Rules

Dawn Patrol Handicap Reset and Changes to the Wednesday White Tee Team events (01/04/2026)

The Dawn Patrol shots lost for winnings and money tracking were reset on 1st April. The next reset will be 1st October.

Changes to the Wednesday White Tee Team events

  1. Team events will now be subject to the Dawn Patrol adjustments as per the Individual games. Winner (all players) -1 and second place (all players) -0.5
  2. Your White tee handicaps for Team events will remain at 100%, but will now be capped at 33. And as per point 1 above, will be subject to your Dawn Patrol adjustments.
  3. All Individual and Team winnings will be accumulative and will count towards the £30/£60/£90 thresholds for additional shot adjustments.

For convenience, on the Handicap page there are now two columns showing playing handicaps, one for Yellows 95% (individual) and one for Whites 100% (team). These columns show your Playing Handicap and include any Dawn Patrol adjustments.

  • The darker yellow and darker blue show players that have had their handicaps capped.
  • The pink highlights show when your handicap has been adjusted by 1 or more shots.

Don’t forget:

  • Your Dawn Patrol Handicap is now dynamically linked to your WHS Handicap Index throughout the playing season.
  • Preferred lies (pick and place on the fairway) will follow the main club rules.
  • The use of Spurk mats (or equivalent) will also follow main club rules. If you are submitting a card for handicap purposes, mats can’t be used.

Acceptable Cards (General Play Cards) within the Dawn Patrol (03/03/2026)

As the club transitions from winter to spring, they have reinstated the submission of Acceptable Cards (General Play Cards). As per the note from James, members may once again complete and submit both competition cards and general play cards for handicap assessment.

Please take note of the following points relevant to Dawn Patrol:

  •    Acceptable scorecards may now be submitted during Dawn Patrol Individual events for handicap purposes.
    •    When submitting a card for handicap purposes, Spurk mats are not permitted. (All scores submitted must adhere to club regulations).
    •    At this time, individual scorecard submissions are restricted to Individual events and are not permitted during Wednesday Team games.

Should you have any questions, please contact one of the committee member.

Kind Regards

Rod

Dawn Patrol Christmas Yellow Ball Competition 2025

General Rules

  1. Registration & Scoring
  • Teams and tee times are listed on IG for information only.
  • Do not enter scores on IG.
  • Keep an accurate physical scorecard. Once checked and signed by two team members, hand it to Martin, who will calculate the results.
  1. Start Times
  • Play will start from both the 1st (08:04) and 10th (08:12) tees.
  1. Yellow Ball Format
  • The yellow ball must be played in the order shown on the scorecard (indicated by dots).
  • The player using the yellow ball on each hole will have their Stableford score doubled.
  1. Team Scoring
  • For each hole, the team score is the best 2 of the 3 Stableford scores, including any doubled yellow ball score.
  • If the yellow ball player scores zero, the other two players’ scores will count; the yellow ball player is not required to contribute on every hole.
  1. Losing the Yellow Ball
  • If the yellow ball is lost at any point, it cannot be replaced.
  • From that hole onward, scoring reverts to best 2 from 3, with no further doubling.
  1. Handicaps
  • Playing handicap is 95% of Course Handicap, calculated from the yellow tees in play.
  • Maximum playing handicap: 28.
  1. Additional Competitions
  • Nearest the pin in two on the 7th hole.
  • Nearest the pin in one on the 17th hole.
  1. General Play
  • All 18 holes must be played, including those that might be on temporary greens.
  1. Overall Positions
  • To determine the actual positions, we will followed the guidance from the R&A Rules of Golf, Committee Procedures Section 5A/6d: “How Ties Will Be Decided.”
  • When players are tied, the winner is determined by comparing scores for the last nine holes, then the last six holes, last three holes, and finally the 18th hole. If a tie still remains, the same comparison is applied to the front nine.
  • When applying the last nine, last six, and last three holes method, one-half, one-third, one-sixth, or one-ninth of the handicap must be deducted from the relevant scores. The same procedure is applied to the front nine.
  • Accordingly, I have included these calculations on the leaderboard (see website), and the table has been sorted using the R&A’s prescribed sequence.

The Winter Eclectic 2025

The Dawn Patrol Eclectic Competition will run from Wednesdays the 8th of October to Wednesday 17th of December 2025. Please enter your name on the Dawn Patrol Notice Board. Alex will be collecting the £5 cash.

Change Highlights for 2025

  1. Extended qualifying period
  2. You can submit cards on any Dawn Patrol day (Monday, Wednesday or Friday). However the Team format selection on a Wednesday will take priority which may preclude the submission of an eclectic card (e.g. Texas Scramble)
  3. Handicap allowance increased from 50% to 70% off the tees in play at the time.

Rules

As per last year the requirement is to submit a maximum of 6 cards which can be submitted on any Dawn Patrol day Monday, Wednesday or Friday. However the Team format selection on a Wednesday will take priority which may preclude the submission of an eclectic card (e.g. Texas Scramble)
A player must declare on the first tee, before a ball is struck, that the round is for an Eclectic submission. The card must show

  • Competition = Eclectic (It should show which round you are playing e.g. 3 of 6)
  • The date played
  • The player’s full name
  • The card must be signed by both the Marker and the Player

In the interest of speeding-up play if you have a N/R on a hole mark it as N/R and move on. There is no need to complete a hole.

Play is from the Yellow tees, and only the gross score for each hole should be recorded on the score card. The total score should be summed (counting N/R as Nil). Upon completion of the round, submit the score cards.
As the eclectic is a stroke competition, under no circumstances should any putt be conceded. You must putt out.
The onus is on each player to remember the holes they still need a good score on. However, I will attempt to publish running scores.

Please pay your £5 entry fee to Alex Annal before the 8th of October (Start Date).

Handicap allowance

Your Handicap Index as at 10th of October, will be used to calculate your Eclectic Handicap (EH). Your EH will be calculated using 70% of your Course Handicap off the tees in play at the time**. The EH will be used at the end of all 6 rounds and will be subtracted from your Gross Eclectic round.

**Remember the new method of calculating a Playing Handicap takes the un-rounded Course Handicap, applies the percentage and then rounds the Playing Handicap. I mention this as you can’t just take a percentage of the Course Handicap as shown on the charts at hole 1. I will do the calculations.

Also the tees in play will be used and therefore you might notice a subtle change when we move from Summer to Winter tees

No gimmies in the Dawn Patrol 22nd August 2025

A quick reminder regarding the Dawn Patrol group: there are no gimmies in the Dawn Patrol.
Every player must putt out on every hole, regardless of distance.

This keeps our games consistent, fair, and true to the spirit of competition. Even the shortest putts can test your nerve—and that’s part of the fun!

Thank you for honouring this tradition and keeping our matches sharp.

—The Dawn Patrol Committee

The Morning Draw

Process

Members of the Dawn Patrol group meet in the clubhouse from 06:50 for coffee and conversation. Each member is allocated a numbered bingo ball, which is placed in the draw cap upon arrival. The draw will take place promptly at 07:40. Groups will be drawn in sets of three players. One member is responsible for recording the names of each group on a numbered set of scorecards. 

Updated 28th March 2025

With summer approaching, there has been an increase in attendance of Dawn Patrollers and a few new members, prompting the implementation of a new procedure.

The first three groups will be drawn at 07:30, providing them ample time to prepare for tee-off at 07:40, which marks the beginning of the roll-up slot. Subsequently, the main draw will be paused until 07:40, allowing later arrivals adequate time to include their ball in the draw.

Added 7th March 2025

A register will be kept of who plays on each of the Dawn Patrol days

Handicap Resets

Dawn Patrol shots lost for winnings and money tracking will be reset on 1st April and 1st October irrespective of what the main club are doing.

Winter rules, preferred lies (pick and place) will be in line with the main club.

Yellow tees will be in line with the main club (Summer / Winter)

The Dawn Patrol Handicap is now dynamically linked to the WHS Handicap Index throughout the playing season. The yellow tee WHS slope charts, as published by the main club, will be used. For example, shots lost and money counters are reset on April 1st, while continuing to play off the day’s Yellow tees. When the club changes, if it has not already, the tracking system will adjust, potentially causing a change in the DP handicap.

For Individual games (Mondays & Friday) we will play off yellow tees where your DP Playing Handicap will now be 95% the Course Handicap WITH THE CORRECT ROUNDING APPLIED, less any shots lost for winnings. You can check 95% of your Course Handicap on the IG Handicap Calculator.

Once the Yellow Summer tees are in play Fridays become Acceptable Card submission days. No gimmies!

Shots lost for winnings remain the same Overall = -1 shot, Front and Back 9 = -0.5. However, there is a new shot loss counter. For every multiple of £30 won for Individual Games (not Team Games) you will lose an additional shot. (£30 = -1, £60 = -2, £90 = -3 and so on).

As per the last reset, high end winners will receive a starting cut as follows: Based on your Individual winnings, -2 shots for £100 and over and -1 shot for £75 and over.

Individual (Monday and Friday)

The Monday game will be remain unchanged. On a Fridays however, we want all players to submit a card for handicap purposes. No gimme! The challenge here is you will be playing off 2 handicaps. Your Dawn Patrol handicap and your full handicap for handicap purposes. So don’t pick-up by mistake. Sounds complicated, but let’s give it a try.

Team Games (Wednesdays)

Updated 28th February 2025
Due to the tremendous support of the Wednesday team game, which has resulted in a significantly larger winner’s pot, we are excited to announce a new prize distribution system. Moving forward, when the total number of players reaches 20 or more, we will introduce both a 1st and 2nd prize. The prize pot will be allocated as follows: two-thirds to the winning team and one-third to the second-place team. We believe this new system will continue to foster enthusiasm and friendly competition among all our players.

Dawn Patrol Winter Eclectic Competition (4th October 2024)

The Dawn Patrol Eclectic Competition will run on Wednesdays from the 23rd of October to the 18th of December. It requires you to submit a maximum of 6 cards. If weather issues impact the 9 possible Wednesdays, other dates (Mon or Fri may be made available).

A player must declare on the first tee, before a ball is struck, that the round is for an Eclectic submission.

The card must show:

  • Competition = Eclectic (It should show which round he is playing e.g. 3 of 6)
  • The date played
  • The player’s full name
  • The card must be signed by both the Marker and the Player

Play is off the Yellow tees and the gross score at each hole recorded on a score card. Please sum the card (counting N/R as NIL). On completion of a round, score cards should be submitted to me. If you are playing out of DP hours and or I am not there please leave the card behind the bar asking the bar staff to put the card with the Dawn Patrol bowl. Further IG me to tell me that you have submitted a card. You may also want to keep a photo of the card just in case.

As the eclectic is a stroke competition, under no circumstances should any putt be conceded. You must putt out.

In the interest of speeding-up play if you have a N/R on a hole mark it as N/R and move on. There is no need to complete a hole.

The onus is on each player to remember the holes they still need a good score on. However, I will attempt to publish running scores.

Please pay your £5 entry fee to Alex before the 23rd of October Start Date.

Handicap allowance: Your Handicap Index as at 23rd of October, will be used to calculate your Eclectic Handicap (EH). Your EH will be calculated using ??% of your Course Handicap**. The EH will be used at the end of all 6 rounds and will be subtracted from your Gross Eclectic round.

Notes:

  1. ?? The percentage has still to be agreed
  2. **Remember the new method of calculating a Playing Handicap takes the un-rounded Course Handicap, applies the percentage and then rounds the Playing Handicap. I mention this as you can’t just take a percentage of the Course Handicap as shown on the charts at hole 1. I will do the calculations.

Rod Bird

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