The Format

We will ensure all participants are kept informed at every stage of the journey through both email and right here on our website. 

The Draw: After each round is drawn, both teams will receive an email detailing their next opponents and the contact information required to arrange the match. You'll also be able to see the draw on our website. Once you are eliminated from the tournament, you will no longer receive any communications.

Scheduling: It is the responsibility of the team listed first/at the top of the draw to contact their opponents and agree on a date and time within the designated window for that round. To keep the tournament moving, we suggest reaching out to your opponents within 48 hours of the draw being released. This ensures you have the best chance of agreeing a date and obtaining a suitable tee-time at the host club. All matches should be played on weekdays only (Mon-Fri). 

Booking: Once a date is agreed, simply contact the host club to book your tee time.

All-Inclusive Entry: Your entry fee covers all green fees for the tournament. There are no additional costs to pay at the pro shop upon arrival.

Submitting Results: Immediately following the match, the winning team is responsible for submitting the final score via our Results page. Results should be reported within 24 hours of play to ensure the tournament draw is updated promptly.

Tracking Progress: You can view round deadlines, course details, and live brackets at any time via our Draw & Results page.

The tournament begins as a straight knockout event for teams of two.

Format: Pairs Matchplay. Teams compete hole-by-hole; the team with the lowest score on a hole wins that hole.

Efficiency of Play: Only one player needs to complete the hole. If a partner cannot improve on the team's current score, they are encouraged to pick up their ball to maintain the pace of play. As per normal matchplay rules, gimmes can be awarded by the opposing team.

Course & Slope Rating: Playing handicaps must be calculated using the specific course slope rating. If you are in any doubt, please use the Handicap Calculator or contact the Event Director before you tee off.

Determining a Winner: Matches are played over 18 holes. If a match is "All Square" after 18, play continues in a Sudden Death format starting back at the 1st hole. The first team to win a hole outright concludes the match.

Handicap Allowance: Matches use 75% (3/4) of your Course Handicap.

• The player with the lowest handicap plays from scratch (0).
• The remaining three players receive strokes based on the difference between their adjusted handicaps and the lowest player.
• Strokes are taken on the holes with the lowest Stroke Index (SI).
• Always round .5 upwards. For example, a calculated handicap of 10.5 becomes 11. If the calculation is 10.4, it remains 10.
   

Example Matchplay Handicap Calculation: Studley Wood using the assigned competition tees with a Slope rating of 130 for men and 132 for women

Step 1: Calculate the Course Handicap

The formula for Course Handicap is:

{Handicap Index} x {Slope Rating}/113}

• Player A (Male, 12.0 Index): 12.0 x (130 / 113) = 13.8 (Rounds to 14)
• Player B (Female, 21.0 Index): 21.0 x (132 / 113) = 24.5 (Rounds to 25)
• Opponent 1 (Male, 8.0 Index): 8.0 x (130 / 113) = 9.2 (Rounds to 9)
• Opponent 2 (Male, 15.0 Index): 15.0 x (130 / 113) = 17.2 (Rounds to 17)

If you're using the MyEG APP, the easiest way to find your Course Handicap is to simply select the course and tees you are playing, and it will give you the Course Handicap. From there, you only need to calculate the 75% difference for the match.

Step 2: Find the Playing Handicap

Now we apply the tournament rules: Find the difference from the lowest player, then take 75%.

The Lowest Player is Opponent 1 (9).

1. Opponent 1: 9 - 9 = 0. Allowance: 0 x 0.75 = 0 shots.
2. Player A: 14 - 9 = 5. Allowance: 5 x 0.75 = 3.75 = 4 shots.
3. Opponent 2: 17 - 9 = 8. Allowance: 8 x 0.75 = 6 shots.
4. Player B: 25 - 9 = 16. Allowance: 16 x 0.75 = 12 shots.

Qualifying teams will advance to Finals Day, where the format shifts to stroke play.

Format: Pairs Stroke Play (Four-Ball Better-Ball) using Stableford Scoring.

Handicap Allowance: Unlike the knockout rounds, there is no "lowest player" scratch calculation. Each player calculates their own Playing Handicap independently by taking 85% of their Course Handicap.

Step 1: Calculate the Course Handicap

The formula for Course Handicap is:

{Handicap Index} x {Slope Rating}/113}

Step 2: Calculate your playing Handicap

• Example: If your Course Handicap is 12, your Playing Handicap for Finals Day is (12 x 0.85 = 10.2, rounds to 10).
• Example: If your Course Handicap is 21, your Playing Handicap for Finals Day is (21 x 0.85 = 17.85, rounds to 18).
• You then take your strokes on the holes corresponding to the Stroke Index (SI) on the scorecard to determine your net Stableford points for that hole.

Scoring: Both partners play their own ball throughout. The team score for each hole is the lower (better) Stableford score of the two partners after handicap adjustments. 

Efficiency of Play: Only one player needs to complete the hole. If a partner cannot improve on the team's current score, they are encouraged to pick up their ball to maintain the pace of play.

The Champions: The team with the highest cumulative Stableford points at the end of the 18-hole round will be crowned the 2026 "Race To The Grove" Champions. 

Settling a Tie (Countback Method): In the event of a tie for the top spot on Finals Day, we will use the standard Countback method to determine the winner. This looks at the best stableford score over the back 9 holes. If it's still tied, we look at the back 6, then the back 3, and finally the 18th hole. This ensures a fair result based on who finished the strongest on The Grove’s challenging closing stretch.