Courier Trophy Rules and Procedures
Last Updated February 2026
1. The rules herein apply to Linlithgowshire Golf Association’s (LGA) Courier Trophy.
2. All games will be played in accordance with the rules set out by Scottish Golf.
3. All member clubs may enter one team. The Secretary will seek each club’s intention to enter in time for the draw, usually conducted at the September meeting of the LGA Executive.
4. The competition shall be a knockout format, staged at a predetermined host club, with the first round on the fourth Tuesday in June, continuing with the quarter finals on the following Thursday, and concluding with the semi-final and final on the following Sunday. The Secretary shall maintain a rota of host clubs.
5. The draw shall be unseeded. Given the number of member clubs, byes to the quarter-final stage will be required. The Secretary shall determine how many byes are required and they will be drawn first. The bracket for the first round will then be drawn with the winners of the first match to play the first team given a bye in the quarter final (the winners of the second match to play the second team given a bye, and so on).
6. Unless otherwise informed, the Secretary will assume that the Captain for each club’s team will be their Summer League Captain. The Captain may be playing or non-playing.
7. Any player representing a club must have been registered with Scottish Golf as a member of that club on the 1st day of April immediately preceding the competition and be a member of that club on the day of play.
8. No player may represent more than one club during the competition but each club may select different players on different days of the competition.
9. Each match will consist of two foursomes scratch matchplay games. The games will tee-off at 8 minute intervals from the 1st tee.
10. The winner of the match will be the team who wins the AGGREGATE matchplay score of the two games. (ie a team has won when they are collectively more holes up than there are holes remaining to play across both games)
11. Where a match is all square after both games have completed their round, BOTH games will continue to play extra holes from the 1st tee until a winner is determined. The winning team will be the first to win a hole that the other team did not.
12. Should a player not be ready to play at their start time, his pair will forfeit the first hole. Should a player not be ready to play 5 minutes after their start time, his team will forfeit the match.
13. Where loss of light or, in the determination of the host club, course conditions require play to be suspended, the Secretary shall liaise with the host club and team captains to rearrange games. Where games can recommence on the same day, they will do so from the position they were suspended. Where games recommence on a different day, they will do so from the tee after the last completed hole. As per 8 above, alternate players may be used for rescheduled games where required.
14. LGA, via the host club, shall provide hospitality for competitors. For evening matches, arrangements will be made for ‘grab-bags’ containing water and snacks. For the semi-finals, a soup and sandwich lunch will be provided for all their participants. For the final, a two-course presentation dinner meal will be provided for all its participants.
15. All participants are expected to abide by the Code of Conduct as published by Scottish Golf. Alleged breaches of the Code of Conduct should be reported as soon as possible to the Secretary. Should it be deemed appropriate by the LGA office-bearers, the disciplinary process as published on the LGA website will be invoked.
16. The trophy will be held under insurance by the winning club, who will have it engraved appropriately and include it in its prize-giving event at its discretion. LGA will also endeavour to arrange an appropriate presentation event. The Secretary will advise where the trophy should be delivered to in preparation for presentation to the next winner. Any engraving cost may be cross-charged to LGA.