate the rest.
Once we know both teammates daily handicap, they are added together, divided by 4 and rounded to the nearest whole number to calculate your team daily handicap.
Eg 10 handicap and 18 handicap. Team handicap will be 10 + 18 = 28 divided by 4 = 7 handicap.
Handicaps Capped at 26
Players with handicaps over 26 for both men and women are welcome to participate, but for integrity purposes, your handicap will be capped at 26 regardless of if it is higher.
Match Play Index
The International Match Play Index will be used for all matches.
Note: Index 1 is Hole 8 if you are starting from Hole 1, however if you are starting from Hole 10 or any other hole, Index 1 will be the 8th Hole you play, Index 2 will be the 12th Hole you play etc.
The Golfies scoring App will adjust for this automatically after you have entered which hole you are starting from and will show which teams have a shot when scoring. Below is the Match Play Index.
| Hole | Index | Hole | Index |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hole 1 | 18 | Hole 10 | 5 |
| Hole 2 | 8 | Hole 11 | 11 |
| Hole 3 | 12 | Hole 12 | 2 |
| Hole 4 | 3 | Hole 13 | 15 |
| Hole 5 | 14 | Hole 14 | 7 |
| Hole 6 | 6 | Hole 15 | 13 |
| Hole 7 | 10 | Hole 16 | 4 |
| Hole 8 | 1 | Hole 17 | 17 |
| Hole 9 | 16 | Hole 18 | 9 |
Using the Golfies App
Both team captains must use the Golfies App to record scores after each hole. They must enter the total score for both teams and select which teammates ball was used for the tee shot. This ensures your scores and tee shots are accurate and alerts you if there’s a discrepancy. The app will automatically adjust the nett score using the players' handicaps.
What if there is a Temporary Hole?
The Golfies App is designed to enter the score in order of each hole you play. If you start on Hole 1 and Hole 2 is temporarily unplayable, then Hole 3 will become Hole 2 and Hole 4 becomes Hole 3 etc. Simply enter the scores in order of the holes that you play. This will keep the integrity of the match play index.
Tournament Schedule
Matches must be completed and results submitted before the round end date. The dates for the tournament rounds can be found on the schedule page and on your dashboard.
You will received your opponents contact details to schedule your match as soon as they are available. Both team captains are responsbile for contacting each other to find a match date. Contact should be made with your opponents as soon as possible.
If the two teams cannot agree on a suitable time or date, the team captain from the home team must contact the Golfies tournament commitee.
If both teams agree on the time and date of the next match, this can only be changed if both teams agree. If the opponent does not agree on a new time and the match is not played, the team ready to play at the original time wins by WO.
Don't forget to utilise your reserve players if someone on your team can not play on a certain date.
What if no suitable date can be found?
If the match has not been played the home team MUST contact Golfies to submit a walkover where the winner is decided by the following rules:
• If both teams agreed on a date and a team cannot play and an alternative date can't be found – the team which cannot play will lose the match.
• If a team has been unavailable to play the match on at least three different days over the 4 week period – they lose the match.
• If a team has not been communicating – they lose the match.
• If both teams were available and communicating but cannot agree on a date for the match – the winner is selected randomly by the Golfies Commitee.
Don't forget to utilise your reserve players if someone on your team can not play on a certain date. With 4 weeks to play, there should be able time to find a date and location to play.
If you are having trouble finding a date together, please contact Golfies at info@golfies.com.au with any queries.
Reserve Players
Each team has the right to use 2 reserve players only. These reserve players can complement the team if needed throughout the tournament. Once a reserve player is utilised they cannot be changed.
A reserve player cannot be used if they are active in the tournament in another team.
A reserve player must be registered through your user profile prior to the match commencing.
If a reserve player is used during a match that has not been registered, the team may be disqualified.
Choosing the Golf Course & Scoring
The Home team chooses which golf course to play. Our app algorithm distributes the home and away teams as evenly as possible.
You can choose your home course or agree with your opponents to play on any other course within 150km of the CBD.
Both team captains must enter scores and tee shots after each hole. The app will alert you if there is a discrepancy
All Green fees and cost associated with the round are paid by each team.
Match Reporting
Once the match is complete, scores must be submitted by both captains.
The Home team is responsible for entering the course information and tees prior to the match commencing. The away team must then agree to continue.
The Golfies app will calculate your teams daily handicaps once these have been entered.
In the event of any technical difficulties on the day, please keep a manual scorecard and contact Golfies after the match.
Handicaps & Disqualification
Each player must ensure that they play to the Handicap that shows the player's normal standard of play.
It is recommended that all 4 players show their opponents their GA handicap on the Golf Australia app prior to starting the match.
Any player or team found to be deliberately using the wrong handciap will be immediately disqualified from the tournament.
Minimum Participation Levels
We anticipate having enough teams in each city to run the tournament as planned. However, tournament registrations are beyond our control and may affect participant numbers in certain locations.
If the number of entries in a city falls below the required threshold, one of the following two options may apply:
1. Combined City Tournament
Golfies may choose to merge two nearby cities into one regional tournament. In this scenario, all preliminary matches will be played locally in each city. The winning team from each location will then compete in a final, with Golfies covering all travel-related costs—including flights, accommodation, local transport, and a spending allowance—for the team required to travel.
2. Full Refund
If participation numbers are too low to proceed, Golfies will issue a full refund to all registered teams in the affected city. Refunds will be processed within 7 days of the decision being made.
Queries, Disputes or Protests
The Golfies Tournament Committee will be the determining body for any queries, disputes or protests regarding Tournament rules or issues.
If for any reason one or more situations arise that cause you to submit a protest, this must be done in writing via email to info@golfies.com.au.
The protest must be received no later than 24 hours after the match. Protests received later than this will not be processed.
Tied matches after 18 holes
In the event of a tie at the end of 18 holes, play will continue back to the first hole you started from and continue through the holes until one team wins a hole. The same index as the first 18 holes will be used when playing through 19 holes and beyond.
In the event this is not possible, due to course availability, weather or daylight, the winner will be decided on a countback using the following system.
1. Last Nine Holes Countback: Compare the scores of both teams on the last nine holes played. The team with the most match points wins the match.
2. Last Six Holes Countback: If the teams are still tied after comparing the last nine, compare the scores on the last six holes played.
3. Last Three Holes Countback: If the teams remain tied, compare the scores on the last three holes played.
4. Front Nine Countback: Compare the scores of both teams on the front nine holes (holes 1-9). The team with the most match points wins the match.
5. Further Tie Resolution: In unlikely case where a tie persists after the 18th hole comparison, continue to compare scores hole-by-hole starting from the last hole played backwards until a winner is determined. The last team to win a hole is the winner.
