How To Play

General Sevens Golf Rules

• Each team can consist of up to 7 players.
• Players can register as individuals and be placed into a team by the venue administrator if they wish, or be can placed on a substitutes list.
• The Team's weekly score will comprise the best 4 scores from the team of 7, with only one score per individual team member counting towards the team aggregate total.
• Stableford scoring is used by each player over nine (9) holes.
• Acceptance of scores from players without an official GolfLINK handicap is at the discretion of the venue administrator. The venue administrator may adjust such a players handicap and score before being accepted.
• Players can play at any time during the week, subject to course availability, but must play with at least one other registered Sevens Golf player or member with a Golf Australia handicap to mark their score card. I.e. Players do not have to physically play with a person from their own or opposing team.
• Players can play as many Sevens Golf rounds as they wish each day, subject to course availability, provided they pay the required competition fee set by the venue, for each Sevens Golf scorecard before commencing each round.
• Score cards must be returned on the same day in which they are played or will be declared disqualified.
• Team members can enter more than once per week for the weekly individual comp. All cards returned will count for any weekly individual prizes on offer but only the players best score can count towards the team score for the week.
• Pre-Season Rounds may be used at the discretion of the club to determine divisions based on competitive strength for a Round Robin Series.
• Where possible during the regular round robin series, each team will then play every other team in their own division at least once.
• The venue administrator may at his/her discretion add ‘phantom teams’ to a competition if they feel that more teams may register after the season draw has been conducted. ‘Phantom teams’ will act as byes until there is a player entered into the team.

Match Scoring & Result

• The team with the highest total of the four best individual 9-hole Stableford scores will be declared the match winner.
• Two (2) points are awarded to the team for a Match Win, one (1) point for a Match Draw and zero (0) points for a Match Loss.
• One Half (1/2) Bonus point will be available for a team in which all 7 players return at least one scorecard in a weekly period.

Substitutions

• Teams may make substitutions to their team prior to the end of Round 7, providing that each player subbed in has not already been part of another team.
• After the completion of Round 7, team line-ups cannot be altered for the remainder of the competition.
• Once a player has been subbed out of a team, they will be placed on the substitutes list and will not be eligible to join another team for the remainder of the competition, they can however continue to play as an individual.
• Players subbed out will still be eligible for the Player of the Year and Biggest Loser trophies, but will not be eligible to claim prizes won by their former team.

Finals

• At the end of the Round Robin Series there will be a Finals Series to determine the order for trophies to be awarded.
• The top teams in each division will progress through to the finals. Please see Sevens Golf Finals Match Format for more details.
• Players in teams not competing in the finals are still able to play in the weekly individual competition as there are still prizes to play for.
• During the finals series, a count back system will be used to break tied matches. The count back system is as follows: If teams are tied the match will be decided by the best three (3) scores. If still a tie, the best two (2) scores. If still a tie, the best score (1) only. If still a tie, the last six holes of the best score, then the last three holes of the best score, then hole by hole starting from the last hole working backwards. If still a tie, the two teams involved shall nominate one (1) player to contest a hole by hole sudden death Stableford match until the tie is broken, within 24 hours of the previous match ending. The Club Administrator’s decision is final.

Player of the Year Trophy

• Each venue will award a Player of the Year trophy for the top male and female on the rankings at the end of the season.
• POTY Points will be awarded as follows: Based on the players best score for the week only. The highest individual score each week is awarded 10 POTY points, for every shot scored below the highest individual score, 1 point is deducted. i.e. Best individual score for the week is 26 – every player with 26 as their best score earns 10 POTY pts, 25pts – players earn 9 POTY pts, 23pts – players earn 7 POTY pts…….. 17pts – players earn 1 POTY pt, 16pts and below – zero (0) POTY pts.
• Pre-Season, Mid-Season and Finals Rounds are excluded from the Player of the Year calculation.
• Trophies will be awarded at the venue’s presentation night.

Biggest Loser Trophy

• Each venue will award a Biggest Loser trophy to the male and female golfer that has lost the highest number of strokes from their handicap at the end of the season.
• Pre-Season, Mid-Season and Finals Rounds are included in the Biggest Loser calculation.
• Trophies will be awarded at the venue’s presentation night.

Presentation Night

• Each venue will have the opportunity to conduct a Presentation Night on completion of the competition.
• Cost of entry and inclusions on the night will be at the discretion of the venue.
• Players may earn a free ticket to the presentation night on returning a set number of Sevens Golf scorecards during the season. Each venue will set their own requirements, eg. 20 rounds for a free ticket, guests to pay $25, please contact the venue administrator for requirements.
• Players that have played a portion of the required number of rounds set by the venue may be eligible for a discount on entry to the presentation night. Details will be available on completion of the round robin series.
• Finals Rounds will not count towards presentation night entry.

Player Requirements

• The player registration fee for each Sevens Golf competition is $22 and is payable to the venue administrator.
• Scores will not be entered for players who have not paid the Sevens Golf registration fee.
• Players must nominate which nine holes they are playing, e.g. 1-9 or 10-18 or an approved nine hole composite course, and pay the competition fee set by the venue before commencing their round. i.e. Players will not be able to purchase a Sevens score card after they have commenced their round.
• It is the players responsibility to ensure that score cards returned are correct and include the players name, correct handicap, and signatures of both the player and marker. Invalid scorecards will be disqualified in line with the Rules of Golf. The venue administrator may use his/her discretion before disqualifying players without an official Golf Australia handicap for the first four (4) rounds of the competition, after which no amnesty will be provided.
• Players must adhere to the Rules of Golf at all times. If unsure of a ruling, please ask your Club Professional or staff member for clarification before submitting your scorecard.
• Players may need to meet minimum membership requirements at their participating club to be eligible to play Sevens Golf, please check with your club for membership requirements.
• Players should also check minimum dress requirements at their local club before playing their first Sevens Golf round.
• Trophies & Rewards distributed to players, both weekly and upon completion of the event, is at the discretion of each participating venue.

Sevens Golf Frequently Asked Questions

Please Read PDF For more information.

Handicapping

• Players with no current Golf Australia handicap will be given a Calloway adjusted handicap for their first round, except Sevens players from a previous event, who shall start from their last handicap +15% added.
• Players with an official Golf Australia handicap will begin on their normal 18-hole Golf Australia handicap.
• Handicapping is performed based on every score entered.
• Players handicaps are calculated at the completion of each weekly round.

Handicapping system is as follows:

• The Differential is the number of strokes over or under par over an 18-hole course.
• For the purposes of deriving a differential on which to base the calculation, it is assumed that the player has played to his or her handicap for a second nine holes. i.e. 9-hole score is not doubled to give an equivalent 18-hole score.

For example:

• Par score is 18 points for 9-holes.
• A player is playing on a handicap of 20.
• Player scores 22 points for 9-holes.
• The score is 4 strokes better than par score of 18 meaning that the player has a differential of 16. (The score is not doubled to 44, making the score 8 strokes better than par, giving the player a differential of 12)

The differential of 16 is added to the handicap calculation.

Sevens Golf Finals Format

For Divisions with 13 teams or more competing - Top 8 Teams Qualify

1st Qualifying Final

• Match 1 - 1st Place vs 4th Place
• Match 2 - 2nd Place vs 3rd Place
• Match 3 - 5th Place vs 8th Place
• Match 4 - 6th Place vs 7th Place

2nd Qualifying Final

• Match 5 - Loser Match 1 vs Winner Match 4
• Match 6 - Loser Match 2 vs Winner Match 3
• Winner of Match 1 & 2 - Bye

Semi Final

• Match 7 - Winner Match 1 vs Winner Match 6
• Match 8 - Winners Match 2 vs Winner Match 5

Grand Final

• G/F Match - Winner Match 7 vs Winner Match 8
• Consolation Final - Loser Match 7 vs Loser Match 8

For Divisions with 10-12 teams competing - Top 6 Teams Qualify

Qualifying Final

• Match 1 – 3rd Place vs 6th Place
• Match 2 – 4th Place vs 5th Place
• 1st and 2nd Place - Bye

Semi Final

• Match 3 – 1st Place vs Winner Match 2
• Match 4 – 2nd Place vs Winner Match 1

Grand Final

• G/F Match - Winner Match 3 vs Winner Match 4
• Consolation Final - Loser Match 3 vs Loser Match 4

For Divisions with 7-9 teams competing - Top 4 Teams Qualify

Semi Final

• Match 1 – 1st Place vs 4th Place
• Match 2 – 2nd Place vs 3rd Place

Grand Final

• G/F Match - Winner Match 1 vs Winner Match 2
• Consolation Final - Loser Match 1 vs Loser Match 2

For Divisions with less than 6 teams competing - Top 2 Teams Qualify

Grand Final

• G/F Match – 1st Place vs 2nd Place