Handicap News Updated 2008

CONGU-UNIFED HANDICAPPING SYSTEM 2008 – 2011 Revision 

These are some of the points that the Handicapping and Competition committees are required to observe and the responsibilities’ of the players.

The abuses to the system that CONGU are seeking to eliminate are:

• Arbitrary cuts in handicap for winners of competitions.
• Rendering competitions as Non Qualifying by practices such as limiting the number of clubs to 13.
• Running competitions in which handicaps can be reduced but not increased.

CSS calculation in Open Competitions

The need for two CSS calculations to be carried out when there are 20 or more Home and Away players in categories 1 – 4. Refer to Page 53 of the CONGU book. 

Supplementary Scores

There are various reasons for the introduction of supplementary scores and these can be found on page 40. Please note that the 2008 revision requires clubs to offer the facility of running supplementary scores to members. 

Nine Hole Qualifying Competitions

The reasons and the operations of these competitions can be found on page 41. Clubs must apply to their respective Union or Association for the Standard Scratch, having decided on which 9 holes are to be used. A form for this purpose can be down loaded for the EGU or EWGA web sites. Nine hole competitions are at the discretion of the affiliated club. 

General Play Adjustments now Clause 23. Page 45

• A General Play Adjustment should now only be made in exceptional circumstances.
• Arbitrary handicap cuts should not be made.
• A general play adjustment should not be used as a ‘punishment’ or ‘reward’ for success in match play or stroke play events.

Annual Review of Handicaps

To help in the review, CONGU licensed software will contain an annual review report. For clubs using Club Systems, please check for the correct software as the first edition was incorrect. It is expected that all Handicap Committees (there could be up to 4 in some clubs) will meet before the review to agree a common policy for review. This will help to obtain uniformity in the Handicap System. Before increasing or reducing a handicap other information, if known, must be considered, such as fourball results but not social golf. Refer to page 42. 

Players must report all away scores back to their Home Club as soon as possible along with their score card if possible, either original or copy. This is not necessary if, Clubs running the events should send out the AWAY SCORES LETTERS after running an open singles competition 

Handicap Allowances – Appendix F. Page 59

Mandatory as directed by CONGU 

UHS Compliance Check List – Page 71

It is important that all affiliated clubs conduct a self audit on an annual basis. The answer to all questions should be yes, if the answer to any question is no, then appropriate action should be taken. 

This is just a brief outline of the changes to the CONGU Handicapping System; please refer to the book for detailed information. A final thought, although handicapping is a relatively inexact science, if we all fulfil our obligations to the system, uniformity and equity in handicapping will be achieved.