FAQ

Q.1 In the Winter months the Handicapping Committee of our club has taken the decision, based on the poor condition of the course, to make our medal competitions Non-Qualifying.
Resulting from this decision a number of Members who played below the SSS in such competitions are seeking a reduction in their Exact Handicap and cannot understand why CONGU do not allow this. Can you please provide an explanation?

A.1 It is a fundamental tenet of the CONGU Handicapping System that handicap adjustments can only be applied in Qualifying Competitions when Handicaps are adjusted, upwards and downwards as appropriate, in relation to the CSS.

To allow a situation where Handicaps can only be reduced, would distort the balance on which the system is based. There is also the beneficial psychological factor in playing in Non-Qualifying Competitions with the knowledge that there is no risk of an increase in handicap.

To allow the Handicaps of those players scoring below the SSS in Non-Qualifying Competitions to be reduced is considered by CONGU to be an unacceptable abuse of the system.

Scores returned in Non-Qualifying Competitions can be one of a number of factors to be taken into account in consideration of Clause 19 adjustment.
In the majority of cases, however, it is most unlikely that application of the minimum full stroke reduction imposed by this clause would be justified.