Super Seniors Team Championship & Cup

ESGA Super Seniors Team Championship & Cup Competition rules

I - General

The ESGA Senior Team Championship and Cup is an annual Tournament of the European Senior Golf Association (ESGA), open to male amateur golfers of ESGA Members.

The Tournament will take place in the countries of the Senior Golf Associations, rotation not being obligatory. The ESGA General Assembly is entitled to grant the organization of this Tournament to a particular Association during one or several years, its choice not being based on who applied first, but on criteria such as accessibility, general quality, economy, climate and other factors.

Every year the ESGA General Assembly will establish the location and the dates of the Tournament at least two years ahead. The Tournament is composed by the ESGA SENIOR TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP (gross), rewarded by the “CHALLENGE RAYMOND BARBIER”, and the ESGA SENIOR TEAM CUP (net) “CHALLENGE WILLIAM O’BABB”. The host national Association will organize both of them.

Two appropriate 18 holes golf courses must be made available for the Tournament of four days and one 9 or 18 holes golf course for one day for the Presidents’ Cup and the Ladies’ Tournament.

The language in force is English.

II Definitions

ESGA Committee: During Tournaments the ESGA Committee shall consist of at least two members, the President and a Board Member or their designated deputies, thus representing the Board of ESGA. At least one of them must be present and the other one attainable for consulting.

Championship Committee: The Championship Committee is an honorary committee, formed by at least four members: the President of ESGA, the President of the hosting National Senior Golf Association and the Presidents of the Clubs, where the Tournaments are played, or their deputies. The Championship Committee watches over and shall strive for a good atmosphere during the event and ensure that the Tournament is being played in the true spirit of the game. This Committee may give advice to anyone at any time.

Tournament Committee: The Tournament Committee is formed by the organizing Association and is responsible for the organization of the Tournament. As a Committee, its responsibility is defined in Section I of the Official Guide to the Rules of Golf. The composition of the Committee is up to the organizing Association, but, being a technical Committee, shall consist of at least a Tournament Director and a suitable number of referees on the golf courses, including an experienced head referee. One ESGA Board member to be designated as contact person with the Tournament Committee.

When needed, external expertise, including from ESGA, may be requested, still under local responsibility

III Entry Requirements and Fees

Article 1 - Teams

For the championship, ESGA Members may enter one team of six players, with the exact individual handicap restricted to 12.0 at the time of entry.

For the Cup, ESGA Members may enter one team of six players with the exact individual handicap restricted to 20.0 at the time of entry, but limited to 16.0 in the competition.

The handicap of winners may be verified.

Article 2 - Entries

Entry forms will be sent out by the organizing Association via the website at least six months before the competition. Entries must be submitted by fax, e-mail or via the website to the organizing Association at the latest three months before the competition, while players’ names, handicaps and rankings must be announced two weeks before the event and at the latest at the team registration, on the arrival day

Article 3 - Age

All players must be at least 55 years of age at any time during the year. All players must conform in all respects to the Rules of Amateur Status.

Article 4 - Handicap

Not later than 8 hours before the Captains’ meeting on the practice day, the Captain of each team shall submit the up to date WHS exact handicaps of the players.

Article 5 - Fees

The entry fees shall be determined by the Member Association organizing the Tournament, in accordance with the ESGA Board, with one practice day to be granted before the Competition.

IV Format of the Competition

Article 1 - Teams 6 - Format

The Championship shall be played over 54 holes Strokeplay on three consecutive days, 18 holes per day, gross without handicap allowance. The Cup will be played over 54 holes Stableford on three consecutive days, 18 holes per day, net with full handicap.

The Tournament Committee may, if necessary, modify the format of the competition, cancel or change the number of rounds fixed in these rules.

The four best gross scores (for the Cup: best scores) returned each day by a team will count. The team ranking will be based on the total of these scores.

Article 7 - Tie

In case of a tie after three rounds the winner shall be determined by the team total of the four bestreturned scores for the third round, then the last two days . If there is still a tie, the best disregard score of the last day will count . When a tie still exists, the winner will be determined by lot.

Article 8 - Rules

The Championship and the Cup will be played in accordance to the R&A Rules of Golf. In addition the Local Rules with Code of Conduct (R. 1.2b) and Conditions of Play of the host Clubs, as prepared by the Tournament Committee, will apply.

Article 9 - Advice

Caddies are permitted; in addition only the team Captain, while he is not playing, can give advice to his team members on the course (R. 10.2).

Article 10 - Balls and Clubs

Only balls and clubs conforming to the requirements in the Equipment Rules shall be used.

Article 11 - Official Notice Board

Starting times, teams’ lists, Local Rules with Code of Conduct, Conditions of Play and changes in procedure etc. will be posted on the Official Notice Board provided in the Golf Clubs and on the information boards in the hotels. Captains and players should be aware of information posted there. No other information shall be considered official.

Article 12 - Starting times and Starting order

The Tournament Committee shall take all related decisions, dividing teams among early, mid and late starting times, assuring fairness in flight composition and avoiding that the same teams play together on day 1 and 2. Starting from two tees is recommended if possible, to avoid early starts and late arrivals. On the final day leading teams will play together, arriving last at hole 18

Article 13 - Captains’ Meeting

The Captains’ meeting will take place at the end of the practice day. The Tournament Director, Head Referee and all Team Captains should attend. Local Rules with Code of Conduct, Conditions of Play and “Prompt pace of Play policy” (R. 5.6b) will be explained; questions from captains will be answered. Location of the recording areas shall be indicated.  

V Special Rules

Article 14- Disqualification

Any team returning less than four scores in a round shall be excluded from the Tournament results. A player disqualified for one day will be able to play the next round, unless otherwise decided by the Tournament Committee.

Article 15 - Failure to start - Starting time

R&A and USGA updated Rules of Golf apply

Article 16- Buggies

Buggies are not permitted, unless explicitly approved by the ESGA Committee. Exception: if a thrauma, evident or medically attested, occurred to a player during the tournament (including the practice day) so that he cannot continue playing, the Tournament Committee may grant such a player a buggy, if available. Buggies are also not allowed for Team Captains, while playing or not.

In case a player holds a valid EDGA (European Disable Golf Association) Pass, where is specifically indicated a mandatory usage of a golf buggy, the organizing Association will be required to provide it.

Article 17- Mobile Phones

The active and passive use of mobile phones is prohibited on the course, except for the functions permitted by the Rules of Golf, in case of emergency, so recognized by the Committee, or to require a referee. In case of repeated breaches, the Tournament Committee may apply the Code of Conduct.

Article 18 - Distance measuring devices

Distance measuring devices are permitted as specified by the Rules of Golf.  

VI Trophies and Prizes (medals)

Article 19 - Team Prizes

The “CHALLENGE RAYMOND BARBIER” is offered by the Association Sportive des Seniors de France, which retains ownership. The Trophy will be entrusted to the name of the country whose team is the winner of the ESGA Senior Team Championship.

The “CHALLENGE WILLIAM O’BABB” will be entrusted to the name of the country whose team is the winner of ESGA Senior Team Cup.

The winning members will be responsible for the engraving and for returning both challenges to the Association hosting the next competition.

Six prizes will be offered to each team finishing first, second and third in the Championship and the Cup.

Article 20 - Individual Prizes

The player with the lowest individual total gross score (the Champion of ESGA) and the player with the total lowest individual net score will receive special prizes. In case of a tie, the prize will be awarded to the player with the best gross score (resp. the best net score) for the third round, then the second round, then the first round. If a tie then still exists, the matching card method of the last nine, six, three and the last hole shall be adopted on the results of the last round. If at this point a tie still remains, the prize shall be awarded by lot.

VII Recommendations

As the friendly and sporting character of the Tournaments is an important goal of ESGA, participants should experience the Tournament as most enjoyable, while playing, behaving in the true spirit of the game.

The final results should be ready at the Closing/Prize giving ceremony, to be presented and distributed to all team captains.

Members of the Tournament Committee, referees and captains should speak and understand the English language.

To avoid slow play:

Championship:

• the course length not to exceed 6000m, based on par 72

• the length of a flat par 3 hole not to exceed 180m

Cup:

• the course length not to exceed 5900m, based on par 72

• the length of a flat par 3 hole not to exceed 170m

Championship & Cup:

• flags to be reasonably placed

• forecaddies to be provided, where necessary

Important remark

If there is evidence that a player’s golf ability is not reflected by his handicap, even if it is the official one recorded by his Golf Federation, the ESGA Board, in order to protect the integrity of the whole competition, may at any time, even during the event, apply the WHS art. C3 and J5 reducing consequently his handicap and/or the Interpretation 1.2a/I of the Official Guide of the Rules of Golf (disqualification). The decision of the Board will be final (no appeal possible). The Member Associations should not include such players in their Cup teams.

April 2025