Rules

The Mersey League exists to promote friendly competition between the five Mersey Clubs to the ultimate benefit of all members. A committee comprising the Competitions Chairman/Convenor and the Mersey League Organiser of each of the five participating clubs shall administer the league. There should be one representative of each club present to represent a quorum. The committee shall meet once a year, and at such other times as called by any one participating club, to decide any disputes which may arise.

Clubs           Chorlton, Didsbury, Northenden, Sale and Withington.

Fixtures     Fixtures will commence in May through to August. Dates of fixtures will be arranged one year in advance at the Mersey Meeting.

Teams        There will now be 1 team comprising of 16 players on each team, with 1 home and away match. Captains from both clubs will play against each other and where possible lead off in the 1st Match.

Players       Competitors must be male playing members of the club they are representing. Juniors if selected must be aged 16 or over on the day of a given match, however 2 Juniors cannot play together.

Matches     Each team will play four home and four away fixtures. Matches will be four-ball Betterball match-play.

Handicaps The 16 players from each team must have a handicap index of no more than 14.0. Players off a handicap index greater than 14.0 can still play but will only be able to play off a maximum handicap index of 14.0. However, if Mr Captains handicap index is greater than 14.0, he will be allowed to play off his full handicap index. 

The format will be 4 ball better ball. SHOT ALLOWANCE:  Calculate your course handicap and take 90% of the difference to the lowest handicapped player

Start times Matches to commence as soon as possible from 4.30pm with priority given from 4pm especially for the early matches, with team captains applying flexibility to ensure matches are not unduly delayed. If any team member has not arrived by 5.45pm his match will start without him. He may, on arrival, join his match on the course.

Scoring      Each week there will be 3 points for an overall team win, 1 point for an overall draw and zero points for an overall loss. In the event of a tie for the final league table placing, the winner will be decided on the results of all head-to-head matches between the tied teams. If still tied, the League will be shared.

All results should be posted on the Mersey League Whatsapp group on the Wednesday evening, or Thursday morning at the latest. Naga Nalluri (Northenden) will collate the results and publish them along with League Tables (amended May 2023).

Meals         Pre match sandwiches will no longer be provided. Players will still be provided with a simple one course meal after the match has been completed.

Winners     The winners of the trophy to arrange with the holders for a formal handover of the trophy on a convenient date.

Suspended, Abandoned and Postponed Matches

If the match has started, completed individual game results will stand. An incomplete game will be regarded as halved. In the event that a match is postponed, clubs may agree to rearrange the match on a mutually agreeable date before the date of the last scheduled fixture. If the postponed match is the last scheduled fixture, it must be played within the following 10 day period (amended October 2016). Any club not fulfilling a fixture for any other reason will forfeit the points. Any postponed

match not played within 10 days will be scored as a tie. Results to be advised a.s.a.p. for league table purposes.

The table below is an example of the team format, Pairings made up from the lowest to the highest handicap index players.