Unified Handicap System
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The following changes have been introduced in 2008
To clarify that it is the members Home Club which must provide a reasonable number of Qualifying Competitions.
- New FAQ clarifying "Exceptional Circumstances" in Clause 23.7
- New Decision 8 - Handicap and Competition Handicaps (and the like)
- Revised Clause 20.4- to clarify that an NR is not automatically entitled to a 0.1 increase. "Subject to the provisions of Clauses 18.4 and 18.5, if a player returns a score with a Nett Differential above his Buffer Zone or records a 'No Return', after the application of the Clause 19.1 adjustment if appropriate, his Exact Handicap is increased by 0.1."
- Incorrect (higher) score on a hole Where a player submits a card where he has signed for a score higher than his actual score, for handicap purposes, his gross score should be adjusted to that which he would have returned if the mistake had not been made. e.g. a player scores a four on a hole but signs for a six . His gross score in the competition was 81. But for handicap purposes his gross score is 81 - 2 (6-4)=79.
In most cases this error will not be discovered until after the CSS has been completed. There is therefore no need to re-calculate a CSS. The players handicap should be adjusted where necessary.
- EGU/EWGA introduce Active/Inactive handicaps
During the winter of 2007/2008 the EGU gave numerous Handicapping Seminars to launch the new CONGU Unified Handicapping System (UHS). Clubs, although not in favour of lapsing handicaps, wanted to have more control of their members' handicaps and players competing in Open competition.
Accordingly the English Golf Union and English Women's Golf Association have launched a system that will identify the competitive nature of an individual. Approved and supported by CONGU the Active/Inactive handicap will identify whether an individual has competed in qualifying competitions and as a result returned information on their playing ability.
Conditions are as follows
- Players will be required to have submitted 3 qualifying scores (including Supplementary Scores & 9 Hole Qualifying Competitions and Away scores) during the calendar year 2009 (not the period between annual handicap reviews) to avoid having an inactive handicap for the playing season, 2010. NR's will be accepted as part of 3 Qualifying Scores unless the Committee are of the opinion that they have been returned deliberately as part of the 3 Qualifying Scores.
- Clubs will be permitted to exempt players from an inactive handicap for injury/illness that has prevented them from achieving the required number of qualifying scores during a calendar year. This will also include those players who are transferring membership who have submitted scores albeit at another Club and to golfers new to the game who are being issued with first CONGU handicap.
- Players whose handicap has become inactive will be required to return three qualifying scores before the indicator is removed. Qualifying scores of less than 3 are not permitted to be carried over to the next year, i.e. no topping up of qualifying scores permitted, e.g. 1 score in the previous year and 2 in current year.
- Clubs may impose an entry condition that requires an active handicap (3 previously submitted qualifying scores) for specific competitions only such as Trophy or Board events. In all other cases Clubs must allow "home" players with inactive handicaps entry to qualifying competitions in order to provide as much opportunity as possible for the removal of the inactive handicap.
- An inactive handicap can still be used for social golf and those competitions fr which an active handicap is not an entry condition. Scores from players with inactiveo handicaps will be used in the calculation of a CSS.
- The requirement of 3 qualifying scores will be reviewed by EGU/EWGA during 2010 to consider if this should be increased for the following year.
The active/inactive identification of handicaps will be required as from the beginning of 2010.
Handicap allowances:
The new UHS version 2008-2011, effective from the 1st January 2008, requires that the handicap allowances in Appendix F are mandatory.
In the same way that the R & A is the governing body for the Rules of Golf, CONGU is the governing body for Handicapping matters. The Board of CONGU has representatives from the seven National Unions of GB and Ireland. CONGU delegates the Unions to administer the approved handicapping system, UHS, in each country and in turn they delegate that authority through the Area Authorities to each affiliated golf club.
Clause 6.2 of the UHS Manual makes it a requirement of clubs to ensure that the spirit and intent of the UHS is properly applied. I quote Clause 6.2 and the relevant NOTE for information.
The Affiliated Club must:
6.2 Ensure that the spirit and intent of the UHS is properly applied in the club. Failure by a club to comply with this requirement may lead to a Union withdrawing the club's right to act as a Handicapping Authority or imposing such conditions as the Union considers appropriate. (See Note below)
NOTE: It is the Home Club's responsibility to ensure that handicaps are maintained in accordance with the rules laid down by the UHS. Any complaint regarding the application of the UHS must be made to the Union, or Area Authority if so delegated, which may, at its discretion, carry out such investigation as it shall consider appropriate. If, following such an investigation, it is found that a Home Club is in breach of its responsibilities, the Home Club shall be directed by the Union or Area Authority to review all handicaps and shall within three months from that direction report to the Union or Area Authority the manner in which matters have been rectified. Failure to resolve the matter satisfactorily would justify the Union disaffiliating the Home Club, or declaring that handicaps at that club are no longer CONGU® Handicaps.
The change to mandatory Handicap Allowances has been agreed by all seven Unions/Associations.
Council of National Golf Unions(CONGU) appoints new Secretary:
The Board of CONGU Ltd are pleased to announce the appointment of Mr. Melvyn Goddard as Secretary of the Council of National Golf Unions. Mr Goddard will take up the post, officially, at the Board's AGM on the 23rd March 2010 when he will replace the current Secretary, Kevin McIntyre, who has held the position since 2002.
Mr Goddard, a chartered accountant by profession, is aged 62, married with two grown up children. He is a founder member of Mollington Grange Golf Club, Cheshire where he has served as the Handicap Secretary for 6 years and was Club Captain in 2006.
Further details may be obtained from secretary@congu.com
Richard Muckart
Chairman CONGU Ltd