The 2025 Championships are being conducted by the Northern Territory Veteran Golfers Association in accordance with guidelines issued by the Australian Veteran Golfers Union (AVGU).

Management

The championships shall be conducted under the management and control of the Tournament Committee whose decisions on all matters relating to the tournament shall be final. The Tournament Committee reserves the right to make amendments or changes as required prior to and during the Championship.

Closing Date

Entries will close on 31 May 2025. The Tournament Committee reserves the right to refuse entries once the field capacity is reached. Late entries may be accepted at the discretion of the Tournament Committee.

Eligibility

Entry is open to male and female amateur golfers who are over the age of 55 years as at Monday 1st September 2025. Each entrant must be a financial member of a veterans group affiliated with the AVGU and must have a GA Handicap.

In States that do not admit females as full members, the Tournament Committee reserves the right to accept female entries who meet the other criteria on application.

Eligibility – Partners

Partners of entrants who hold a current GA Handicap are eligible to enter the Championship. Where the partner is less than 55 years of age at the commencement of the tournament, the partner will be ineligible to win prizes.

Rules

Play will be conducted in accordance with the Royal and Ancient Rules of Golf as available at http:/www.randa.org/ and the Local Rules and Temporary Rules applicable at the courses at which the Championships are being played.

4BBB Medley Stableford

A 4BBB Medley Stableford competition will be held on Monday 1st September for all entrants. Partners may be nominated on the entry form.

Men’s and Ladies AVGU Championships

The AVGU Championships for both men and women will each be played as a stroke event over 54 holes with three grades and in conjunction with a 54 hole single stableford competition. Players may elect to withdraw from stroke and play stableford only during the event.

Championship rounds will be conducted on Tuesday 2 September, Thursday 4 September and Friday 5 September at the Darwin and Palmerston golf courses. Each grade will play two rounds at one course and one round at the other.

Partners of entrants will be drawn to play on the same course and time as their partner, unless otherwise requested.

Grades

Championship Grades for men and women will be determined by GA Handicaps on Sunday 17 August 2025. Grades will remain for the duration of the Championships.

Handicaps

Handicaps for all players will be as at Monday 1 September. Handicaps, subject to slope adjustment for the course being played, will remain for the 4BBB event and for the 54 hole championship. Handicaps for the daily events will be adjusted as determined by daily Golf Link assessment. Maximum playing handicaps will be 36 for men and 45 for women.

Mi-Score/Cards and Protests

Results must be lodged within 15 minutes of the completion of the player’s round on the day. The decision of the Tournament Committee will be final.

Ties

Should there be a tied score in either of the men’s or women’s Overall Championships, the winners will be decided by Golf Australia Countback recommendations using total scores in the final round, then the second round, then the first round. If still tied, a standard countback will be held on the final round. Partners’ scores will be determined regardless of the order in which the courses were played.

Tied scores in daily events and the 4BBB shall be decided in countback order. Winners of the championship major trophies (Gross, Nett Stroke and Stableford) will be ineligible to win ancillary 54 hole divisional prizes.

Bad Weather

It is a condition of competition that, in potentially dangerous situations play must be discontinued immediately following a suspension of play by the committee. Procedures for discontinuance of play will be notified by the individual clubs in their Competition Conditions or Local Rules.

If a player fails to discontinue play immediately, the player shall be disqualified unless circumstances warrant waiving such penalty, as provided for in the rules of golf.

If any conditions occur which prevent the completion of any round of the scheduled events on any day, on either course, that round for the affected grade, shall be cancelled.

Golf Carts Usage

As the availability of golf carts will be limited, the committee reserves the right to prioritize motorized cart usage for medical conditions (a doctor’s certificate may be required). To drive a motorized cart, competitors must have a current driver’s licence and have previous experience driving a golf cart. In the event of an accident, the driver is responsible for the costs to repair the cart and any property damaged as well as being liable for any personal injury claims. 

Mobile Phones

Golfers may carry a mobile phone on the golf course to use the MiScore App and to use in case of emergency. Mobile phones must be set to silent.

Dress Code

All competitors should be smartly attired both on the course and in the club house in accordance with the dress code of the host club. Soft spikes are mandatory. Dress for the Presentation Dinner is smart casual.

Cancellation by entrant

Entrants cancelling before 30 April 2025 will be entitled to a full refund. Applications for refunds received after this date will be subject to a $100 administration fee. No refund will be provided for cancellations after 4 August 2025. It is recommended that you take out suitable travel insurance at the time of booking. Refunds for cancelled travel or accommodation etc are not the responsibility of the organizers and will be subject to determination with the individual provider.

Unavoidable Abandonment of Tournament

Should circumstances beyond the control of the Tournament Committee require the abandonment or curtailment of the tournament,the Tournament Committee may deduct from registration fees, before refunding the balance, an amount reasonably necessary to cover its expenditure to that date. The deduction sought is only to defray costs actually incurred to the point of forced abandonment.

In the interests of transparency, any such deduction from registration fees by the Tournament Committee will be subject to scrutiny by a delegate of the AVGU.

Publicity/Promotion

The Tournament Committee may arrange media promotion and publicity before, during and after the Championship. Competitors assent to pictures of them appearing and being used for purposes determined by the Tournament Committee.

Indemnity Disclaimer

By signing the Indemnity Disclaimer on the tournament entry form or registering online, competitors agree to participate in the 2025 AVGU Championship at their own risk. To the extent permitted by law, the AVGU, tournament organizers, sponsors, host golf clubs and other suppliers of goods and services accept no liability for any death, injury, property loss or damage incurred during or arising out of any aspect of the conduct of the Championship.