Competition Review
December 2024
Competition review, December 2024
As another golfing year comes to an end, the Management Board has conducted a
detailed review into our competitions, looking at where changes need to be made to
reflect the way the Club has evolved.
The bulk of this work has been undertaken by Head of Competitions Adrian Bullock,
looking at data from every one of the 200 plus competitions which were held in 2024
– with more than 5,600 entries recorded.
Competition payouts
• When the Club was re-organised at the beginning of 2023, we standardised
competition winnings at 60% of the entry fees – leaving us 40% as income. At
the beginning of this year, that percentage was increased to 70% and, as we
close the accounts for the year. we believe that is a sustainable amount, so
the 70% will remain for 2025.
• However, for competitions where there is a large field, we believe that the
prizes need to be distributed more fairly, rather than the top places receiving
large amounts. Therefore, in 2025, prizes in single division competitions will
go down to 10th place if entries are over 100. Or, if under 100, payouts will be
made to the top 10% on a sliding scale.
• For those players who score a hole-in-one in a competition, the contribution
towards drinks will rise from £60 to £100.
Divisional splits in Men’s competitions
For some time, the Ladies and the Seniors have had divisions separated by
handicap index, while the Men have traditionally been split by playing handicap
strokes. With the introduction of the new winter course on Gainsborough, this has
highlighted an imbalance in the numbers playing in each division as playing
handicaps have changed quite dramatically. So, for all future competitions, the Men
will see their divisions changed to handicap index. This should make it much easier
for players to know which division they will be in before they start play.
How this will work in practice:
Weekend Medals and Stablefords:
Div 1 up to 10.4 HI
Div 2 10.5 to 14.9 HI
Div 3 15.0 to 48.0 HI
Midweek Medals and Stablefords
Div 1 up to 14.9 HI
Div 2 15.0 to 48.0 HI
The Laird
Div 1 up to 12.2 HI
Div 2 12.3 to 16.7HI
Div 3 16.8 to 25.6 HI
The 12 card rule
This will continue to be enforced. Any player who does not have 12 qualifying
cards on their WHS record in the previous 12 months CAN enter a
competition, but they CANNOT win a prize. If they are playing in a pair or as
part of a team, NO-ONE in their team can win a prize.
However, even if the player is aware that they do not have 12 cards, if they
enter a competition, they must still pay the full entry fee.
Tee options
• For Men’s and Ladies Medal competitions, traditionally played off white and
yellow tees, Ladies will now have the option of choosing green tees as well
when they sign in before their round.
• For Seniors playing competitions on the Gainsborough winter course, they will
have the option of choosing Orange or Purple tees.
The future
Adrian said: “Although it has been quite a time consuming and thorough review,
there are still areas where we are investigating and would welcome any feedback
from members on the direction we should take”.
For instance:
• Invitation Days were discontinued in 2023 because of a lack of popularity in
recent years. But there seems to be more of an appetite for them again and
we would welcome views from members.
• We have the traditional Men’s and Ladies Club Championships but is there a
way we can broaden this out to find an overall Club Champion? Views on
format and/or whether this is desirable are most welcome.
• The Men’s and Ladies Winter Leagues are played in different formats, but
should we change this and have a mixed league? Or keep the two current
leagues and have a third – mixed – league? Again, views are welcome.
As always, if you have any questions or feedback, please send in the first instance to
Harry Hibbert on harry.hibbert@stokebynayland.com
As another golfing year comes to an end, the Management Board has conducted a
detailed review into our competitions, looking at where changes need to be made to
reflect the way the Club has evolved.
The bulk of this work has been undertaken by Head of Competitions Adrian Bullock,
looking at data from every one of the 200 plus competitions which were held in 2024
– with more than 5,600 entries recorded.
Competition payouts
• When the Club was re-organised at the beginning of 2023, we standardised
competition winnings at 60% of the entry fees – leaving us 40% as income. At
the beginning of this year, that percentage was increased to 70% and, as we
close the accounts for the year. we believe that is a sustainable amount, so
the 70% will remain for 2025.
• However, for competitions where there is a large field, we believe that the
prizes need to be distributed more fairly, rather than the top places receiving
large amounts. Therefore, in 2025, prizes in single division competitions will
go down to 10th place if entries are over 100. Or, if under 100, payouts will be
made to the top 10% on a sliding scale.
• For those players who score a hole-in-one in a competition, the contribution
towards drinks will rise from £60 to £100.
Divisional splits in Men’s competitions
For some time, the Ladies and the Seniors have had divisions separated by
handicap index, while the Men have traditionally been split by playing handicap
strokes. With the introduction of the new winter course on Gainsborough, this has
highlighted an imbalance in the numbers playing in each division as playing
handicaps have changed quite dramatically. So, for all future competitions, the Men
will see their divisions changed to handicap index. This should make it much easier
for players to know which division they will be in before they start play.
How this will work in practice:
Weekend Medals and Stablefords:
Div 1 up to 10.4 HI
Div 2 10.5 to 14.9 HI
Div 3 15.0 to 48.0 HI
Midweek Medals and Stablefords
Div 1 up to 14.9 HI
Div 2 15.0 to 48.0 HI
The Laird
Div 1 up to 12.2 HI
Div 2 12.3 to 16.7HI
Div 3 16.8 to 25.6 HI
The 12 card rule
This will continue to be enforced. Any player who does not have 12 qualifying
cards on their WHS record in the previous 12 months CAN enter a
competition, but they CANNOT win a prize. If they are playing in a pair or as
part of a team, NO-ONE in their team can win a prize.
However, even if the player is aware that they do not have 12 cards, if they
enter a competition, they must still pay the full entry fee.
Tee options
• For Men’s and Ladies Medal competitions, traditionally played off white and
yellow tees, Ladies will now have the option of choosing green tees as well
when they sign in before their round.
• For Seniors playing competitions on the Gainsborough winter course, they will
have the option of choosing Orange or Purple tees.
The future
Adrian said: “Although it has been quite a time consuming and thorough review,
there are still areas where we are investigating and would welcome any feedback
from members on the direction we should take”.
For instance:
• Invitation Days were discontinued in 2023 because of a lack of popularity in
recent years. But there seems to be more of an appetite for them again and
we would welcome views from members.
• We have the traditional Men’s and Ladies Club Championships but is there a
way we can broaden this out to find an overall Club Champion? Views on
format and/or whether this is desirable are most welcome.
• The Men’s and Ladies Winter Leagues are played in different formats, but
should we change this and have a mixed league? Or keep the two current
leagues and have a third – mixed – league? Again, views are welcome.
As always, if you have any questions or feedback, please send in the first instance to
Harry Hibbert on harry.hibbert@stokebynayland.com