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League Rules
Costa Blanca League
League Rules – Season 2026
1. General Rules
1. Teams joining the League do so on the understanding that their Society is committed to fielding eight (8) players for each scheduled fixture, as published at the start of the season.
2. Each Society will nominate one representative to sit on the League Committee.
3. All teams agree to abide by the rules democratically agreed by the Committee. In the event of a tied decision, the President shall have the casting vote.
4. Each team participating in the League must pay an annual subscription of 50€, payable prior to the start of the season, to cover administration costs.
5. Teams are not required to register players before the start of the season. Players may be added during the season, provided they are bona-fide members of that Society.
2. Match Administration and Team Registration
6. No later than two clear days before a match, each Captain must submit their team via the entry links provided or by email to competitions@clgolf.es.
Once a team has been registered, one player from each pair must proceed via the Golf Directo direct entry link to enter and pay for both players in that pair.
If a substitution is required after submission, the substitute player must directly replace the withdrawn player.
Where a player or pair is changed, the playing order will be recalculated in accordance with the rule governing aggregate pair handicaps. No other changes to the team or pairings are permitted unless authorised by the organisers.
Each team submission must include:
- Pairings and order of play
- Players’ full names and the handicapping authority under which they are entered (Federation, Society, or other)
- Each player’s current Handicap Index
- Buggy requirements for each pair
- Confirmation of any course membership, VIP status, or courtesy
It is the Captain’s responsibility to declare any membership, VIP status, or courtesy and to provide full details and confirmation from the host course where applicable.
3. Format of Play and Playing Handicaps
7. All League fixtures are played as Fourball Matchplay.
The maximum Playing Handicap for both men and women is 28, after all slope and stroke allowances have been applied.
Strokes are calculated against the lowest-handicapped player, who plays off scratch, with a maximum allowance of 18 strokes (one per hole).
Playing Handicap Calculation
Playing Handicap = {Handicap Index × (Course Slope ÷ 113) + (Course Rating – Par)} × 90%
The result is rounded to the nearest whole number.
Official match sheets showing strokes received will be issued by the organisers.
If a late handicap change occurs and organisers are unavailable, the Team Captain must amend strokes using the published data.
7a. Playing Order
Captains are free to pair any two players from their squad together.
Once all four (4) pairs have been confirmed, the playing order shall be determined by the lowest aggregate pair handicap playing first, followed by the next lowest aggregate pair, and so on.
If a player or pair is changed at any stage, the playing order must be recalculated in accordance with this rule.
4. Handicap Validity and Use of Golf Directo
8. All players must compete off their lowest current handicap, whether held with:
- Spanish Federation
- Their Society
- Another Society
- An overseas handicap authority
Any handicap not used within the previous six (6) months will be considered historic.
An active handicap is defined as a player having completed three (3) WHS qualifying rounds within the previous six (6) months.
Players with no qualifying handicap record within the previous six months are not eligible to play League matches.
Players who do not fully meet the above criteria may be permitted to play with a 20% handicap index reduction, at the discretion of the organisers.
Any player holding two active handicaps must play off their lowest known handicap.
All captains agree to make every effort to ensure that federated players are processed through Golf Directo when running handicap-qualifying competitions.
Players whose handicap authority is overseas should be encouraged to return qualifying scores to their home club.
5. Etiquette, Conduct, and Disputes
9. As a matter of etiquette and respect for opponents, all matches should be played over the full 18 holes, even if the result has already been decided.
The Committee may deduct one (1) League point from any team proven to have ignored this rule.
10. The Secretary and elected Committee members (or a nominated deputy) shall form the disciplinary body.
The Rules of Golf as defined by the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews apply at all times.
11. Mobile phones must be set to silent and used only in urgent or emergency situations.
If a phone rings after an opponent has addressed the ball or during the stroke, the hole may be lost.
Any unresolved dispute must be declared before the next tee, with the match completed and the final outcome referred to the Committee if required.
12. Before play commences, both teams must agree that all strokes given or received are correct.
A player knowingly playing off an incorrect handicap may result in disqualification of the pair, with points awarded to the opposition.
6. Match Completion and Non-Attendance
13. At the conclusion of each fixture, both Team Captains must complete and sign the
match sheet.
This must be submitted to the League Secretary within one (1) day of the match.
14. Non-Attendance and Late Arrival
(a) If a team cannot field one or more pairings, the organisers must be informed no later than
18:00 on the day before the fixture. Points for the affected match(es) will be awarded to tho
opposition.
(b) If only one player reports for a pairing, they may play as if the pair were complete. The
missing partner may join only between holes.
(c) Arrival within five (5) minutes of the allocated tee time will result in the loss of the first
hole.
(d) If a pair fails to attend or cancels on the day, the opposing team is awarded two (2) points.
No changes to the match sheet or playing order are permitted.
7. Team Withdrawal
15. If a team withdraws from the League at any point before completion of the season, all results involving that team will be expunged from the League table, regardless of the number of matches already played.
8. Multiple Teams and Player Eligibility
16. A player may represent only one Society per season.
Where a Society has more than one team entered in the League, a maximum of three (3) players per season may assist the alternate team, and each of those players may do so on one (1) occasion only, strictly for emergency cover.
9. Course Conditions and Equipment
17. If a course is closed and no play is possible, all matches will be replayed.
If play is suspended during a fixture, completed matches stand and incomplete matches are replayed.
The Committee has final authority where agreement cannot be reached.
17.1 Course Set-Up and Tee Markers
a. On all Costa Blanca League match days, the host golf course will set up the course in advance of play using the designated yellow and red tee markers, as agreed with the Costa Blanca League Committee.
b. No player, team captain, or team representative has the authority to move, adjust, rotate, or reposition any tee marker once the course has been set for a Costa Blanca League fixture.
c. Any concern or request regarding tee placement must be raised only with the Costa Blanca League Committee, who will liaise directly with the host golf club where appropriate.
No changes may be made unless explicit authorisation is given by the Committee.
d. Any player found to have interfered with or moved a tee marker without authorisation will be disqualified from their match.
e. Where the Committee determines that an unfair advantage has been gained, further sanctions may be applied, including disqualification of the full team involved and the awarding of points to the opposition.
f. This rule exists to protect the integrity, fairness, and consistency of Costa Blanca League competition. No exceptions will be made.
18. Preferred lies are permitted on fairways and closely mown grass only.
The ball must be marked before being lifted and may be cleaned and placed within six (6) inches of its original marked position, no nearer the hole.
19. Distance Measuring Devices measuring distance only are permitted.
Devices measuring gradient, temperature, or linked to mobile phones are not allowed.
10. Points, Promotion, and Relegation
20. Two (2) points are awarded for each game won and one (1) point for each halved game.
The maximum points available per match is eight (8).
League ties are decided by:
- Total games won
- Head-to-head result
- Best result against the next highest-placed team
Two teams are relegated from Division 1 to Division 2, and two teams are promoted from Division 2 to Division 1.
11. Amendments
21. The Committee reserves the right to review and amend the competition format annually.