
- The course of the Club is the Sandringham Municipal Golf Course, Cheltenham Road, Cheltenham, Ph. (03) 9598 3590, and the scorecard to be used for play on the course by members shall be that provided from time to time by the Committee.
- The Rules of Golf, as approved by the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews from time to time and adopted by the Australian Golf Union, shall be the golf rules of the Club.
- Golf Australia’s course rating and handicapping system shall be the method used by the Club to determine the golf handicap of each member.
- The temporary 9 hole course of Sandringham Golf Links is par 64 for men and 66 for ladies. The course’s Slope rating is 101 for the men’s blue tees, and 113 for the ladies’ red tees.
- In all competitions, men must play from the blue tee markers and ladies from the red tee markers, unless otherwise advised by the Committee.
- A player may start a competition from either the first or the tenth tee but not otherwise without the express permission of the Committee.
- It is the responsibility of the player with the lowest handicap in any group to ensure that all players in the group observe the etiquette of golf for the full enjoyment of the game both by that group and others.
- The Committee may declare any competition to be cancelled even though it may already have been played, and no member who has competed in that event shall have any claim in respect thereof beyond the return of the entry fee paid. In the event of cancellation completed scorecards may not be processed in Golf Link. Reasons for cancellation may include, but not be limited to, weather conditions, course condition, number of entries.
- Any player may complain or protest under the rules or the conditions of a competition about any incident arising from that competition. Such a protest shall be made in writing, shall set out clearly the grounds of the protest and the facts of the incident and shall be signed by the complainant. The protest shall be given to the Secretary by email or mail to his official address (email or physical) within 72 hours of the close of the competition out of which it arises. A protest shall be dealt with by the Committee within seven days of its receipt by the Secretary.
- In match play events no partner of a player may mark his card in any competition. In all forms of stroke play (including stableford and par competitions) a player's card must be marked by an independent person, preferably a fellow competitor, but in the absence of such, any member of the public will suffice. Should a marker not be a fellow competitor the player shall ensure that the marker's name is printed on the card legibly and that his or her telephone number is given for contact purposes if this is needed.
- Match play events need not necessarily be played on the Sandringham Golf Links or be played on Saturday.
- Competitions: Any person who holds membership in the Club and who is in possession of an Australian or a Club handicap current on the day of the competition may enter any competition held by the Sandringham Golf Club (1937) Inc. Men's Saturday competitions are normally held in A, B, and C Grades, with all entrants competing off handicaps current on the day of competition. Separate Ladies’ Saturday competitions are also held but there are no grades in these ladies’ competitions. In the case of the Club Championships, the handicaps current on the first day of the Championships determine the Grade (not the handicap) for the whole of the Championship. Refer SPECIAL COMPETITIONS for further details. Participation is allowed in one format of competition only on any given Saturday. If there are less than 20 singles or 10 pairs the Saturday competition may be cancelled and visitors' entry fees credited or refunded. In the event of cancellation completed scorecards will not be processed in Golf Link. If there are less than 6 entries in the Saturday ladies’ competition the competition of the day will become a mixed event. There are also separate 18-hole and 9-hole mixed Stableford competitions which run from Monday thru Sunday ("mid-week comp"). Players enter the mid-week comp and return their cards at the pro shop. In terms of the 9-hole competitions, players may choose whether to play the front or the back 9, subject to direction by course management. The mid-week comp is processed in Golf Link after the final round on Sundays. A single DSR applies for the week. Players may enter the competition multiple times during the week. Visitors' comp fee is $5. To enter both the 9 and 18 hole comp a visitor's comp fee of $5 is required for each. The mid-week competitions are relevant for pennant and club championships eligibility, but are not included for the John French Memorial Trophy. In the event of ties, countback rules will apply, except where otherwise indicated in relation to some trophy events where play-offs are required.
- Grades: the Daily handicap for each grade is: A (to 14), B (15 - 20), C (21+). GA handicaps for each grade are:
- Ladies: A (to 14.4), B (14.5 - 20.4), C (20.5 - 45.4)
- Men: A (to 16.2), B (16.3 - 22.9), C (23.0 - 36.4)
- Prizes: Prize vouchers are valid for six months only, and are normally awarded as follows:
- Men and mixed Saturday Singles events:
- A, B, and C grade winners - $25 each
- Ladies’ Saturday Singles events:
- Overall winner: $25
- Pairs events (minimum of 20 pairs):
- 1st prize - $30 each player, 2nd prize - $25 each player
- Nearest the Pin on 6th and 16th holes - $10 each. Saturdays only
- Prizes for the Mid-week competitions are at the discretion of the Match Committee
- Prizes for other special events are outlined under the relevant SPECIAL COMPETITION.
- Men and mixed Saturday Singles events:
- Competition scorecards: In any Club competition it shall be the responsibility of both player and marker to ensure that his name, initials, handicap and the date are printed legibly on the scorecard, together with the final result. The card must show the correct number of strokes taken at each hole, and must be signed by the marker and the player before it is returned to the box provided by the Committee. On Saturdays, all cards must be placed in the return box by 5.30pm to be eligible for that day’s competition. Cards for the Mid-week competitions may be placed under the pro shop door if the shop is closed, or returned to the slot in the comp room. All cards, whether completed or not, must be signed and returned immediately after completion of the round. Automatic disqualification applies for failure to comply with this Rule, and the card will be entered in Golf Link as ‘N’ (no score, not approved).
- Visitors: The Club welcomes visitors to join the Competitions. A visitor must have a current Golf Link handicap and pay the competition fee before commencing the round. The visitor's name must be written on the Competition Sheet. The scorecard must show the visitor’s name, Golf Link number and telephone number. If this information is missing, the visitor is not eligible to enter the Club competition. Visitors in the weekly competition may win the voucher in their appropriate Grade, but only a Club member may win any perpetual trophy or VGL or Club medal. Visitors may also win the prize for nearest-the-pin on the specified holes. Visitors may enter the weekly Saturday competition as many times as they like but cannot win a prize after they have played in six Saturday competitions in a calendar year. The visitors' results will be entered into Golf Link for all rounds. There is no restriction on visitors regarding the Mid-week competitions.
- Use of Motorised Golf Carts: VGL approval is required for VGL events and applications must be supported by a medical certificate. SGC Committee approval is required for club championship rounds subject to written application being made before the round or within 36 hours of completion. A medical certificate may be required. Approval is not required for other events or once the player attains the age of 70. VGL approval also covers club championships. VGL events comprise monthly VGL medal (men only), star medalist (men), pennant matches and other VGL events at other courses.
- Rules concerning pairs events are shown in the description of the event in the SPECIAL COMPETITIONS area.
- To enter the Saturday competition, members must enter their name on the Competition Sheet PRIOR to commencing the round. Failure to comply results in exclusion from the competition, even if a scorecard is returned. Visitors must pay the visitor comp fee and write their Golf Link number on the money envelope PRIOR to commencing the round. Members playing in match play events cannot enter the daily event.
- Nearest the pin (NTP) - all players entering the daily competition are automatically eligible for the NTP, as long as their card is signed by player and marker. NTP distances must be entered in the box provided on the scorecard. Distances are measured from the front of the ball to the flagstick (centre of hole). NTP for Mid-week competitions does not apply.
- Scorecards are processed in Golf Link for all players, including visitors, who enter the competition at Sandringham and pay the competition fee where applicable. Scorecards from other courses, or non-competition rounds at Sandringham, are NOT processed in Golf Link by Sandringham Golf Club.
- Members are requested: to observe the etiquette of golf on the course at all times; to become more knowledgeable of the Rules of golf; to participate in improving the pace-of-play; to use sand buckets, which are supplied on the course, to fill divot holes, and to repair ball marks on the greens; to wear Club attire and display bag tags on the course to help members identify each other; and to identify invited visitors on the scorecard.
- Female members are unfortunately ineligible under the VGL by-laws to win VGL Medal and VGL Qualifying Events. However, they are still eligible for the other SGC events, including the female equivalent of the Star Medalist.