First things first.
The GUI and ILGU are here to advise and guide Handicap Committees in the application and implementation of the CONGU Handicap System.
Handicap Secretaries should not act on their own. Always make decisions as a committee in accordance with the rules.
Treat every member fairly and within the rules - apply the rules consistently and with uniformity.
Handicap Committees should not be afraid to apply the full rules of the handicapping scheme - including the application of General Play Adjustments to a player's handicap.
If in doubt - or just want to check that what you are doing is correct - please contact your GUI Provincial Branch Office or ILGU District Officers and they will guide you.
The integrity of the handicapping system depends on all of us working together.
Handicap Secretaries should not act on their own. Always make decisions as a committee in accordance with the rules.
Treat every member fairly and within the rules - apply the rules consistently and with uniformity.
Handicap Committees should not be afraid to apply the full rules of the handicapping scheme - including the application of General Play Adjustments to a player's handicap.
If in doubt - or just want to check that what you are doing is correct - please contact your GUI Provincial Branch Office or ILGU District Officers and they will guide you.
The integrity of the handicapping system depends on all of us working together.
Some of the more important things for Handicap Committees
ON PLAYERS NOT RETURNING SCORES FROM FOUR BALLS, TEAM EVENTS, CLASSICS etc.
Question: There are a couple of members in my club who regularly play and win prizes in four balls, team events, classics and corporate days but the club never seem to cut their handicap. What can be done?
Answer: If a member has been playing in competitions at an away club and has not been returning cards for these events, a Club may suspend a member’s handicap under CONGU rule 24.1 where that player does not comply with his or her obligations as imposed by CONGU.
Ireland directs that it is mandatory for both clubs and players to report to Home Clubs all Non-Qualifying Scores from Team and Society Golf played over a course for which the Union has allotted a Standard Scratch score together with notification of the relevant SSS – See also Clauses 4.5 (b) and Note to 23.7. You should also remind players of their responsibilities under Clause 8.12 of the system.
Question: There are a couple of members in my club who regularly play and win prizes in four balls, team events, classics and corporate days but the club never seem to cut their handicap. What can be done?
Answer: If a member has been playing in competitions at an away club and has not been returning cards for these events, a Club may suspend a member’s handicap under CONGU rule 24.1 where that player does not comply with his or her obligations as imposed by CONGU.
Ireland directs that it is mandatory for both clubs and players to report to Home Clubs all Non-Qualifying Scores from Team and Society Golf played over a course for which the Union has allotted a Standard Scratch score together with notification of the relevant SSS – See also Clauses 4.5 (b) and Note to 23.7. You should also remind players of their responsibilities under Clause 8.12 of the system.
CUTTING PLAYERS UNDER GENERAL PLAY OR ANNUAL HANDICAP REVIEW
Question: As a club we are fearful of cutting a player under General Play or Annual Handicap Review because the player may feel they are being labelled as a cheat. What do we do?
Answer: Cutting a player's handicap under general play or annual handicap review doesn't define them as a cheat. There are many examples of players who abide by the spirit and intent of the system but still require downwards adjustment under general play or annual handicap review. Such adjustment should only be made where sufficient evidence has been gathered. If your club needs support or advice in this area please contact your GUI/ILGU office.
Question: As a club we are fearful of cutting a player under General Play or Annual Handicap Review because the player may feel they are being labelled as a cheat. What do we do?
Answer: Cutting a player's handicap under general play or annual handicap review doesn't define them as a cheat. There are many examples of players who abide by the spirit and intent of the system but still require downwards adjustment under general play or annual handicap review. Such adjustment should only be made where sufficient evidence has been gathered. If your club needs support or advice in this area please contact your GUI/ILGU office.
THE FEAR OF LITIGATION - AVOIDING GENERAL ADJUSTMENTS
Question: Our Handicap Committee are aware of several players who regularly win prizes in society golf, in four balls and other non-qualifying events but we are afraid to make a General Adjustment to their handicaps for fear of having legal action threatened on us or the club. What do we do?
Answer: Clubs should seek advice and guidance from the GUI or ILGU if unsure how to make these adjustments, but as a basic principle - treat every member the same, in a fair and open manner and apply the rules across the board. Don't single one person out and treat them differently to others. If in doubt, ask the relevant Union. That's what we are here for.
Question: Our Handicap Committee are aware of several players who regularly win prizes in society golf, in four balls and other non-qualifying events but we are afraid to make a General Adjustment to their handicaps for fear of having legal action threatened on us or the club. What do we do?
Answer: Clubs should seek advice and guidance from the GUI or ILGU if unsure how to make these adjustments, but as a basic principle - treat every member the same, in a fair and open manner and apply the rules across the board. Don't single one person out and treat them differently to others. If in doubt, ask the relevant Union. That's what we are here for.
Help for Handicap Committees in Ireland
Reference to page/s refers to the CONGU Unified Handicapping System booklet effective 2016-2018.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD A COPY
1. Handicap Committee:
The Handicap Committee should consist of a Convenor and a minimum of two other Committee members (Clause 7, Pg 22). If a change of committee occurs when the Annual Review is due to take place, the new committee can involve members of the outgoing committee to assist with the review. The members of the Handicap Committee need not necessarily be current members of the Club Committee. Continuity is important in order that the required knowledge of, and expertise in the UHS is retained.
2. Home Club: (Clause 8.2(a), pg 23)
A Player's Home Club must be the Club at which he or she compete at the most.
3. To obtain a Handicap:
To obtain a handicap a player must submit a required number of nine and/or 18-hole cards played over a Measured Course (rated course) at their Home Club. Any permutation of nine and 18-hole cards may be submitted but must total a minimum of 54 holes. Cards submitted over nine holes must be returned from a Designated Nine-Hole Course. Each card must be marked and signed by a responsible person acceptable to the Handicap Committee. The requisite cards should normally be submitted within a period of six months.
Also, a club handicap committee should take into account a person’s other sporting abilities when allotting a handicap. For example, someone who played Hurling, Hockey or Cricket may have good hand-eye co-ordination which could help them in golf.
4. Competition Conditions for Qualifying Competitions
These are the conditions set by an organising committee for any particular competition.
There should also be a set of Competition Conditions for all Club competitions which the Club lay down for all competitors entering competitions. These can vary from Club to Club. It is imperative that these conditions are available and on clear display to all competitors prior to the competition in order to avoid any ambiguities following or during competition.
A suggested list of items to be covered is available from your GUI Provincial Branch or ILGU District.
5. Preferred Lies:
In the event of Qualifying Competitions taking place during the defined period (normally Oct – May and in order to satisfy Competition Play Conditions) relief is granted on "closely-mown" areas only –(see Clause 15 pg 31).
Outside of that period, Competition Play conditions will not apply if preferred lies are in operation unless the consent of the Area Authority has been first obtained.
Relief for an embedded ball anywhere “through the green” will be permitted but only when a Local Rule has been adopted and published in accordance with Appendix 1, Part A, 3a & b. of the Rules of Golf - Pages 142 + 143
For Qualifying Conditions to apply when “Preferred Lies” are in force, the ball must be replaced within six (6) inches of where it lay. (See 15.3)
6. Competition Scratch Score:
In the event of one round of a Qualifying Competition extending over more than one day, a separate Competition Scratch Score must be calculated for each day (Clause 18.2 pg 39).
In the event of a competition being played over a number of days, practice once the competition has opened may be permitted through the competition conditions whereby the competitor should practice off a different set of tees to the competition tees so that they are not playing the “Competition Course”.
See Note to Rules of Golf 7-1 and 33-2c.
7. Nett Double Bogey (Clause 19 pg 42).
In Stroke Play Qualifying Competitions played at Home or Away whether or not all 18 holes have been completed, a player’s card must be adjusted to the Nett Differential, which would have applied if the competition had been a Stableford Qualifying Competition. No points shall be recorded on a hole where there is no score. This adjustment is for handicap purposes only.
Computer software should do this automatically. (See Appendix C pg 69 & Appendix D pg 70.)
8. Reporting Scores - Mandatory - Home or Away - All forms of Golf
Open Qualifying Competitions
Players should be reminded of their responsibility in returning their away scores in Qualifying Competitions as covered in (Clause 8.10 –Notes 1, 2, 3 @ pg 24) and (Dec.1(o) pg 99)
Scores returned through the CDH may constitute “Reporting” the score, but responsibility still rests with the Player.
A Player is obliged to self adjust their handicap (downward only) under Clause 20.11 Pg45
Clubs hosting Open Qualifying Competitions should ensure all visiting golfers scores go through the CDH system and that the cards are retained.
Non Qualifying Scores. - Four Balls/Scrambles/Classics/Societies – Relevant clauses are at (4.5(b), pg 19), (8.10 + 8.12, pg 24), (23.7 Ireland Note- pg 51).
Direction from Unions to report NQ Scores for immediate consideration/action for General Play Adjustment (Except Category 1 players).
In Ireland Players and Clubs must report Non Qualifying scores to Home Clubs: See 8.12
GP Adjustment based on Nett Diff, with Clause 19 adjustment if necessary, and SSS.
This is a GPA and can not take effect until the player is notified personally (agreed method, 23.5)
Players who fail to comply with their obligations or responsibilities may be dealt with under Clause 24.1 pg 55
Other forms of Golf for consideration as notable using the guidelines as set out in Appendix M at Page 86
9. Annual Review
An annual review must be carried out each year for all members before the end of November (See Clause 23(A) Pages 48/51). Any subsequent alterations must load to Golfnet (Centralised Database of Handicaps) through Club Handicap software before 31st December each year.
10. Change of Handicap under Clause 23.4:
When the Handicap Committee has decided that the:
The Handicap Committee shall advise the player personally of any change of handicap under the Clause and the change will become effective when the player is notified of the adjustment. SMS may be an agreed method of communication at a club for example - please ensure your club has a stated policy on this and is notified to all members.
All proposed increases in handicaps must be submitted to the relevant Area Authority for prior approval (Clauses 4.5(a) & 23.3(b) pg 49)
11. Maximum Increase
Checks should be made to ensure that no member exceeds the maximum increase in handicap permitted in a calendar year, i.e. 1.0 stroke above the lowest exact handicap achieved in that calendar year (except any increases granted under Clause 23) (Clauses4.5(c) & 20.10, pg 44/45).
Note: It is not 10 x 0.1’s, player can float up and down but not more than one stroke above lowest achieved in the calendar year.
Committees should be extra vigilant where a member joins a Club having been a member of another Club to ensure that they do not receive in excess of above due to the transfer.
There is now a provision for transferring previous year data from Club to Club on GOLFnet in the event of a player changing their Home Club. Please email these to Golfnet support.
12. Exceptional Scoring Reduction (ESR) Clause 23(C) + Continuous Handicap Review 23(D)
A programme to track between two exceptional scores in a calendar year, set at a Nett Differential of -4 or better, to calculate an additional handicap reduction. Ireland directs that it must be applied. Not for or into Category 1 (Clause 23(C), pg 52/53)
Bands have widened and clock stops after two scores. No compounding. Player must be informed.
Continuous Handicap Review - Clause 23(D) @ pg 54
Computer software should “flag” 7 consecutive point one’s, use for the consideration of a General Play Increase for players of declining ability only on age or health grounds.
13. Players’ Computer Handicap Record Sheets
Attention should be paid to Players’ Handicap Record Sheets in particular where players have accumulated steady increases in handicap that could be construed as not complying with the intent and spirit of the handicapping system - i.e. NR’s & Incomplete Cards etc.
See Note 1 @ Clause 7.8 pg22/23 and Note @ Clause 8.8 pg 23.
14. Score Cards / Handicap Records
Retain handicap records, in electronic or hard copy, in respect of all present and past Members for not less than the current and previous two calendar years and retain score cards for the current and previous year (Clause 6.11, pg 21).
15. Handicap Allowances:
Handicap allowances, as set out in (Appendix F page 72) are mandatory as per the Golfing Union of Ireland and Irish Ladies Golf Union. The Four-ball (better-ball) allowances were changed in 2016 from 75% to 90%.
16. Reduction of handicaps during a competition (Decision 4(a) page 101)
In a Stroke Play or Match Play competition played over more than one round, the Committee in charge, in the Conditions of the Competition, are required to establish whether or not the handicap of a player at the start of the competition applies throughout the competition.
In framing the conditions of a competition played over more than one round, please refer page 101 of CONGU UHS booklet
17. Limitation of handicaps (Decision 1(j) page 98 + Clause 23.9 page 51)
Clubs have enquired whether they may impose a limit of handicap to some of their Qualifying Competitions e.g. insist that a 27 handicap player competes from a handicap of 18.
In most circumstances this is considered contrary to the spirit of the System. Be diplomatic!!
Should a Club wish to apply a handicap limit in a Qualifying Competition, but allow players with higher handicaps to compete, each player must record his correct Playing Handicap on the score card.
The player must play off full handicap and the correct Playing Handicap must be used when calculating the Competition Scratch Score. The organising Committee may then adjust the scores for the purposes of awarding prizes for the competition.
18. Handicap Appeal Procedure
Click here to access the GUI's Handicap Appeals Procedure
Please contact the ILGU for their procedures document.
19. Junior Section. Appendix J. (Now Club Handicaps to cater for all membership abilities)
Where there is a Junior Section in the Club, the members must be registered with the GUI / ILGU and they will be given a GOLFnet number. The Junior Officer/Convenor should then have the player go through the procedure to obtain a handicap (Appendix J pg 81).
Players with a handicap of 28 or less for boys and 36 or less for girls have a CONGU handicap and players above 28 to 54 have a CLUB handicap.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD A COPY
1. Handicap Committee:
The Handicap Committee should consist of a Convenor and a minimum of two other Committee members (Clause 7, Pg 22). If a change of committee occurs when the Annual Review is due to take place, the new committee can involve members of the outgoing committee to assist with the review. The members of the Handicap Committee need not necessarily be current members of the Club Committee. Continuity is important in order that the required knowledge of, and expertise in the UHS is retained.
2. Home Club: (Clause 8.2(a), pg 23)
A Player's Home Club must be the Club at which he or she compete at the most.
3. To obtain a Handicap:
To obtain a handicap a player must submit a required number of nine and/or 18-hole cards played over a Measured Course (rated course) at their Home Club. Any permutation of nine and 18-hole cards may be submitted but must total a minimum of 54 holes. Cards submitted over nine holes must be returned from a Designated Nine-Hole Course. Each card must be marked and signed by a responsible person acceptable to the Handicap Committee. The requisite cards should normally be submitted within a period of six months.
Also, a club handicap committee should take into account a person’s other sporting abilities when allotting a handicap. For example, someone who played Hurling, Hockey or Cricket may have good hand-eye co-ordination which could help them in golf.
4. Competition Conditions for Qualifying Competitions
These are the conditions set by an organising committee for any particular competition.
There should also be a set of Competition Conditions for all Club competitions which the Club lay down for all competitors entering competitions. These can vary from Club to Club. It is imperative that these conditions are available and on clear display to all competitors prior to the competition in order to avoid any ambiguities following or during competition.
A suggested list of items to be covered is available from your GUI Provincial Branch or ILGU District.
5. Preferred Lies:
In the event of Qualifying Competitions taking place during the defined period (normally Oct – May and in order to satisfy Competition Play Conditions) relief is granted on "closely-mown" areas only –(see Clause 15 pg 31).
Outside of that period, Competition Play conditions will not apply if preferred lies are in operation unless the consent of the Area Authority has been first obtained.
Relief for an embedded ball anywhere “through the green” will be permitted but only when a Local Rule has been adopted and published in accordance with Appendix 1, Part A, 3a & b. of the Rules of Golf - Pages 142 + 143
For Qualifying Conditions to apply when “Preferred Lies” are in force, the ball must be replaced within six (6) inches of where it lay. (See 15.3)
6. Competition Scratch Score:
In the event of one round of a Qualifying Competition extending over more than one day, a separate Competition Scratch Score must be calculated for each day (Clause 18.2 pg 39).
In the event of a competition being played over a number of days, practice once the competition has opened may be permitted through the competition conditions whereby the competitor should practice off a different set of tees to the competition tees so that they are not playing the “Competition Course”.
See Note to Rules of Golf 7-1 and 33-2c.
7. Nett Double Bogey (Clause 19 pg 42).
In Stroke Play Qualifying Competitions played at Home or Away whether or not all 18 holes have been completed, a player’s card must be adjusted to the Nett Differential, which would have applied if the competition had been a Stableford Qualifying Competition. No points shall be recorded on a hole where there is no score. This adjustment is for handicap purposes only.
Computer software should do this automatically. (See Appendix C pg 69 & Appendix D pg 70.)
8. Reporting Scores - Mandatory - Home or Away - All forms of Golf
Open Qualifying Competitions
Players should be reminded of their responsibility in returning their away scores in Qualifying Competitions as covered in (Clause 8.10 –Notes 1, 2, 3 @ pg 24) and (Dec.1(o) pg 99)
Scores returned through the CDH may constitute “Reporting” the score, but responsibility still rests with the Player.
A Player is obliged to self adjust their handicap (downward only) under Clause 20.11 Pg45
Clubs hosting Open Qualifying Competitions should ensure all visiting golfers scores go through the CDH system and that the cards are retained.
Non Qualifying Scores. - Four Balls/Scrambles/Classics/Societies – Relevant clauses are at (4.5(b), pg 19), (8.10 + 8.12, pg 24), (23.7 Ireland Note- pg 51).
Direction from Unions to report NQ Scores for immediate consideration/action for General Play Adjustment (Except Category 1 players).
In Ireland Players and Clubs must report Non Qualifying scores to Home Clubs: See 8.12
GP Adjustment based on Nett Diff, with Clause 19 adjustment if necessary, and SSS.
This is a GPA and can not take effect until the player is notified personally (agreed method, 23.5)
Players who fail to comply with their obligations or responsibilities may be dealt with under Clause 24.1 pg 55
Other forms of Golf for consideration as notable using the guidelines as set out in Appendix M at Page 86
9. Annual Review
An annual review must be carried out each year for all members before the end of November (See Clause 23(A) Pages 48/51). Any subsequent alterations must load to Golfnet (Centralised Database of Handicaps) through Club Handicap software before 31st December each year.
10. Change of Handicap under Clause 23.4:
When the Handicap Committee has decided that the:
- Exact Handicap of a Category 1 player should be reduced, or the
- Exact Handicap of a Category 2 player should be reduced into Category 1, or
- Exact Handicap of any player should be increased;
The Handicap Committee shall advise the player personally of any change of handicap under the Clause and the change will become effective when the player is notified of the adjustment. SMS may be an agreed method of communication at a club for example - please ensure your club has a stated policy on this and is notified to all members.
All proposed increases in handicaps must be submitted to the relevant Area Authority for prior approval (Clauses 4.5(a) & 23.3(b) pg 49)
11. Maximum Increase
Checks should be made to ensure that no member exceeds the maximum increase in handicap permitted in a calendar year, i.e. 1.0 stroke above the lowest exact handicap achieved in that calendar year (except any increases granted under Clause 23) (Clauses4.5(c) & 20.10, pg 44/45).
Note: It is not 10 x 0.1’s, player can float up and down but not more than one stroke above lowest achieved in the calendar year.
Committees should be extra vigilant where a member joins a Club having been a member of another Club to ensure that they do not receive in excess of above due to the transfer.
There is now a provision for transferring previous year data from Club to Club on GOLFnet in the event of a player changing their Home Club. Please email these to Golfnet support.
12. Exceptional Scoring Reduction (ESR) Clause 23(C) + Continuous Handicap Review 23(D)
A programme to track between two exceptional scores in a calendar year, set at a Nett Differential of -4 or better, to calculate an additional handicap reduction. Ireland directs that it must be applied. Not for or into Category 1 (Clause 23(C), pg 52/53)
Bands have widened and clock stops after two scores. No compounding. Player must be informed.
Continuous Handicap Review - Clause 23(D) @ pg 54
Computer software should “flag” 7 consecutive point one’s, use for the consideration of a General Play Increase for players of declining ability only on age or health grounds.
13. Players’ Computer Handicap Record Sheets
Attention should be paid to Players’ Handicap Record Sheets in particular where players have accumulated steady increases in handicap that could be construed as not complying with the intent and spirit of the handicapping system - i.e. NR’s & Incomplete Cards etc.
See Note 1 @ Clause 7.8 pg22/23 and Note @ Clause 8.8 pg 23.
14. Score Cards / Handicap Records
Retain handicap records, in electronic or hard copy, in respect of all present and past Members for not less than the current and previous two calendar years and retain score cards for the current and previous year (Clause 6.11, pg 21).
15. Handicap Allowances:
Handicap allowances, as set out in (Appendix F page 72) are mandatory as per the Golfing Union of Ireland and Irish Ladies Golf Union. The Four-ball (better-ball) allowances were changed in 2016 from 75% to 90%.
16. Reduction of handicaps during a competition (Decision 4(a) page 101)
In a Stroke Play or Match Play competition played over more than one round, the Committee in charge, in the Conditions of the Competition, are required to establish whether or not the handicap of a player at the start of the competition applies throughout the competition.
In framing the conditions of a competition played over more than one round, please refer page 101 of CONGU UHS booklet
17. Limitation of handicaps (Decision 1(j) page 98 + Clause 23.9 page 51)
Clubs have enquired whether they may impose a limit of handicap to some of their Qualifying Competitions e.g. insist that a 27 handicap player competes from a handicap of 18.
In most circumstances this is considered contrary to the spirit of the System. Be diplomatic!!
Should a Club wish to apply a handicap limit in a Qualifying Competition, but allow players with higher handicaps to compete, each player must record his correct Playing Handicap on the score card.
The player must play off full handicap and the correct Playing Handicap must be used when calculating the Competition Scratch Score. The organising Committee may then adjust the scores for the purposes of awarding prizes for the competition.
18. Handicap Appeal Procedure
Click here to access the GUI's Handicap Appeals Procedure
Please contact the ILGU for their procedures document.
19. Junior Section. Appendix J. (Now Club Handicaps to cater for all membership abilities)
Where there is a Junior Section in the Club, the members must be registered with the GUI / ILGU and they will be given a GOLFnet number. The Junior Officer/Convenor should then have the player go through the procedure to obtain a handicap (Appendix J pg 81).
Players with a handicap of 28 or less for boys and 36 or less for girls have a CONGU handicap and players above 28 to 54 have a CLUB handicap.
