Competitions are the beating heart of Aquarius Golf Club. They are where the spirit of the club truly comes alive by bringing members together, forging new friendships, and creating shared memories that last long after the final putt drops.
Taking part in competitions opens the door to playing golf more regularly, both at Aquarius and at courses beyond. Whether it's a monthly medal, a major, or an away day as part of the Kent competitive circuit, the competitive calendar gives every member a reason to tee it up more often and make the most of their membership.
Of course, competitions are a wonderful opportunity to sharpen your game by refining your technical skills under pressure and strengthening the mental resilience that separates good golf from great golf. And yes, there are plenty of prizes to be won along the way. But above all else, competitions at Aquarius are about connection, a chance to walk the fairways alongside fellow members, build lasting bonds, and feel truly part of something special here at the club.
How Do I Get Involved?
Competitions at Aquarius are open to anyone who holds a handicap, so if you're not yet registered for one, getting that handicap in place is your first step towards joining the fun. Once you're set, the door to the full competitive calendar is wide open.
For most competitions, signing up is simple — just head to howdidido.com or download the HowDidiDo app to enter ahead of your chosen event. Entry fees are typically £8.
As for the rewards, there are cash prizes up for grabs for those who perform on the day. Outstanding performances throughout the previous year are also recognised at the club's prestigious Presentation Day in November, making every competition an opportunity to be part of something bigger and a chance to be celebrated among your fellow members.
How Do I Get a Handicap?
Getting a handicap is easier than you might think, and once you have one, a whole world of competitive golf opens up. To be assigned a handicap, you'll need to submit 54 holes of golf, with each card signed off by a fellow member to attest that the score is accurate. This can be made up in any combination, for example:
3 rounds of 18 holes
6 rounds of 9 holes
A mix of 18 and 9 hole rounds that add up to 54 holes in total
Completed scorecards should be placed into the 'Competitions & Handicap' white metal box, located in the corridor on the right-hand side as you exit the bar towards the changing rooms.
Once 54 holes have been submitted, England Golf — the governing body overseeing golf clubs across England — will calculate your official handicap and a unique membership number. You can then download the My England Golf app to log future scores and have them attested digitally by fellow members.
Handicap Indices are calculated as follows:
|
Number of Score Differentials in scoring record |
Score Differential(s) to be used in calculation of Handicap Index |
Adjustment |
|---|---|---|
|
3 |
Lowest 1 |
-2.0 |
|
4 |
Lowest 1 |
-1.0 |
|
5 |
Lowest 1 |
0 |
|
6 |
Average of lowest 2 |
-1.0 |
|
7 or 8 |
Average of lowest 2 |
0 |
|
9 to 11 |
Average of lowest 3 |
0 |
|
12 to 14 |
Average of lowest 4 |
0 |
|
15 to 16 |
Average of lowest 5 |
0 |
|
17 to 18 |
Average of lowest 6 |
0 |
|
19 |
Average of lowest 7 |
0 |
|
20 |
Average of lowest 8 |
0 |
Getting Your First Rounds In
A great way to find a playing partner with a handicap to attest your scores is to join one of the club's Swindles — informal social competitions organised by members themselves.
There are two regular options:
Mixed Gender Thursday Evening Swindle (9 holes) — Running during summer months, from when the clocks change in March through to October. Balls go in the hat for a draw at 16:45 though groups go out as late as 17:45. Email: competitionsecretary@aquariusgolfclub.co.uk to get involved
Saturday Morning Swindle (18 holes) — A draw takes place at 08:15 for those looking to get a full round in at the weekend
If neither option suits your schedule, don't hesitate to drop the competitions secretary an email — there are plenty of informal groups of members at Aquarius who are more than happy to welcome new faces and help you get those first rounds under your belt.
Competition Types
Competitions at Aquarius come in a variety of formats, catering to all abilities and styles of play. Broadly speaking, competitions are divided into two categories: Singles and Doubles Knockout competitions, and Scheduled competitions, which are played as strokeplay (medal), Stableford or bogey formats.
Singles Scheduled Competitions
Scratch Strokeplay — Your score is taken exactly as it is, with no adjustments. Every shot counts and there are no handicap allowances, rewarding those who are playing to the very best of their ability
Handicap Stroke Play — Your playing handicap strokes are deducted from your gross score, levelling the playing field and giving every member a genuine chance of winning regardless of ability
Handicap Stableford — Rather than counting shots for every hole , you earn points on each hole based on your playing handicap and the hole stroke index. A net double bogey or worse earns nothing, so you can pick up. A net bogey earns 1 point, a net par earns 2, a net birdie 3, and so on. It's a forgiving and popular format, as a bad hole doesn't ruin your entire round — you simply move on and chase points on the next
Handicap Bogey Par — Rather than counting shots for every hole, you determine how many shots you need to get on each hole, based on your playing handicap and the hole stroke index. If you get the handicapped strokes you score 0 for that hole, if you do better than your handicap for that hole you score +1 if you do worse than your handicap you score -1. You add up these scores across the 18 holes. The best positive score wins
Doubles Scheduled Competitions
Greensomes-Stableford— Both players tee off on every hole, then the pair selects their preferred drive and alternates shots from there until the ball is holed. Points are scored using the Stableford system. For handicap purposes, the combined pair handicap is calculated by taking 60% of the lower playing handicap and 40% of the higher playing handicap, giving a fair allowance that reflects the pair's combined ability
Four-Ball Better Ball-Strokeplay Scoring — Each player plays their own ball and the better of the 2 scores for each pair based on their own handicap, counts as the pairs score for that hole.
Four-Some- Par/Bogey Scoring — Players take alternate shots. For handicap purposes, the combined pair handicap is calculated by adding both playing handicap together and dividing by 2
Knockout Competitions (Matchplay)
In matchplay, you compete hole by hole against an opponent rather than chasing an overall score. You either win, lose, or halve each hole, and the player who wins the most holes wins the match. Knockouts are run both as individual (scratch or handicap matchplay) and doubles (foursomes) matchplay, with players or pairs drawn against each other and progressing through rounds to reach a final — making for some of the most exciting and personal competition the club has to offer.
If any of these formats feel unfamiliar, there's absolutely no need to worry. Members at Aquarius are more than happy to walk new members through the rules and formats as you go — so you can learn on the course, enjoy the experience, and feel right at home from the very first tee.
The Aquarius Majors
Throughout the year, eight competitions stand above the rest as the most prestigious events on the Aquarius calendar — our Majors. These are the days that members earmark well in advance, the rounds that get talked about long after the scores are submitted, and the competitions that carry the greatest sense of occasion from the first tee to the final green.
The eight Aquarius Majors are:
Terry Greenwood
Fred Private
Overhill Cup
Gordon Miller Putter
Bogey Cup
Ritchie Cup
Club Championship & Mashie
For each Major, the course is given extra care and preparation by the greenkeeping team to ensure it is presented in the very best condition. Breakfast is often served on the morning, adding to the sense of occasion, and a greater prize pot is up for grabs — making these events well worth circling in the diary.
The pinnacle of the entire Aquarius competition calendar is the Club Championship and Mashie — two prestigious competitions running simultaneously over a full weekend in September. This is the event that draws the greatest turnout of both players and spectators, creating an atmosphere unlike any other at the club. Whether you are competing for the scratch glory of the Club Championship or chasing Stableford points in the Mashie, it is a weekend that captures everything that makes Aquarius Golf Club special.
Presentation Day
Once a year, the club comes together to celebrate in style at Presentation Day — one of the most anticipated days in the Aquarius social calendar. Every winner from across the season is recognised and rewarded, with names engraved on the club's historic trophies that proudly line the clubhouse, prizes handed out, and a fantastic evening shared among members old and new. It is a night that reminds everyone exactly why competing at Aquarius is so special.
Competition Prizes
Competitions are self funded. All the entry money collected from players is used to pay for upkeep of the competitions, eg engravings, honours boards, printed materials etc.
Any surplus at the end of a season is converted back to a players Club Purse for use at the clubhouse and future competitions.
Season Prizes
Beyond individual competition prizes, there are also coveted season-long awards up for grabs:
Stringer Points - Across a selection of eligible competitions throughout the summer season (April-October), points are awarded to the players who finish in the top 6. These accumulate over the season, with the member who amasses the most Stringer Points crowned the overall season winner — rewarding consistency and excellence across multiple events
Winter Series - Across a selection of eligible competitions throughout the winter season(Nov-March), points are awarded to the players who finish in the top 6. These accumulate over the season, with the member who amasses the most Stringer Points crowned the overall season winner — rewarding consistency and excellence across multiple events
Eclectics - The Eclectics are a unique and brilliantly compelling season-long competition. Rather than one single round counting, your best score on each individual hole is taken from across all of the qualifying rounds throughout the season and combined into one composite 18-hole scorecard. So even if you have a nightmare on one hole in a given round, a great score on that same hole in a later round will replace it. The more you play, the more chances you have to improve your eclectic score — making it a wonderful incentive to get out on the course as often as possible. There are separate Summer and Winter Eclectic competitions, with the Medal rounds serving as the qualifying events for each
Summer Season 26
|
Date |
Day |
Competition |
Details |
|---|---|---|---|
|
04-05 April |
Sat/Sun |
April Medal (Summer Eclectic Qualifier) |
18 Hole Stroke Play — Sat or Sun 7:50am Balls in Hat |
|
11 Apr |
Saturday |
Captains Drive In |
Season Kick-Off 9:30am — 9 Hole Mixed Scramble |
|
19 Apr |
Sunday |
The Masters |
18 Hole Stroke Play 8am First Tee |
|
26 Apr |
Sunday |
Coldham Cup |
18 Hole Greensomes Pairs — Stableford 8am First Tee |
|
02-03 May |
Sat/Sun |
May Medal (Summer Eclectic Qualifier) |
18 Hole Stroke Play — Sat or Sun 7:50am Balls in Hat |
|
10 May |
Sunday |
Terry Greenwood (MAJOR) |
18 Hole Stableford 8am First Tee |
|
17 May |
Sunday |
Cecil Leitch (4 Clubs & a Putter) |
18 Hole Stableford 8am First Tee |
|
25 May |
Monday |
Mixed Singles Championship |
18 Hole Stableford 9am First Tee |
|
06-07 Jun |
Sat/Sun |
June Medal (Summer Eclectic Qualifier) |
18 Hole Stroke Play — Sat or Sun 7:50am Balls in Hat |
|
14 Jun |
Sunday |
Fred Private (MAJOR) |
18 Hole Stableford 8am First Tee |
|
20 Jun |
Saturday |
Greenkeepers Revenge |
Fund Raising Day 9:30am — 9 Hole Mixed Scramble |
|
28 Jun |
Sunday |
Stoker Shield |
18 Hole 4-Ball Better Ball Pairs — Strokeplay 8am First Tee |
|
04-05 Jul |
Sat/Sun |
July Medal (Summer Eclectic Qualifier) |
18 Hole Stroke Play — Sat or Sun 7:50am Balls in Hat |
|
12 Jul |
Sunday |
Overhill Cup (MAJOR) |
18 Hole Stroke Play 8am First Tee |
|
26 Jul |
Sunday |
Gordon Miller Putter (MAJOR) |
18 Hole Stroke Play 8am First Tee |
|
01-02 Aug |
Sat/Sun |
August Medal (Summer Eclectic Qualifier) |
18 Hole Stroke Play — Sat or Sun 7:50am Balls in Hat |
|
09 Aug |
Sunday |
Bogey Cup (MAJOR) |
18 Hole Par Bogey 8am First Tee |
|
23 Aug |
Sunday |
Centenary Cup |
18 Hole Stableford 8am First Tee |
|
30 Aug |
Sunday |
Ritchie Cup (MAJOR) |
18 Hole Stroke Play 8am First Tee |
|
06 Sep |
Sunday |
Zionist |
18 Hole Scratch Strokeplay 8am First Tee (Club Championship Warm-Up) |
|
12-13 Sep |
Sat/Sun |
Club Championship & Mashie (MAJOR) |
36 Hole Scratch Strokeplay + 36 Hole Stableford in Parallel — Double Stringer Points in Mashie |
|
19 Sep |
Saturday |
Vice Captains Day |
Fund Raising Day (TBC) |
|
26-27 Sep |
Sat/Sun |
September Medal (Summer Eclectic Qualifier) |
18 Hole Stroke Play — Sat or Sun 7:50am Balls in Hat |
|
17-18 Oct |
Sat/Sun |
October Medal (Summer Eclectic Qualifier) |
18 Hole Stroke Play — Sat or Sun 7:50am Balls in Hat |
|
25 Oct |
Sunday |
Captains Prize |
18 Hole Stableford 8:30am First Tee — 3 Divisions |
Winter Season 26
|
Date |
Day |
Competition |
Details |
|---|---|---|---|
|
01 Nov |
Sunday |
John Healy |
18 Hole Stableford 8:30am First Tee — Winter Challenge Points |
|
07-08 Nov |
Sat/Sun |
November Medal (Winter Eclectic Qualifier) |
18 Hole Stroke Play — Sat or Sun 8:20am Balls in Hat |
|
22 Nov |
Sunday |
Presidents Prize |
18 Hole Stableford 8am First Tee |
|
28 Nov |
Saturday |
Presentation Day |
Celebration of the Year's Winners |
|
05-06 Dec |
Sat/Sun |
December Medal (Winter Eclectic Qualifier) |
18 Hole Stroke Play — Sat or Sun 8:20am Balls in Hat |
|
13 Dec |
Sunday |
Marilyn Moss |
18 Hole Stableford 8:30am First Tee — Winter Challenge Points |
|
02-03 Jan |
Sat/Sun |
January Medal (Winter Eclectic Qualifier) |
18 Hole Stroke Play — Sat or Sun 8:20am Balls in Hat |
|
24 Jan |
Sunday |
Houston Cup |
18 Hole Stroke Play 8:30am First Tee — Winter Challenge Points |
|
06-07 Feb |
Sat/Sun |
February Medal (Winter Eclectic Qualifier) |
18 Hole Stroke Play — Sat or Sun 8:20am Balls in Hat |
|
21 Feb |
Sunday |
Winter Cup |
18 Hole Foursomes Pairs — Par Bogey |
|
28 Feb |
Sunday |
Whitbread Trophy |
18 Hole Stroke Play 8:30am First Tee — Winter Challenge Points |
|
06-07 Mar |
Sat/Sun |
March Medal (Winter Eclectic Qualifier) |
18 Hole Stroke Play — Sat or Sun 8:20am Balls in Hat |
|
21 Mar |
Sunday |
Dennis Williams |
18 Hole Stableford 8:30am First Tee — Winter Challenge Points |
Share this post: