| How is The Daily Telegraph Wilson Matchplay Championship played? |
The Championship includes a Better-Ball (team of 2) and Individual competition and
competitors may enter both. For the purpose of this text we refer to the Better-Ball
competition but the format is identical for the Individual competition.
The closing date for entries is Friday 16th May and after this date the
Draw will be made on a regional basis to minimise travelling for
competitors and each region consists of 16 teams. Each pair receive
a copy their specific Regional Draw which contains the
names, golf clubs, handicaps and telephone numbers of
each of the 16 pairs in that draw.
Play commences in June and the format is knockout matchplay with a maximum of four
rounds played between June and September. After four rounds the winning team in each
region qualify for their Regional Final of which there are usually eight, one in Northern Ireland,
one in Scotland and six throughout England, held at top class courses in the
first half of
October. The top 2 or 3 teams from each Regional Final,
depending on the number of teams taking part on the day, qualify for the Grand Final in
Portugal.
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| Who Can Enter? |
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Current golf club members who have a handicap issued by a CONGU affiliated golf club and
have played in at least 3 handicap qualifying competitions between April 1st 2007 and June 1st
2008 (14 months). Handicap limits are 24 for men and 30 for ladies. Golfers with higher
handicap may enter and play off these limits. Better-Ball teams may be mixed and players
may come from different clubs.
Golfers under 18 yrs may compete in the Better-Ball
competition but MUST be partnered by an adult.
Competitors in the Individual competition MUST be 18 yrs
and over.
click here to view the rules?
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| Where are the matches played? |
In the first round the team drawn at the top in each pair will play at home. The winning team
who are first to inform the Tournament Office of the match result will be the home team in the
next round and so on.
One of the most popular reasons for entering the tournament is that it provides an opportunity
to play competitive golf on different courses for a fraction of the normal green fee.
"We've entered the tournament for the past five years and although we haven't qualified for
Portugal yet we've played loads of different courses and had some great matches and met
some very nice people".
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| Complimentary or reduced green fees? |
Ever competitor in the tournament must be a current member of a golf club. Courtesy of the
course is often granted but any green fees payable will be charged at the member's guest
rate and shared equally between each competitor:
For example, if the member's guest green fees is £10 then each player in the fourball will pay
£5 each. It's even better value than all the 2 for 1 schemes.
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| How are matches arranged? |
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Player A in
each team is sent a copy of the Draw for their particular region which includes the names, handicaps, telephone
numbers and golf clubs of the other competitors in that Draw. Matches are arranged
by the competitors on a mutually convenient date and time. A period of at least 4
weeks is allocated to complete each round.
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| How are the strokes worked out? |
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Strokes will be taken on the basis of 3/4 of the handicap difference
and taken from the lowest handicap of the fourball. The maximum permitted playing handicap is 24
for men and 30 for ladies. In addition to their normal stroke allowance ladies
will also receive the difference between the mens and ladies standard scratch score from the tees
to be used. These extra shots are added to the lady's handicap before 3/4 of the difference
is calculated.
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| How much is the entry fee? |
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The entry fee for the Better-Ball competition is £38 per pair and for the Individual competition £26 per person. |
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