Decisions
PART FOUR: HANDICAPPING -
20. Alteration of Handicaps
2. Competitions extending over more than one round
Any player who fails to return a score, or is disqualified, in an early round of a competition over more than one round may, at the discretion of the organising committee, unless prohibited from doing so by the conditions of the competition, continue to play in some or all of the remaining rounds.
When a player does play in subsequent rounds, he shall be regarded as competing in a Qualifying Competition and his score shall be included in the Competition Scratch Score calculation.
4. Incomplete Cards and No Returns
(a) All cards must be returned, whether complete or not.
(b) It is expected that every player who enters an 18 hole Qualifying Competition intends to complete the round.
(c) Since an incomplete card and a No Return may have the effect of increasing a player’s handicap, the club would be justified in refusing to accept a card or record a No Return when the player has walked in after playing only a few holes.
(d) Cards should not be issued to players when there is obviously insufficient light for them to complete the round.
(e) Sympathetic consideration should be given to players who have had to discontinue play for any cause considered to be reasonable by the organising committee.
(f) Clauses 17 and 19 of this System give clubs the discretion to deal with players who persistently submit incomplete cards or make “No Returns” if they consider they are attempting to ‘build a handicap’.
5. Disqualified Scores
Clause 14.1(c) of the System provides that a player’s handicap record shall include “correct scores in a Qualifying Competition including those which are disqualified for any reason”.
The following are examples when correct scores shall be identified following disqualification:
(a) Rule 3-4 – Player refusing to comply with the Rules affecting the rights of another competitor
(b) Rule 6-2 (b) – Handicap entered on a card, which is too high. The correct handicap shall be substituted for handicap adjustment and record purposes.
(c) Rule 6-3 (a) – Player failing to start at the correct time and returning a score
(d) Rule 6-6 (b) – Card not signed by the player or his marker
(e) Rule 6-6 (b) – Player unduly delaying the return of the card
(f) Rule 6-6 (d) – Score entered on a hole which is too low. The correct score shall be substituted for handicap adjustment and record purposes
(g) Rule 6-7 – Player unduly delaying play
(h) Rule 6-8 – Player discontinuing play
(i) Rule 15-3 – Playing a wrong ball not corrected. In Par and Stableford competitions and in stroke play when scores are adjusted to Stableford points under clause 19.8 the breach of this Rule shall, for handicap adjustment and record purposes only, be recorded as the loss of the relevant hole or zero points.
(j) Rule 20-7 – Playing a ball from a wrong place. See (i) above regarding the application of clause 19.8.
The following are situations where a score shall not be regarded as a correct score when the player has been disqualified and will be disregarded for handicap purposes:
(k) Rule 1-3 – Agreement to waive the Rules
(l) Rule 4-1, 4-2 and 4-3 – Using illegal clubs
(m) Rule 4-4 (c) – Excess club not declared out of play
(n) Rule 6-4 – Employing more than one caddie at the same time
(o) Rule 7-1 – Practising on the course prior to play
(p) Rule 14-3 – Using an artificial device
To accept a disqualified score as a “correct score” the committee must verify the score in such manner as it shall deem appropriate. All penalty strokes shall be included in the score for handicap purposes.
When a disqualified score has been so accepted as a Qualifying Score before the last card has been returned to the committee, the corrected score shall be included in the calculation of the Competition Scratch Score. Otherwise for Competition Scratch Score purposes the card shall be regarded as a No Return.
13. Scores returned from outside the jurisdiction of CONGU
Scores returned in tournaments organised by the European Golf Association and National Golf Associations, Federations and Unions are Qualifying Scores for handicap purposes and must be returned to the Home Club under clause 13.7.
If a Competition Scratch Score has not been calculated, it should be considered to be equal to the Standard Scratch Score.
Scores returned in other European and other overseas tournaments may only be considered, if appropriate, under the terms of clause 19.
Unions may request Category 1 players attending Universities or Colleges to return at regular intervals all scores with appropriate course ratings from official University or College competitions.
Unions may then recommend handicap adjustments to the players’ Home Clubs under clause 19.
14. Member holding handicap from more than one Handicapping Authority
When a Member of an Affiliated Club also holds a handicap from a Handicapping Authority other than CONGU, he must play from his CONGU handicap in all Qualifying Competitions.