April start for SKZN handicap league

Fixtures for the 2024 season of the Southern KZN Handicap Golf League have been finalised.
Umdoni Park and Southbroom fielded two teams each last season but have opted for just one this year.
Selborne Park are defending champions.
Fixtures are as follows:
Round 1
Sunday, April 7 at Port Shepstone: Southbroom vs Margate. Umdoni Park vs Port Shepstone. Selborne Park – Bye.
Round 2
Sunday, May 19 at Southbroom: Port Shepstone vs Southbroom. Margate vs Selborne. Umdoni Park – Bye.
Round 3
Sunday, June 23 at Umdoni Park: Selborne Park vs Port Shepstone. Southbroom vs Umdoni Park. Margate – Bye.
Round 4
Sunday, July 21 at Margate: Umdoni Park vs Selborne Park. Port Shepstone vs Margate. Southbroom – Bye.

Round 5
Sunday, August 18 at Selborne Park: Margate vs Umdoni Park. Selborne Park vs Southbroom. Port Shepstone – Bye.
The format is greensomes matchplay in the morning and singles in the afternoon.
The maximum course handicap is 16 and captains are asked to rank teams low to higher handicaps so players/pairs are as evenly matched as possible.
Hopefully the weather will be kinder to the players this year.
Greensomes matchplay is played in fourballs, with two pairs competing against each other, played under matchplay rules, scored as in matchplay.
The pairs aggregate handicap allowance is calculated as follows:
* 60% of the course handicap (maximum 16) of the lower handicapped player (do not round up or down yet)
* plus 40% of the course handicap (maximum 16) of the higher handicapped partner (do not round)
* add these together and then round the result (>0.5 is rounded up, <0.5 is rounded down).
The pair with the lower aggregate handicap plays off scratch, while the opposing pair plays off the difference between the aggregate handicaps.
In terms of general play, all four players drive on each tee.
Each pair then decides which of their drives they will use, and the other ball is picked up, the other pair does the same.
Whichever player’s drive is chosen, their partner must take the next shot, thereafter they play alternate shot until the ball is holed, or the hole conceded.
Penalty shots and relief do not affect the order of play.
There is no minimum number of drives.
As in any game of golf, it is essential that each player’s ball is marked and can therefore easily be identified.

The match is played hole-by-hole and, as in the normal matchplay format, a player should pick up if their side is unable to better or equal their opponents nett score on a hole.
Before teeing off on the next hole the result of the previous hole and the overall match score so far should be agreed.
Once a player tees off the overall match score cannot be changed, even if a mistake is discovered at a later time.
The competition is scored hole-by-hole and the matchplay score: win (+), lose (-) or halved (0), should be recorded on a card for the avoidance of doubt.
Greensomes matchplay scores are not required for handicapping purposes.

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