Rules & Regulations

Founded in 2007, the Las Palmeras Golf Society (LPGS) exists to promote golf and good fellowship on the island of Lanzarote. All Society competitions are played under the Rules of Golf as set out by The R&A, unless modified by local course rules or formally adopted Society rules.

The Society uses the World Handicap System (WHS) for handicap management and complies fully with its rules of implementation.

Amendments to the Rules

Any proposed change to the Rules of the Society, submitted at an Annual General Meeting (AGM) or Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM), must receive a minimum of 60% of the votes of fully paid-up members present in order to be enacted.

1. Membership

a) Membership is open to persons living in, or regularly visiting, Lanzarote.

  • Permanent residents must be members of the Royal Spanish Golf Federation.
  • Non-resident regular visitors must provide evidence of a current World Handicap Index (WHI) on the day of play.
  • All members must provide evidence that their WHS membership includes comprehensive golf insurance or, alternatively, proof of a separate valid golf insurance policy.

During their stay on the island, non-resident members who are unable to submit and register their scorecards with their home Golf Federation or Union may have their handicap adjusted by the Society on observation, where deemed appropriate, for subsequent rounds played with the Society.

b) Applicants must be 18 years of age or over and approved by the Committee.

c) Society competitions are played every Tuesday and Friday morning, unless they clash with another major competition.

d) The Society joining fee is €20, and the annual subscription fee is €40.

  • Members who have not paid these fees by 31 January will be classified as Visitors.
  • Fees may be amended annually at the discretion of the Committee.

2. Committee

a) The Society shall be managed by a Committee of five (5) members, all of whom must be members of the Society and generally resident in Lanzarote.

The Committee shall consist of:

  • Captain
  • Vice-Captain
  • Secretary
  • Treasurer
  • Handicap Secretary

A sub-committee member may be appointed to act as Handicap Secretary and shall have full voting rights.

Any expenditure exceeding €50 must be approved by a simple majority of the full Committee.

The Committee’s financial responsibility is to manage Society funds prudently, with the aim of finishing each year as close to break-even as possible. Any surplus funds should be returned to members through improved non-monetary prizes during team competitions throughout the year.

Committee decisions may be conducted by email vote, where necessary.

Committee Responsibilities

Captain

  • Chair Committee meetings and the AGM
  • Ensure the Committee meets at least quarterly
  • Publish Committee meeting minutes to members
  • Administer all competitions
  • Conduct draws for knockout competitions

Vice-Captain

  • Assist the Captain and deputise in their absence
  • Normally succeed to the role of Captain after serving one year as Vice-Captain

Secretary

  • Record and maintain minutes of all meetings
  • Communicate results and Committee decisions to members
  • Maintain Society records and mailing list
  • Responsibility for:
    • Society Rules
    • Cups and trophies
    • Updated membership list

Treasurer

  • Collect competition entry fees
  • Pay prize monies
  • Organise draws and orders of play
  • Responsibility for:
    • Prizes
    • Captain’s and Christmas events
    • Annual Balance Sheet, Profit & Loss statement, and year-on-year financial comparison

Handicap Secretary

  • Monitor the general play of members and visitors
  • Designate handicap status of competitions
  • Recommend observational handicap adjustments to the Committee for approval

b) All Committee members shall step down at the end of each year.

c) Committee members are elected at the AGM. Any fully paid-up member may stand for nomination. Past Captains must wait a minimum of three (3) years before becoming eligible to serve again as Captain.

d) Fully paid-up members are entitled to vote at AGMs and EGMs.

3. Visitors

a) Visitors are welcome to compete in all Society events except match play competitions.

  • Proof of a valid WHI and insurance cover must be presented to the Secretary on the day of play.
  • Visitors may be excluded from certain prizes reserved for members.
  • Where visitors are unable to submit cards to their home Union, handicaps may be adjusted on observation for subsequent rounds.

4. Handicaps

All players must hold a current WHI, adjusted to the applicable course slope rating prior to play.

4.1 Spanish Federation members will have scores recorded to WHS after each Society competition unless designated otherwise.

4.2 Members affiliated with foreign Golf Unions must record all Society competition scores with their home Union.

4.3 Members must provide proof that scores have been recorded by:

  • Showing the updated score on their Union App before the next LPGS event, or
  • Emailing a copy of the completed, signed, and club-stamped scorecard to their home club handicap secretary and copying lpgs.handicap.secretary@gmail.com before the next event.

4.4 Failure to comply with Rule 4.3 will result in the member playing as a Visitor, paying the €5 visitor fee, and being ineligible for member prizes or annual trophy tables.

4.5 Visitor handicap groups:

  • Group 1: WHI 0–5
  • Group 2: WHI 6–12
  • Group 3: WHI 13–22
  • Group 4: WHI 23+

4.6 Handicap reductions for visitors:

  • Group 1: −0.1 per point over 36
  • Group 2: −0.2 per point over 36
  • Group 3: −0.3 per point over 36
  • Group 4: −0.4 per point over 36

These adjustments apply for the duration of the visitor’s stay.

4.7 Members playing as visitors will revert to their WHI once compliance is restored.

5. Green Fees

a) All competitors are responsible for paying club green fees prior to play.

b) Club rules and standard golf etiquette apply at all times.

6. Off-Island Trophies

Society trophies must not leave the island. Members departing for extended periods must return trophies to the Secretary.

7. Special Events & Team Games

Members and visitors may compete for trophies and/or monetary prizes in designated special events.

8. Forfeited Fees

Entry fees are forfeited if a competitor withdraws after completing the first hole, regardless of reason.

9. Normal Weekly Games

a) Entry fee: €3

  • 10% allocated to the Society charity
  • 10% allocated to Society funds
  • Remaining prize fund: 60% winner / 40% runner-up

b) An annual analysis of midweek games will be presented prior to the AGM.

c) Playing partners are determined by a Committee member, taking buggies, regular pairings, and walkers into consideration.

10. Monthly Games – Henson Cup

  • Twelve (12) monthly games
  • Two reserved for Captain’s Day and Turkey Trot
  • Five Stableford and five Medal (Stroke Play)
  • Entry fee: €5

Course allocation:

  • Men: Yellow tees
  • Ladies: Blue tees

Course derogations may be granted due to age or disability and must apply for the entire year.

Points awarded: 1st – 20 points, 2nd – 19 points, etc.

Prizes include member prizes, Longest Drive, Nearest the Pin, and a Visitors prize (minimum 3 visitors).

The League winner receives the Henson Cup and a monetary prize. The top eight players receive reducing monetary prizes.

11. Knockout Competitions

Two knockout competitions are held annually for resident members:

  • Singles Matchplay (full handicap difference)
  • Doubles Matchplay Fourball (90% handicap difference)

Matches must be completed within the set timeframe. Failure to do so results in the lower handicap player/team advancing.

12. Annual Memorial Trophies

  • Jeff Harris Memorial Ladies Trophy
  • Ian Oxley Men’s Cup

Awarded to the best total of ten (10) weekly Stableford scores. Prize: €100 each.

13. Local Rules

a) Preferred lies on fairways: clean and place within 6 inches, not nearer the hole.

b) On Picon areas: mark, smooth ground, and replace within 6 inches, not nearer the hole.

c) A provisional ball should be played whenever a ball may be lost.

d) Players must arrive at the clubhouse at least 30 minutes before tee time.

e) Ground Under Repair (GUR): free relief to the nearest point of relief, one club length, no nearer the hole.