Tee box distance markers | Golf Monthly

A Qualifying Competition is any competition in which Competition Play Conditions prevail and for handicap adjustment and record purposes full handicap allowance is applied and a Competition Scratch Score is calculated,subject to restrictions and limitations contained in the UHS or imposed by a Union. Handicaps may go up or down.

It has nothing to do with Competition prizes awarded by the committee or organisers.

In certain circumstances (usually severe bad weather) a competition may be declared 'Reduction Only' when only reductions are applied

A Qualifying Competition for Reduction Only is determined by the Competition Scratch Score calculation as specified in Clause 18.4 or by the abandonment of competitions as outlined in Clause 18.7. (The Committee in charge of a competition must not declare a Qualifying Competition to be for Reduction Only).
Note: A Committee does not have the authority to organise a competition in which handicaps can be reduced but not increased i.e. pre-determine that a competition is for handicap ‘Reduction Only’.