Unified Handicapping -System in detail
Unified Handicapping -System in detail
6. Responsibilities of the Affiliated Club
Handicapping within the UHS is delegated to Affiliated Clubs subject to the overall jurisdiction of the Union.
To facilitate full compliance with its responsibilities, clubs should conduct, on an annual basis, a self audit using the UHS Compliance Checklist contained in Appendix L.
The Affiliated Club must:
6.1 Act as the Handicapping Authority for all Members for whom it is the Home Club subject to the overall jurisdiction of the Union.
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).
6.3 Appoint a Handicap Committee comprised of a minimum of three persons, the majority of whom shall be Members.
6.4 Ensure that all handicaps are calculated in accordance with the UHS and issue, when requested, Handicap Certificates, which are required to specify a CONGU® Handicap thereon.
6.5 Ensure that, where handicaps are calculated and maintained by computer, the software used is provided by an Independent Software Vendor currently licensed by CONGU®.
6.6 Have a current Certificate of Course Measurement for each set of tees from which Qualifying Competitions are played.
6.7 Inform the Union, or Area Authority if so delegated, of course alterations, particularly length changes (increases and decreases) that may impact on the allotted Standard Scratch Score.
6.8 Ensure that all Qualifying Competitions are played from a Measured Course with due regard to the definition of a Competition Tee.
6.9 Appoint Committees, as and when necessary, to perform the duties referred to in Clause 24.
6.10 Specify the appeal procedure to be made available to Members dissatisfied with the determination made by the Club pursuant to Clause 24.
6.11 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 all scorecards until the end of the current handicap year. Handicap records for all Members should be returned to the Union or Area Authority should the club cease to be affiliated.
6.12 Provide the Union with such information as the Union shall require to establish a National Handicap Database.
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.
Composition of the Handicap Committee
It is a requirement of the UHS that the Handicap Committee is comprised of a minimum of three persons with the majority being Members.
While Club Secretaries, Club Managers, Administrators or Club Professionals in some clubs have a significant role to play in the administration and management of handicaps, an important element of the UHS is related to the application and conduct of the Review of Handicaps. 'Peer review' is necessary to administer Clause 23 as intended and this is best fulfilled through the knowledge that Members have of their fellow Members.
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.
Now that men and ladies operate to the same handicapping system it is recommended that both genders be represented on a joint Handicap Committee.