PLEASE NOTE: ENTRIES FOR THE SCOTTISH SENIORS NATIONAL STROKE-PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP SHOULD BE MADE VIA THE SCOTTISH GOLF WEBSITE [www.scottishgolf.org/national-competitions] AND NOT THROUGH SSGS.
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ENTRY CONDITIONS
Prospective new members of the SSGS can play in one event before joining, provided spaces are available.
For Super Senior events only, non-SSGS members can play in the Super Seniors Open, Super Seniors Masters and one other Super Seniors event before joining the society. If you wish to play in more events, including our non-Super Senior events, membership fees are applicable - annual subscription of £25 for current members and £45 for new members which must accompany the first entry submitted.
Maximum handicap for Super Senior events is 15.4
Prizes are awarded by vouchers which have a 12-month validity. If vouchers are not presented to SSGS within this period, they will be invalid. In the event of ties, count-back will apply to establish voucher winners. Members can win only one prize per event.
Draws for all events can be viewed on the Draws & Results page.
ENTRIES TO SSGS EVENTS
Entry to all society competitions will be available online in late January.
Entries to each event close at mid-day, 28 days prior to the first day of the competition. If the maximum field is exceeded by the closing date for entries, a ballot will be conducted in accordance with SSGS ballot procedures. Members unsuccessful in the ballot will be placed on a reserve list, in order of handicap. Any entries received after the closing date will be placed at the foot of the reserve list on a first come basis, irrespective of handicap.
If the maximum field has not been reached by the closing date, entries will be accepted on a first come basis until the field is full. Thereafter entries will be held on a reserve list based on date of receipt.
Payment must be made at the time of entry by direct transfer to the SSGS bank account (our preferred method), with cheques or cash only accepted on an exceptional basis.
MATCH-PLAY ELIGIBILITY
To be eligible to play in the either the main match-play or Super Seniors match-play events, entrants must be either born in Scotland, have a Scottish-born parent, or have been permanently resident in Scotland for a period of not less than five years, and be a member of a recognised golf club. In addition, you must not have played in a national closed competition or have represented internationally a country other than Scotland.
MATCH-PLAY FORMATS
MAIN MATCH-PLAY (SCRATCH)
The format was amended in 2023 and was followed up with a questionnaire to seek feedback from those who qualified and played, and those who qualified but didn’t play. Fifteen of the 40 who played responded, while 14 of the 22 who qualified but didn’t play submitted feedback.
Taking on board the responses - as well as comments made at the event itself - some changes were made to the format:
· The defending champion will be the Number 1 seed. The other 31 players will be seeded from their OOM standings, split into eight groups of four, with the winners of each group advancing to the quarter-finals,
then semi-finals and final.
· Playing
Schedule:
Day 1: Group games 1 & 2
Day 2: Group game 3 and 4; Quarter-Finals
Day 3: 2 Semi- Finals and Final
Group Ties for 1st place will be decided
on head-to-head, then holes up, and if needed by drawing lots
An example of the Matchplay seeded draws can be viewed by clicking here.
Order of Merit Points Awarded:
Winner: 275 points
Runner-up:
225 points
Losing
Semi-finalists: 175 points
Losing
Quarter-finalists: 125 points
Group
2nd place: 100 points
Group
3rd place: 80 points
Group
4th place: 60 points
Group ties will share position points, (e.g. two players tied for second place would get 90 points each)
This format is designed to encourage all members to strive to qualify and
support this exciting event.
SUPER SENIOR MATCHPLAY FORMAT
Since 2024 there has been a scratch match-play competition in addition to the handicap competition. Each competition comprises eight qualifiers from the top of the respective Super Seniors scratch and handicap Order of Merit tables following the completion of the international Masters tournament.
In the event of a tie on OOM points, ranking will be decided by the number of SSGS events played. If still tied, ranking will be determined by drawing lots.
A Super Senior member can choose to play in either of the Super Senior competitions or the main match-play competition if he has amassed enough main tour OOM points, or Super Seniors scratch OOM points, or Super Senior handicap OOM points. If a Super Senior member elects to play in the main match-play event, OOM points won will be added to both the main scratch OOM and Super Senior scratch OOM tables.
The maximum handicap index that will apply for the knockout stages of the Super Senior handicap event is 12.4.
For each of the Super Senior competitions all competitors will play ties each day. The champions will therefore be decided on Day 3 along with the runners-up and positions 3rd to 8th.
Order of Merit Points Awarded (for both scratch and handicap competitions)
Winner: 250 points
Runner-up: 200 points
3rd: 175 points
4th: 150 points
5th: 125 points
6th: 100 points
7th: 75 points
8th: 50 points
The 2026 event will be played at Glasgow Golf Club, Killermont, and we very much appreciate their support in hosting the event.
Given the format, it is imperative that all qualifiers commit to playing on each of the three days.
An example of the match-play seeded draws can be viewed by clicking here.
SUPER SENIORS TEAM SELECTION CRITERIA
Team selection is, largely, based on position in the order of merit. Ian Brotherston, as team captain, however shall have the last word on selection. It is worth noting that although this 2025 team selection takes place before autumn meeting, international masters and match play the position in the 2025 order of merit will feed into selection for internationals early in the 2026 season. There is an expectation that a player who wishes to be considered for selection to a Scottish Super-senior team (over 65 years) would play in, at least, 3 of the annual Super Senior events.
SUPER SENIORS TEAM MATCHES 2026
NEXT MATCH: SSGS v UKSGA: Northumberland Golf Club
Team Captain: Ian Brotherston
The sixth annual match against the UK Seniors Golf Association (UKSGA) will be played at Northumberland Golf Club on Monday 21 and Tuesday 22, September, with a practice round on Sunday 20, September 2026. The team of 12 players will be announced 28 August after completion of the Super Seniors International Masters at Monifieth. It will be based largely on the 2026 Super Senior S Scratch Order of Merit as it stands on that date although the team captain will have the last word on selection. The format is six pairs playing four-ball better ball both days.
INTER AREA TEAM CHAMPIONSHIP
This year's event will take place at Blairgowrie on October 6, 2026.
The 16 areas as defined by Scottish Golf Ltd can enter a team for this one-round scratch stroke-play event.
Each team will comprise six players, at least four of whom must be aged 55 or over on the competition date. The two other team members must be aged 50 or over on that date.
Five scores count with the sixth used in event of a tie. If still tied, there will be a count-back of the 6th score.