Founding Open Weekend — Competition Rules

28–29 November 2026 · Free entry · Draft rules for inaugural event

1. Eligibility

Entry is for golfers aged 18 or over with a current, verifiable official World Handicap System (WHS) Handicap Index, including eligible golf club members and England Golf iGolf subscribers. CGL may request evidence of handicap eligibility.

2. Registration and matchmaking

Registration closes Thursday 26 November 2026. Players indicate whether they intend to play Saturday 28 or Sunday 29 November. CGL will arrange handicap-based matches of approximately five players, using four-player matches where necessary. Matchmaking uses the verified Handicap Index as at Friday 27 November; final groups are subject to administrator review.

3. Nominating your round

Before teeing off, players must nominate their competition round, including course, date, tee time and tees. A completed round cannot be nominated retrospectively. Players play at their chosen eligible course; CGL will provide a nomination process before the event.

4. Handicap and Stableford

Scoring uses individual Stableford points calculated using the player's applicable WHS Handicap Index and the relevant course and tee information for the playing day. Course Handicap is calculated using: Handicap Index × (Slope Rating ÷ 113) + (Course Rating − Par), rounded according to WHS rules. The competition uses a 100% handicap allowance.

5. Weekend Skins scoring

Each match compares golfers by Stroke Index (SI) 1 through 18, not by physical hole number. At each SI, the unique highest Stableford score wins the available skin or accumulated skins. A tie for the highest score carries the skin forward to the next SI. Any unresolved skins at SI 18 are divided equally between players tied for the highest Stableford points at SI 18; fractional skins are permitted. The golfer with the most skins wins the match; equal totals result in joint winners. The same rules apply to four- and five-player matches.

6. Withdrawals and missing scores

The withdrawal deadline is Friday 27 November at 12:00 noon GMT. CGL may reallocate matches for withdrawals received before this deadline. After the deadline, withdrawing players and players who do not submit a valid score receive zero Stableford points across all 18 stroke indices and cannot win or share skins, including when all remaining scores are zero.

7. Scorecards and results

Players must submit their score information and supporting scorecard evidence by Sunday 29 November 2026 at 7:00pm GMT, including Saturday players. CGL will review submissions before publishing results, targeted for Monday 30 November 2026 at 6:00pm GMT. Results may be delayed where verification is required.

8. Fair play and administration

Players must submit genuine scores from their nominated round. CGL may investigate discrepancies, request evidence and disqualify entries where rules are not followed. No cash prizes are offered for the Founding Open Weekend.

Before launch: These rules are published for review while registration remains in test mode. The round-nomination and scorecard-submission services are not yet available.