Problems arranging my matchplay match!

I entered the singles matchplay competitions at my golf club. They have a five day, seven day and the Priors course. This means that I will have three matches to arrange each month, providing I manage to win the previous match!

The rules at my golf club are that the person who's name is on top of the draw has to contact the other person giving them three dates to play. Hopefully, one of these dates will be agreeable to the both of you.

Once the competition gets to two weeks before the end date, and they haven't contacted you. Then you contact them giving them three dates to play.

The rules state that if the match isn't played by the end date then both players are disqualified!

My problem is that I have been contacting the person I'm due to play. We have agreed a date twice, and on both occasions he has cancelled. Once the night before and the second time on the morning of the game.

I've had unanswered text messages, etc.

We have gone past the closing date for our match, but he got an extension!

I'm at the point now where I think I will just cross my name off the competitions and never bother again.

I am one of those people who like to get these matches out of the way as soon as they go up on the board, but this match just isn't going to happen.

I have given up on the pairs matchplay as getting four people to agree a suitable date is nearly impossible!

How does your club deal with these kind of situations?

Russ

Hi Russell.

I have the same problem arranging matches and I also gave up entering doubles as it was proving to be too difficult to arrange. I really wonder why some people enter matchplay comps and then prove to be very difficult to get hold or not flexible at all when it comes to dates! Always got to be when it suits them!!

At my club both are responsible to contact each other. I would suggest you copy in your competition secretary next time you try to arrange a match, give 3 dates( vary them a little) and then make it clear you have made every effort to play.

Have to agree with what has been said. Quite a few at my old club would hold out to the closing date & turn up on the first tee & hope you don't/can't appear so they're granted a walkover. It's just not fair