Clarifications for the 10 ball challenge
10 Ball Challenge
You start with 10 balls; each is worth 25 points if you do not lose them. So if you play right through the 10 ball challenge without losing any balls, you earn a 250 point bonus.
Each round you play has to be with another CGL member so there is someone to witness it. The only rounds that do not count are in matchplay comps (as the chances are you will be taking on some risky shots in an attempt to win a hole), or if you declare that you are not going to count the round BEFORE you start.
The latter is to allow those that have been out of the game for a period, or coming back from, or have an injury to get some golf in, even though they know they will be playing really bad.
Duration of 10 Ball Challenge
The 10 ball challenge will run during the “Race To Bondhay”, or until such time as you have lost your 10 balls. Once you have lost your 10 balls, the score you have achieved whilst using them is your final score in the leader board.
Ball Identification
In any golf competition, you have to be able to clearly identify your ball during play and the 10 ball challenge is no different. This does not mean you play with a pro V1 ball, therefore that’s your identification, as many other people will be playing with that type of ball.
Each ball should have either a clearly identifiable set of markings on it, which could be different coloured dots, or you initials on it. For example, I always mark my ball with “AL B” before starting, as I know no one else will have those markings on the ball.
Before you start using the ball, it must be shown to the other players on the day, so they know what ball they are looking for if you hit a bad shot and they need to assist you in finding it.
Lost Ball
A ball is deemed lost, if it’s not going back into your bag at the end of the round, as simple as that.
Examples of a non lost ball:
Ball is hit into a water feature and you recover it
Ball is hit OOB and you recover it
You are only allowed the standard 5 minutes to look for a lost ball. If you do not find it after 5 minutes, then you start using another ball.
If you hit your ball OOB or into a water feature and you cannot retrieve it, even though you can see it, it is classed as a lost ball, as it will not be going into your bag at the end of the round.
If the group behind finds your ball and gives it to you, after you have finished the hole, or in the clubhouse afterwards, then sorry, it's still classed as a lost ball. Basically, if you start playing with another ball, the first is counted as lost, unless you hit a provisional and then find your first when you look for it, which is in the normal rules of the game. (added after Darren's comments).
Scoring
Scoring is simple, you play off you CGL handicap and receive the strokes you are entitled too.
So if you play a round and score 30 stableford points without losing a ball, then you have scored 30 points to your final total.
If you scored 30 stableford points, but lost a ball during the round, you have in effect only scored 5 points, as you have lost 25 bonus points for losing a ball.
If you have scored 30 stableford points and lost two balls, you have in effect had a negative round, as you have lost 50 bonus points (2 lost balls) but scored 30 points for the round, so in effect scored -20 for the round.
Qualifying
To qualify at the end of the 10 ball challenge, you have to have played a minimum of 10 rounds of golf in the 10 ball challenge.
You will be limited to your 10 rounds for the final score, to see if it makes it fairer to those that cannot play as much golf as others. This does not mean you can only enter 10 rounds though, as you can take the gamble and add more rounds if you wish.
What this means, is that if after 10 rounds you have any balls left, you can enter more rounds to try and improve your overall total.
Example
If I have played 10 rounds and only have 1 ball left with a total score of say 500 points, which includes a scoring round of 5 points (scored 30 on the day, but lost a ball (-25), I can play another round to see if I can go round without losing a ball and thus add more than 5 points to my overall total. I could keep doing this until I have lost my last ball.
It might be, that I think I have a good overall total and do not want to risk losing what I have already got, or I might decide to gamble and try and improve my total score, knowing that if I lose another ball, I will probably be worse off!
This will allow me to gauge if the 20 ball challenge next year follows the same rules as above with regards rounds submitted (but will be 20 rounds), or I stick with the current format.
Remember, this is a fun tournament, allowing members to chuckle over someone losing loads of balls in one round and we are playing between ourselves. There will be a prize at the end of it, but that’s not what we are playing for, as its more about getting out on the course with the people you have met through the site on a regular basis.
Good points Darren.
Its lost if you start playing with another ball, after deeming your first cannot be found, or is out of reach of being rescued.
If the group behind finds your ball, or someone in your group gives it to you in the bar afterwards, then:
Firstly, at least you have a ball back to play with, just it will be counted as lost in the challenge
Secondly, i don't think anyone would be that cruel to a fellow member to keep it for the rest of the round thewn hand it back afterwards.
If anyone else has any more worries or questions, then let me know before we start it off, as i want to try and accomodate all members, so we get more entering it.
Nigel might have a question concerning dogs running off with his ball!
I do like the rule where you can declare whether its a 10 Ball scoring round or not at the start of the round. It means i can play Hickleton again without getting butchered in this comp!
do you pick your balls (that doesn't sound good!) at the beginning and only use those 10? - If so- if a ball is retiired for being too battered and hairy (it gets worse!) is it counted as lost or can it be replaced?
you can use any Chris, as long as you stand on the first tee, tell your playing partners you are counting the round in the 10 ball challenge and show them the ball you are using, with your marks on it. That way, if people are so inclined, they can see the ball at the end of the round and know you have managed to get it all the way round the course.
lol i can see everyone on the first tee at Flamborough declaring a Top Flite Special :-)
I think we should make the "Race to Bondhay" events a compulsory counting round, mind you, i have not played Flamborough, so will think about it first!
Top Flite all the way for this first :). Even more so after a night after seen Jimmy Carr lol. count me in as I should be able to make all events :).
Kieron you need to sign up for the 10 ball challenge jus like events matey.
Oh ok, :) my mistake cheers for info John :)
I agree with allan with regards to - all who register for the 10 ball challenge MUST use the race to bandhay series of events to count towards thier score
It might be me but isn't 25 points a ball quite a lot. Because no handicap is taking into account the high will generally lose more balls and if you lose all ten you are out o the running straight away. 2 lost balls and your score is negative which against a good player you are then 80 points behind first round and then even more after a few more rounds. Or am I wrong :s
It's not necesarily been the high handicappers who've lost most balls in this year's comp. 
What you've described Kieron is the whole point of the game. I was 130 points ahead of Bendy a few weeks ago, but then lost 5 balls in 2 rounds and he's now in front of me. It's only meant to be a bit of fun - get your name down, it's a good laugh.
Eh, how dare you lol look up I signed up before even knowing lol just seen what changes are possible if any. I don't mind doing anything which I why I did sign up. Just a warning then I may lose a fair few first game lol. Top flite or low flight hopefully to maybe keep a few on land........
Don't worry about it. Nefyn, alll balls gone, end of comp...easy!
I was just thinking about this challenge and thought to my self, quote me if I am wrong but, surely the best idea for this would be to select your ball for the round. Get your playing partner to mark the ball in a unique way to him (Not so much it is a mark that gets in way of putting, ie colouring it in BLACK). But something which only he/she (Playing partner) could find and that way you might not find a ball the same and take it as your own. I mean having splash wrote all over the ball is perfectly fine but my green dot on my ball could hardly be seen after a full round on Sunday!
I'm sure we can trust each other, now the rules are laid down. I've even gone and got Splash a waterproof pen for his balls.
LAL, it was just a thought I had at the moment lol :D. I CHEAT :D dont trust me as you know I get bad scores and put lower ones :P
I think this would be better than the 20 ball challenge personally
about the lost ball rule
if you lose a ball in the rough but then a few groups later they find your ball and return it to you (very sporting) does that still count as a lost ball?
or what if they dont return your ball untill afterwards when we are in the bar enjoying the banter?