FOREWORD
Welcome to the inaugural Matchplay Pairs Challenge tournament! We are thrilled to launch this exciting, competitive tournament that gives golfers the opportunity to test their skills against their peers. Whether you are teeing off for bragging rights or aiming for the SA Final, we aim to create an enjoyable, fair, and memorable experience for everyone involved.
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 The Matchplay Pairs Challenge event is a fiercely competitive matchplay tournament for teams.
1.2 It is played in Better Ball Matchplay format, managed entirely through our custom mobile-friendly website.
1.3 Registration opens on 1 May 2026.
1.4 By registering, you agree to abide by the Tournament Rules, Regulations and Conditions.
2. OVERVIEW AND GENERAL TERMS
2.1 We aim to build a tournament known for its integrity and enjoyment. We reserve the right of admission.
2.2 This is purely about competition, great golf and rekindling competitive spirit.
2.3 The Organisers reserve the right to change, amend or add any tournament rules they deem necessary to ensure the successful running of the tournament.
3. TEAM ROSTER AND REPLACEMENT PLAYERS
3.1 A team registers with two original players (A and B), each holding an official GolfRSA HNA Handicap Index.
3.2 A team may introduce no more than one Replacement Player (C) during the season, subject to Admin approval.
3.3 A team may make no more than two roster changes in total. Roster Change 1 removes either original player and introduces C. Roster Change 2 may only return the original player removed in Roster Change 1, replacing either player then on the current roster. No fourth player may be introduced.
3.4 A player may represent only one team during the season. A player remains ineligible for another team even if their first team is eliminated, withdrawn or has completed its matches.
3.5 Admin must approve every roster change. A request does not change the roster until approval and, where applicable, the Replacement Player has completed registration.
3.6 The roster locks when the Divisional Final starts in an eight-team division, or when that team’s final scheduled Round-Robin fixture starts in a four-to-seven-team division. The locked pair must remain together for the Round 6 qualifier and SA Final.
3.7 Match history always records the players who represented the team in that match; later roster changes do not rewrite earlier scorecards or results.
3.8 If a qualified pair cannot attend the SA Final, their spot is awarded in accordance with the competition progression decision made by Matchplay Admin.
4. MEASURING DEVICES
4.1 Players may use distance-measuring devices for yardages only.
4.2 Penalties apply if devices are used to measure slope, wind, temperature or other conditions, per the Rules of Golf.
5. PLAYER ELIGIBILITY
5.1.1 Participants must hold a valid, active GolfRSA Handicap Network Africa (HNA) Handicap Index.
5.1.2 Participants must be in good standing at their club.
5.1.3 Participants must be at least 18 years old.
5.1.4 Amateur and Professional Status
The Matchplay Pairs Challenge is open to amateur golfers and non-touring PGA club and coaching professionals with a valid GolfRSA HNA Handicap Index, provided that all other eligibility requirements are satisfied.
A non-touring PGA club or coaching professional must declare their professional status during registration and must hold a valid, active GolfRSA HNA Handicap Index.
5.1.5 Handicap of a Non-Touring PGA Club or Coaching Professional
The verified HNA Handicap Index of a non-touring PGA club or coaching professional will be used in accordance with the World Handicap System and the handicap allowances stated in these Rules.
Professional status alone will not result in the player being required to play off scratch.
5.1.6 Handicap Verification and Adjustment
The Matchplay Pairs Challenge reserves the right to review and, where justified by evidence, adjust a player’s Playing Handicap where the player’s Handicap Index does not reasonably reflect their demonstrated ability, in accordance with Rule 7.2a of the Rules of Handicapping.
5.1.7 Prize Eligibility
Amateur participants remain subject to the GolfRSA Rules of Amateur Status and the applicable limits on prizes in handicap competitions.
A non-touring PGA club or coaching professional must declare their professional status and may not claim any prize expressly designated as an amateur-only prize.
5.2.1 Admin handles verification kindly and may request additional documents if needed.
5.2.2 Handicap verification involves cross-checking the HNA number against the official database.
6. REGISTRATION
6.1 Registration opens on 1 May 2026 and closes on 30 August 2026.
6.2 Players must provide: full name, email address, SA mobile number, HNA handicap number, current handicap index, city/town of residence, and postal code.
6.3 It is critically important that the correct postal code is provided. Geo-plotting for division assignments is done entirely based on the postal code entered.
6.4 Teams consist of two (2) players — mixed, all-male or all-female are all permitted.
6.5 Teams form via partner invite — Player 1 invites Player 2 via name and mobile number or email address.
7. ENTRY FEES AND PAYMENT
7.1 Entry fees are R1,500 per player (R3,000 per team).
7.1.1 Sign-on discount: full team payment of R2,800 if paid in full at time of registration — saving R200.
7.2 Payment is by electronic payment portal or EFT.
7.3 Once a team has paid and is included in a valid draw, no refund is ordinarily issued.
7.4 Any withdrawal before 30 August 2026 will incur a 20% administrative penalty fee. After 30 August 2026 there will ordinarily be no refund.
7.5 Exception for an undersized division: if fewer than four active teams remain and Matchplay cannot reasonably merge or restructure the division, Matchplay may offer each affected team a full refund. The team captain must accept or decline the recorded offer. An accepted refund is only complete once Admin confirms that payment has been processed.
8. TOURNAMENT FORMAT
8.1 The playing format is Better Ball Matchplay throughout.
8.2 Divisions are assigned geographically using the registered postal codes. The active team count when the division format is locked determines the competition structure.
8.3 Eight (8) teams use the existing five-round double-elimination structure: opening draw, Winners and 2nd Chance paths, semi-finals and Divisional Final.
8.4 Five (5), six (6) or seven (7) teams use a single Round-Robin: every team plays every other team once.
8.5 Four (4) teams use a double Round-Robin: every team plays every other team twice, with home and away reversed in the return fixture.
8.6 Fewer than four (4) teams is Action Required. Matchplay will attempt to merge or restructure the division; where that is not reasonably possible, affected teams may receive the full-refund option in Rule 7.5.
8.7 Round-Robin fixtures are distributed across the five published Divisional Match Windows. A team may therefore have more than one fixture in a match window. An odd-numbered division has scheduled byes; a bye earns no point and is not recorded as a win.
8.8 Round-Robin standings award one (1) point for a win and zero (0) for a loss. Every match must produce a winner. A walkover, forfeit, default, disqualification or withdrawal is recorded as a 1-up margin for tie-break calculations.
8.9 Tie-breaks are applied in this order: direct head-to-head for a two-team tie in a single Round-Robin; head-to-head wins then head-to-head aggregate margin for a two-team tie in a double Round-Robin; for three or more tied teams, a mini-table of matches among the tied teams, then tied-group aggregate margin, then overall aggregate matchplay margin. If first place remains unresolved, a tie-break playoff is drawn.
8.10 The Round-Robin champion, or the eight-team Divisional Final winner, advances to the existing Round 6 SA Final Qualifier process.
Home and Away:
8.11 Home and away designations are shown on every published fixture.
8.12 The home team books a Union-affiliated course and confirms the tee time. If the home team cannot book a course, the match takes place at the away team club.
8.13 Home teams must negotiate the cheapest possible rate with their club. Each team is responsible for its own costs on the day.
9. HANDICAPS AND SCORING
9.1.1 Course Handicap is determined per World Handicap System rules.
9.1.2 A 90% allowance is applied to each player Course Handicap and rounded to the nearest whole number.
9.1.3 The maximum handicap index is 20.0. Players with a higher handicap will play off the cap.
9.1.4 The lowest 90% Course Handicap among the four players is set to scratch; all others receive strokes equal to the difference.
9.1.5 It is each player full responsibility to ensure they are playing off the correct handicap.
Scoring Format:
9.4.1 The better (lower net) team score on each hole counts.
9.4.2 A hole is won by the team with the lower net score, or halved if equal.
9.4.3 The match is won by the team that is more holes up than holes remaining.
Score Submission:
9.5.1 Scores are entered hole-by-hole in the app.
9.5.2 Manual scorecards are mandatory and serve as the official legal document.
9.5.3 Both teams must photograph and retain their scorecards.
10. TIED MATCHES
10.1 All square after 18 holes results in sudden death playoff starting from Hole 1.
10.2 If sudden death is not possible, a countback from Hole 18 applies — the team last in the lead wins.
10.3 If countback is also not possible, the winner is determined by a chip-off. Nearest to the pin wins.
11. MATCH SCHEDULING — ROUND WINDOWS
Round 1: 6 September – 4 October 2026
Round 2: 11 October – 8 November 2026
Round 3: 15 November – 13 December 2026
Round 4: 20 December 2026 – 31 January 2027
Round 5: 7 February – 7 March 2027
Round 6: 14 March – 25 April 2027
SA Final: Week of 16 May 2027 (provisional)
12. DISPUTES AND APPEALS
12.1 If a rules dispute cannot be resolved on the course, log a dispute in the app or contact admin@matchplaypairs.co.za.
12.2 Admin reviews scorecards and seeks clarification from both teams.
12.3 Admin decisions are final.
13. SA FINAL
13.1 The SA Final is a multi-day event provisionally scheduled for the week of 16 May 2027.
13.2 Full details will be published once the venue and final programme are confirmed.
13.3 Organisers arrange on-site accommodation, golf rounds and meals.
13.4 Players are responsible for transport to and from the venue.
13.5 One practice round is provided.
13.6 Social events take place every evening except one, with live entertainment on at least one evening.
13.7 SA Final participants must sign the standalone Code of Conduct.
14. PRIZES AND AMATEUR STATUS
14.1 The Matchplay Pairs Challenge is a handicap competition governed by the Rules of Amateur Status and GolfRSA’s applicable prize limits.
14.2 No amateur player may accept cash or a cash-convertible prize.
14.3 The maximum retail value of performance-related non-cash prizes accepted by any player may not exceed R17,500 per competition.
14.4 This limit applies individually to each member of a pair.
14.5 Permanently engraved trophies and reasonable expenses to compete in a subsequent stage of the same competition are excluded where permitted by the Rules of Amateur Status.
15. GENERAL PROVISIONS
15.1 Amendments are notified via the web-app; continued participation constitutes acceptance.
15.2 Force majeure: Organisers are not liable for events beyond their reasonable control.
15.3 Participation is at the player own risk.
15.4 Governing law: Republic of South Africa.
16. CONTACT
Email: admin@matchplaypairs.co.za
17. ACCEPTANCE
By registering, you confirm that you have read, understood and agree to these Tournament Rules, Regulations and Conditions.