Winter League

WINTER LEAGUE "LIVE" RESULTS

Click here for 'live' Winter League Results.

WINTER LEAGUE 2025-26

Draw for League phase together with Tee-times

Winter League 2025/6

  • Winter League this year will comprise of 5 groups of 7 teams (6 matches)

  • Handicap Calculation will be 75% of the difference from the lowest handicap player

Example

Team A Team B

Player 1 index 6.3 = 5 Player 1 index 8.4 = 8

Player 2 index 17.7 = 18 Player 2 index 21.5 = 22

Team A Team B

Player 1 receives 0 Shots Player 1 receives 3 Shots x 75% = 2

Player 2 receives 13 Shots x 75% = 10 Player 2 receives 17 Shots x 75% = 13

Results to be sent by the Winners please, to Peter Waknell via

Whatsapp (preferred) or Kev Royan immediately on

completion of the match

  • The top 3 in each of the 5 team groups, plus highest scoring 4th place overall will go through to the knock out stages.

  • If we have to cancel or re-schedule more than two of the group stage games, the calculation for the knock out stages ( as per above ) starting on 22nd February, will be calculated on games played to date.

  • Knock out stages that are cancelled due to inclement weather or course closure will be adjusted on a two weekly basis until completion of the competition.

  • All games in the group stage to be played on the dates set by the committee.

  • Games played in the knock out stages can be played, by mutual consent between the teams involved, before the date set but not after.

Please note that at the AGM, it was proposed and agreed that the entry fee for the Winter League would be increased to £15 per player (£30 per pair). Please ensure your CCA is adequately funded before the start of the competition otherwise your entry may be disallowed.

Rules

The general Rules can be viewed below with any extra amendments above:

WINTER LEAGUE RULES 2025 / 2026

1.   Matches are Betterball  Matchplay off difference of 75% Course Handicap, taken from the lowest handicapped player. (WHS Rules & Allowances as at January 2026). Because there is an antipated change to WHS Rules in January 2026, we will commence with those Rules in October 2025, to avoid having to make (a potentially complicated...) adjustment come January.

2.   There is an initial league phase, where pairs play all other pairs in their group. See above for details about qualifying for knock-out stages.

3.   All matches must be on the tee ready to start 5 minutes before the scheduled time. If one or both opponents have not appeared on time, the match should be started and holes claimed until opponents join. If neither opponent joins, the match will be won on the tenth hole. 

4.   All matches must be played on the scheduled date in the League stage. See above for options to play in the Knock-Out phases. A reserve may be used on two  occasions  during the league phase. Reserves cannot be anyone who is playing in the Winter League. Reserves must be members of Forrester Park Golf Club. NO reserves may be used during the knockout stages. In the event of both players not able to play, one cannot have two reserves playing at the same time. 
                                                            

5.   Matches are scored as follows:
      Win by one hole                   3.1 points
      Win by two holes or 2&1       3.2 points
      Win by 3&1 or 3&2               3.3 points
      Win by 4&3                         3.4 points
      etc…
      Halved matches                    1.5 points
      Walkover                              3.3 points

No holes need to be played if a pair is notified in advance that neither of their opponents nor a reserve will be able to play.

6.   Results should be notified to the Competition Secretary promptly after the game is completed. The onus is on the winners to see this is done.

7.   Dates for playing winter league matches are shown on the Clubhouse noticeboard and on the Men’s ("EVENTS" tab) website.

8.   If a match is abandoned due to bad weather, The Committee will decide, depending upon the circumstances, what action is to be taken, after considering the options available. 

9.   The decision to abandon (or temporarily suspend…) play will be taken by The Committee or The Captain. Competitors must not assume that play is suspended or abandoned until officially told – conditions may be different at various points on the course.

(Please see here for an extract of information published by the R&A, which highlights a range of options, and the complexity, of reaching a decision that will be universally acceptable!

10.   Knockout stages will be scheduled for specified dates and will be confirmed when the knockout fixtures are drawn.

Reserves
During the League stages only, a reserve may be used up to a maximum of two times, providing (1) the reserve is not already a competitor in any of the Groups. (2) the reserve is a member of Forrester Park Golf Club, (3) only one reserve per fixture. A list of players (subject to availability) willing to be contacted to act as a reserve can usually be found on the Men's Noticeboard in the Clubhouse corridor.

Handicaps
Handicapping for this year's competition will be the WHS standard format for Four-Ball Better-Ball Match Play - as will be applied from January 2026. Each player determines their Course Handicap, and receives strokes according to the difference between their own and the lowest-rated player, the lowest rated-player receiving 0 strokes. A handicap allowance of 75% is applied. See example above.