Can anyone become a Flying Club Swinger?
 
To register as a Flying Club Swinger, you must first become a Flying Club member.  Click here for more information on How to Join.

What do I need to do to be eligible for prizes?

Any Flying Club member can register for, and take part in Swingers and enjoy the thrill of entering scores, meeting and playing other Swingers and climbing the leaderboard. However in order to qualify for a place in the 2010 Europe vs the Rest of the World Final, Swingers must have completed a minimum of one Virgin Atlantic flight earning activity within 12 months of the prize being awarded (between 23 August 2009 – 23 August 2010).

Qualifying earning classes include V, X. N, O, Y, B, L, M, Q, K, H, W, S, R, Z, J, D and can be found at:
http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/en/gb/frequentflyer/tsandcs/earningmiles.jsp point 3.3.1. Reward flights and Miles Plus Money fares inclusive of classes G, I, U, T or E do not qualify for Flying Club miles or tier points.

In other words, Flying Club miles must be credited to their account at the time the prize is awarded. Prize flights awarded to Rest of the World finalists to England in September 2009 do not qualify as an earning activity.

Unless otherwise stated, in order to be eligible for any competitions or prizes within Flying Club Swingers (excluding the final) Swingers must have taken a Virgin Atlantic Flying Club or Partner earning or spending activity during a rolling 12 month period working back from the date that the prize is awarded. See terms & conditions for more details.
 
What are the dates of Flying Club Swingers Season Seven? 

We will accept scores from rounds played on Saturday 27 February through to Friday 20 August 2010. Swingers will have until 0900 on Monday 23 August 2010 to submit any outstanding scores.

Shouldn’t my choice of region (Europe or Rest of the World) depend on my nationality? 

Strictly speaking, no! If you were born outside of Europe but live in Europe, you will need to register for Europe. Likewise, if you are European but are spending the majority of time somewhere else in the world, you will need to register for the Rest of the World.
 
I’ve selected the Rest of the World as my chosen Swingers league, why do I not get the choice of being a Club Swinger or a Fun Swinger? 

At the qualifying stages, the Flying Club Golf League runs slightly differently for the Rest of the World. Instead of having a separate Club and Fun Swingers as in Europe, all Rest of the World Swingers play in the same league and are able to enter the same scores – casual and competition stroke play rounds from your local club, Corporate/Society Golf Days and Match Plays against other Flying Club Swingers.

In turn, all handicaps are controlled by the golf league organisers. If we feel the handicap you have selected does not reflect the scores you have submitted, you will be allocated a ‘fun’ handicap. This ‘fun’ handicap is based on the scores you submit to Flying Club Swingers and is continually updated throughout the Season. 

I’m playing in the Rest of the World Swingers league, why can I not enter Stableford scores? 

To enable us to monitor your handicap effectively and due to the differences between the UK and overseas handicapping systems, we ask that all scores submitted (apart from Match Play and Corporate/Society rounds) detail the total number of gross strokes played. 

This enables us to easily adjust your handicap and therefore total golf league points using the United Kingdom’s CONGU Unified Handicapping System (www.congu.com)
 
If you’ve played a Stableford round, you can still enter that round if you work out the gross strokes played for each hole. If you have a ‘No Score’ for any one hole, we ask that you record this as a 9. 

I'm a Rest of the World Swinger, and hand all my competition cards over to my club. How can I get my scores verified? 

If you are a Rest of the World Swinger and are entering your club competition scores into Swingers, you will have probably given your cards to your club, and are therefore not able to send them to us for verification. If this is the case, don't worry. We will accept other forms of score verification such as golf association websites which list results, as well as golf club emails confirming your score. 

Of course, if you have played in a corporate event, or a match play against another Swinger, or even just a fun round with friends, you should still submit your card. 

Why don’t you use the US Handicapping System or other handicapping systems for Rest of the World Swingers? 

Flying Club Swingers has run for the last six seasons using the United Kingdom’s CONGU Unified Handicapping System (www.congu.com). To ensure consistency throughout the Season, it has been decided to continue using this System for all Swingers both from the Rest of the World and Europe. 

I’m a Rest of the World Swinger, won’t the UK Handicapping System favour the European Swingers? 

Not at all! The system is fair to all Rest of the World Swingers and will allow the 12 best Rest of the World players of the Season to be chosen for the final to compete against the 12 best European players.  What's more this year, any Rest of the World Swinger and indeed any European Fun Swinger that qualifies for the final will play off their official club handicap should they have one. As with all European Club Swingers who qualify, verification of handicap will of course be required.

Only if a Swinger who qualifies for the final does not have an official handicap will they use their Swingers fun handicap in the final.

I’m a European Swinger, won’t the Rest of the World Swingers format favour the Rest of the World at the Final? 

Not at all! This year, any Rest of the World Swinger and indeed any European Fun Swinger that qualifies for the final will play off their official club handicap should they have one. As with all European Club Swingers who qualify, verification of handicap will of course be required.

Only if a Swinger who qualifies for the final does not have an official handicap will they use their Swingers fun handicap in the final.

I’m a Rest of the World Swinger, how does the UK Handicapping System work? 

For each score you enter you will be asked to submit the gross score (number of total strokes taken), the par of the course and the handicap you played off. The following calculation is then made to work out your golf league points. Gross strokes minus handicap = net score. Par minus net score = golf league points. 

For instance, if I score a 76 gross and my handicap is 8, my net score is 68. If the par of the course is 72, I have scored 4 golf league points (4 under par). 

Given this, the following table will determine how your ‘fun’ handicap will be amended based on this score. 

The maximum handicap for men is 28 and the maximum handicap for ladies is 45. 

The table below shows the handicap ranges in each category and the deduction in handicap for each golf league point scored. 

Category 1       Handicap range 0.1 – 5.4         Deduction for each point scored 0.1
Category 2       Handicap range 5.5 – 12.4       Deduction for each point scored 0.2 
Category 3       Handicap range 12.5 – 20.4     Deduction for each point scored 0.3 
Category 4       Handicap range 20.5 – 28.4     Deduction for each point scored 0.4 
Category 5       Handicap range over 28.5         Deduction for each point scored 0.5 

Therefore if my handicap is currently 8, and I score 4 league points, my new handicap will be 8 minus 4 x 0.2 equals 7.2 Please note for rounds played all handicaps are rounded up or down where appropriate. Therefore my new playing handicap is 7. 

If I score negative points, a net score above par, my handicap is increased by point 0.1 per round no matter what the score is and no matter what my current handicap is. In this instance we choose not to use the buffer zone allowance provided by CONGU. 

For instance, if with my new handicap of 7.2, I then score a gross 83 my net score is 76. If the par of the course is still 72, I have scored – 4 golf league points, four over par. 

Given this my new handicap would be 7.3 an increase of just 0.1. 

I’ve selected Europe as my continent, should I become a Club Swinger or a Fun Swinger?  

If you play in club competitions and therefore have an official handicap, it is advisable you register as a European Club Swinger. That way you can enter club competition scores – both Medal and Stableford as well as Corporate/Society Day scores and Match Play scores. All club competitions must be qualifying for handicapping purposes and therefore have a Competition Scratch Score (CSS).  If in doubt check with your club.

If you only play for fun and don’t have an official handicap, you should register as a European Fun Swinger. That way you can enter Fun Rounds with mates, but also Corporate/Society Day scores and Match Play scores. 

Can I register as a European Fun Swinger if I have an official handicap? 

If you do not want to enter any Club Competition scores but do want to enter Fun Scores, then it may be advisable to register as a European Fun Swinger even with an official handicap. Please note however that as a European Fun Swinger, we may well provide you with a fun handicap based on the scores you enter, which will be updated throughout the Season using United Kingdom CONGU Unified Handicapping System. Therefore, it is possible that your European Fun Swingers handicap is different to your Official Handicap. 

For further information on CONGU handicap rules please visit www.congu.com  

I have entered some scores as a European Fun Swinger and you have told me my handicap has been cut. How can that be possible? 

As a European Club Swinger, handicapping is controlled by your Club as all competition scores are verified by them. To ensure that European Fun Swingers is also a credible competition and to ensure that it is fair for all players, we verify scores and in turn we control handicaps (see also Rest of the World Swingers). 

Therefore if you enter a fun round which we deem is better than your current handicap suggests, we will adjust your handicap using the same CONGU rules used by clubs (see www.congu.com). However once your handicap has been adjusted by us, we will then constantly monitor every score you enter to ensure your handicap remains fair (in other words it may go down further or it may go up again).

If I make the final, will I have to use the fun handicap allocated to me?

This year, if you qualify for the final as a European Fun or Rest of the World Swinger and have an official club handicap, you will be able to use that handicap at the final instead of your Swingers fun handicap. In order to do this however, we will require verification of the handicap.

If you qualify for the final as a European Fun or Rest of the World Swinger and do not have an official club handicap, you will use your current Swingers fun handicap at the final.
 
Can I register as a European Club Swinger if I don’t have an official handicap? 

Unfortunately not. The European Club Swingers League will be for players with official handicaps only.

If I register as a European Club Swinger, can I enter competition scores from a club outside of the UK? 

As a European Club Swinger, you can enter club competition scores from clubs in the UK and Eire. You can only enter club competition scores from clubs outside of the UK which are affiliated to the EGU. We will require proof of any such affiliation. You can of course enter match play scores and corporate/society scores from outside of the UK.

I live in mainland Europe, should I register as a European Club Swinger or European Fun Swinger? 

If you live in mainland Europe and your club is not affiliated to the EGU, we recommend that you register as a Fun Swinger. That way, you can still enter your scores from club competitions as long as you enter the gross strokes score. If the round was a stableford, you will need to work out the gross strokes for each hole. Where you had a ‘No Score’ on any particular hole, this should be recorded as a 9. Please note that as a European Fun Swinger, your handicap will be controlled by the golf league organisers. 

What is the maximum handicap I can play off? 

For men, the maximum handicap is 28, for ladies it is 45. 

If I played as a European Fun Swinger or Rest of the World Swinger in Season Six, can I choose my starting handicap for the season?

If you were a Season Six European Fun or Rest of the World Swinger, you will be allowed to start the season from a handicap which is a maximum three strokes greater than your finishing handicap last season.

In other words if your finishing handicap was 12.6 (13) last season, the maximum handicap for the first score you submit this season will be 15.6 (16).

We believe this is a fair difference as it assumes that a Swinger has had up to 21 consecutive above net par scores between the end of the season in August and the start of the season in March.

Can I change which League I enter – Rest of the World Swingers, European Club Swingers or European Fun Swingers during the course of the Season? 

Unfortunately not. Once you have registered as either a Rest of the World Swinger, European Club Swinger or European Fun Swinger, you will not be able to change your selection until the end of the Season.

Why do I have to complete a registration form and what is the information I provide used for? 

Although you are already registered as a Flying Club member, we need you to provide us with information which is essential to the successful running of Flying Club Swingers. Your contact telephone number is only used should we need to get hold of you with any important queries. Your email address is used for sending out our monthly Flying Club Swingers newsletter and any other Flying Club Swingers news or communication. 

We do not pass on any of your details on to third parties. 

My friends would like to become Flying Club Swingers, what should I tell them? 

Simply go to Recommend a Friend, submit their email address and we will send them details of Flying Club Swingers. 

What's more, if they decide to join and enter a valid score, you will receive three bonus points. 

I recommended a friend to Flying Club Swingers, they have joined and submitted a valid score, but I have not received any bonus points? 

When you recommend a friend to Swingers through the ‘Recommend a Friend’ form, it is essential that that friend registers to Swingers using exactly the same email address as the email address you submitted on the form. If the email address differs at all, then the system will not recognise it and will not award you bonus points. In these circumstances, we are unable to manually provide bonus points. 

Also, if you recommend a friend who was previously a registered Swinger in Season Six, you will not be awarded bonus points.

Why when I enter a score do you ask for a copy of my scorecard? 

To maintain the credibility of the competition, we have to ensure that all scores can be verified. 

For European Club Swingers entering Club Competition scores, your club holds a record of every score which we can check (EGU affiliated clubs only). However, if you have entered a Rest of the World Stroke play score, European Fun Round, Corporate/Society score or Match Play score, the only way we can verify the score is by checking your scorecard. It is your responsibility to remember to send that card to us within one calendar month. This can be emailed faxed or posted using the contact details on each score submission page. 

Why does my score (with scorecard evidence if required) have to be entered within one month of my round? 

By setting the submission date at one calendar month, it allows us to keep the leaderboards as up to date and as accurate as possible, and avoids Swingers stockpiling scores until the end of the Season. 

Why does my score appear in italics on the screen? 

If your score is worth 4 to 6 golf league points, we need to verify it with the club. 

Likewise if you enter a Rest of the World Stroke play round, European Fun Round, Corporate/Society Day or Match Play score, we require your scorecard to verify the score. 

Until we receive verification from either the club or yourself, the score will stay in italics. It is your responsibility to remember to send that card to us within one calendar month. 

My score was in italics but now it has disappeared? 

If we find out that a score requiring verification is incorrect, or if you have failed to send in verification within one calendar month of the score having taking place, your score will be deleted. 

I have entered a score but it is not showing on the Leaderboard or in my golf league points total. Why? 

If any score is worth 7 golf league points or more, it will not be shown until we have checked it is valid, which will be done via the club or where appropriate by checking the scorecard in question. If you enter a score worth less than 7 golf league points and it is not showing, make sure you have entered all the mandatory fields correctly. 

I have entered a new score, but my points total has not changed. Why? 

If the score you have entered is not one of your top six best scores, it will not count towards your points total. 

Two of my best scores are Corporate/Society Day scores but only one is showing? Why is this?
 
Swingers are limited to one Corporate/Society Day scores counting towards their best six scores total. Although Swingers can submit as many Corporate/Society Day scores as they wish, only their best score will count towards their total.

Can I enter a score from a 9 hole round?

All ROW Swingers and European Fun Swingers can enter scores from 9 hole courses. European Swingers cannot enter rounds from 9 hole courses unless as a matchplay. 

Why, as a Club Swinger, can I not enter competition scores from a 9 hole course?

All club competition scores must be from 18 hole courses affiliated to the EGU. Unfortunately, 9 hole courses do not fit into this category even if you are playing the 9 hole course twice. If you are a member of a 9 hole course, you will need to register as a Fun Swinger.

Club Swingers can however enter match play scores against other Swingers played on a 9 hole course. However no corporate/society scores will be accepted from 9 hole courses.
 
I have entered four scores but have been told I do not qualify for the final? 

All Swingers must enter a minimum six valid scores to be eligible for final qualification.

I have entered a club competition score but I have been told it is not valid, why is this? 

If you enter a club competition score which is not from an official club competition - i.e. it doesn't qualify for handicapping purposes, it will not be accepted. In certain circumstances, we will also allow you to re-enter this as a society score within the corporate/society submission page. Club competitions such as 'roll-ups', friendlies and pro-ams will fall into this category. If you are in doubt as to whether your competition is an official competition, please check with your club.
 
Is it worth me collecting bonus points? 

Absolutely! If you are level on golf league points at the end of the season, your league position will be based on the number of bonus points obtained.  What’s more this season, there is a competition to find the biggest bonus point earner of the season. If that person has an active Flying Club account (with activity no more than 1 year old showing) and that person has not already qualified for the final, they will win a pair of economy tickets to any Virgin Atlantic destination worldwide (subject to Terms and Conditions).

Why should I keep entering scores even if I can't better my best six scores? 

If scores and bonus points are tied at the end of the Season, your league position will be based on the number of valid scores you have entered.

What happens if I am tied with another Swinger at the end of the Season on both points scored, bonus points and number of valid scored entered?

 If you are tied at the end of the Season on points scored, bonus points and number of valid scores entered, your league position will be determined by the first valid score submitted. For example if Player A scored a 6 point round and Player B scored a 4 point round, Player A would be placed above Player B in the league table. 

Why can I not enter Club Match Play competition scores? 

Unfortunately we only allow Match Play scores against other Swingers to be entered into our League. This is to encourage Swingers to meet and play golf together therefore making Flying Club Swingers a true golfing community. 

How can I find other Swingers to play against? 

Simply go to Arrange a Match Play, choose the area you want to search under and submit. You will be presented with a map of that area which will highlight players in that area. By clicking on their markers you can view their player profiles and assuming that they have selected to be contactable for Match Play, you can submit them a message. 

Match Play wins will be awarded two points and drawn/halved matches will result in each Swinger being awarded 1 point each.

Can I play Swingers from other leagues and will my score count? 

Absolutely! You can play Swingers from any league and any part of the world and your match score will count towards your leaderboard position.

How is the Player of the Month chosen? 

Each month the administrators will select two Players of the Month – one from the Rest of the World and one from Europe. The chosen Swingers will be the players who we think have either improved most over the course of the month or who have entered the best score or the best selection of scores. 

Why has my entry in the Shot in a Million competition been rejected? 

We have to be able to verify that your hole-in-one is correct. We can only do this if the golf club at which the hole-in-one takes place sends confirmation on club headed paper and we also receive a copy of the signed card.

How can I enter the golf photography or funny photo competitions? 

Either enter the photo through Photo Competitions, or email your picture to golf@flyingclubevents.com 

You will receive confirmation of whether you have been successful or not. Please note to be successful, you must have a picture of yourself on your Player Profile. 

How can I enter the Video of the Month competition?

Firstly you need  to upload your footage to youtube. To do this simply click here to set up a youtube account and then click the upload button in the right hand corner of your screen. Your video footage should be no more than 2GB and 10 mins in length.

Once uploaded to youtube, send us an email and we will enter it into our monthly competition. The winning video of the month will be shown on our home page and the video of the month page. Please note to be successful, you must have a picture of yourself on your Player Profile.

I am a European Swinger, when will I know how many Club Swingers and Fun Swingers will make up the final 12 for the European team at the final? 

The split between the number of European Club Swingers and Fun Swingers spaces available for the final will be based on the number of active Swingers in each league on Friday 2 July 2010. An announcement will be made shortly after this.

If I am in a qualifying position on the leaderboard at the end of the Season, do I automatically win a place in the final? 

No, any Flying Club member can register for, and take part in Swingers and enjoy the thrill of entering scores, meeting and playing other Swingers and climbing the leaderboard. However in order to qualify for a place in the 2010 Europe vs the Rest of the World Final, Swingers must have completed a minimum of one Virgin Atlantic flight earning activity within 12 months of the prize being awarded (between 23 August 2009 – 23 August 2010).
Qualifying earning classes include V, X. N, O, Y, B, L, M, Q, K, H, W, S, R, Z, J, D and can be found at:
http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/en/gb/frequentflyer/tsandcs/earningmiles.jsp point 3.3.1.  Reward flights and Miles Plus Money fares inclusive of classes G, I, U, T or E do not qualify for Flying Club miles or tier points.

In other words, Flying Club miles must be credited to their account at the time the prize is awarded. Prize flights awarded to Rest of the World finalists to England in September 2009 do not qualify as an earning activity.

If I am in a qualifying position on the leaderboard at the end of the Season, but have not taken a flight do I get the opportunity to purchase a flight then?

Unfortunately not, in order to qualify for the Final, all Swingers must have completed their Virgin Atlantic trip between 23 August 2009 and 23 August 2010. 

I have entered numerous photos, ‘Shot in a Million’ submissions, other competitions and feel I should be selected for a Player of the Month prize but I never win anything!?

Unless otherwise stated, in order to be eligible for any competitions or prizes within Flying Club Swingers (excluding the final) Swingers must have taken a Virgin Atlantic Flying Club or Partner earning or spending activity during a rolling 12 month period working back from the date that the prize is awarded. See Terms & Conditions for more details.

I’m one of the first European/Rest of the World Swingers to enter a valid score. Do I have to have taken a Virgin Atlanitc activity or partner activity within the last 12 months to earn a goody bag? 

No, all Flying Club Swingers are eligible for goody bags if they get their first score submitted and verified in time. We hope this will then encourage you to fly with Virgin Atlantic and thus qualify for the final at the end of the season! 

If I am lucky enough to qualify to represent Europe or the Rest of the World will there be any costs involved? 

As a European qualifier, you will be provided with 3 nights accommodation, breakfast, lunch and dinner, beverages during functions and three rounds of golf. 

As a Rest of the World qualifier, you will be provided with a return Virgin Atlantic flight to London Heathrow/Gatwick, transfers from London Heathrow/Gatwick to the hotel and return, 4 nights accommodation, breakfast, lunch and dinner, beverages during functions and three rounds of golf. 

Any purchases from the golf club or hotel’s shops, additional food or drink or any room incidentals (to include but not limited to mini bar, telephone calls, room service, pay per view movies) will be payable by the qualifier. 

What does ‘Approved by the R&A for the payment of expenses’ mean?

This year’s event now has R&A approval for the payment of expenses. This means that any club player can feel confident knowing that even if they win a place in the final and all prizes on offer, their amateur status is not at risk.

What sponsorship opportunities are there for next Season? 

To enquire about sponsorship for Season Eight, please contact golf@flyingclubevents.com or call 0044 1489 583322. 

Can I make a suggestion for Season Eight?

Absolutely, we welcome all suggestions. Please email golf@flyingclubevents.com

None of these FAQs have answered my query? 

Please feel free to drop us a line at golf@flyingclubevents.com or call 0044 1489 583322.