PART ONE: DEFINITIONS
Whenever a word or expression is used which is defined within the following definitions the word or expression is printed in italics.
Affiliated Club
An Affiliated Club is a club affiliated to a Union or Area Authority which pays to the Union and/or Area Authority a specified annual per capita fee in respect of each eligible Member.
Annual Review
The Annual Review is a process whereby the Handicap Committee is required to consider the playing performance of all Members over the preceding year in relation to their current handicap and make any adjustment considered appropriate.
Area Authority
An Area Authority is any authority appointed by a Union to act on behalf of that Union for the purposes of the UHS within a specified geographic region e.g. County or Province.
Buffer Zone
A score is within a player's Buffer Zone when a Nett Differential is within the following bands for his Handicap Category:
Category 1 0 to +1
Category 2 0 to +2
Category 3 0 to +3
Category 4 0 to +4
[Category 5 0 to +5]
When a player's score is within his Buffer Zone his Exact Handicap remains unchanged.
Competition Play Conditions
Competition Play Conditions prevail during Stroke Play, Par/Bogey and Stableford competitions over 18 holes under the Rules of Golf from Competition Tees. Competition Play Conditions shall not prevail when the length of the course played varies by more than 100 yards (91 metres) from the length of the Measured Course.
Note 1: For the purposes of the UHS, Par and Bogey competitions are identical.
Note 2: Special rules apply when the length of a Measured Course has been temporarily reduced or increased – see Clause 13.
Note 3: Special rules apply to Nine-Hole Qualifying Competitions – see Clause 22.
Competition Scratch Score (CSS)
The Competition Scratch Score is the score determined by Clause 18.
Competition Tee
A Competition Tee is the teeing ground, as defined in the Rules of Golf, the front of which should normally be placed no more than 10 yards (9 metres) in front of, or behind, the relevant Distance Point. See also Decision 7(a).
Note: Special Rules apply when the length of a Measured Course has been temporarily reduced or increased - see Clause 13.
CONGU® Handicap
A CONGU® Handicap is a handicap allotted and adjusted by the Home Club of a Member in accordance with the requirements of the UHS. A CONGU® Handicap must only be allotted to a Member of an Affiliated Club. Any other handicap is not a CONGU® Handicap.
Differentials
(1) The Nett Differential is the difference (+ or -) between the nett score returned by a player in a Qualifying Competition and the Competition Scratch Score after the application of Clause 19 when appropriate or the result of applying the Conversion Tables contained in Appendix D.
(2) The Gross Differential is the sum of the Nett Differential and the Playing Handicap.
Distance Point
The Distance Point is the position of a permanent marker on a tee from which the length of the hole was measured – see Decision 7(b).
Disqualified Score
A Disqualified Score for handicap purposes is any score returned in a Qualifying Competition, or as a Supplementary Score, when the player has been disqualified by the Committee from the competition or stipulated round for a breach of the Rules of Golf. Depending upon the nature of the breach, the score, or adjusted score under Clause 19, may be within the Buffer Zone or qualify for a handicap reduction. Otherwise an increase in Exact Handicap of 0.1 is applied - see Appendix P.
General Play Adjustment
A General Play Adjustment is a change to a player's handicap, other than that resulting from participation in a Qualifying Competition that is actioned by the Handicap Committee in the period between Annual Reviews to take account of a significant change in playing performance.
Handicaps
(1) Exact Handicap - A player's Exact Handicap is his handicap to one decimal place, calculated in accordance with the provisions of the UHS.
(2) Playing Handicap - A player's Playing Handicap is his Exact Handicap rounded to the nearest whole number (0.5 is rounded upwards).
Handicapping Authority
The Handicapping Authority for a player is his Home Club subject to the overall jurisdiction of the Union.
Handicap Categories
Handicaps are divided into the following Categories:
| Handicap Category | Exact Handicap | Playing Handicap |
| 1 | Plus to 5.4 | Plus to 5 |
| 2 | 5.5 to 12.4 | 6 to 12 |
| 3 | 12.5 to 20.4 | 13 to 20 |
| 4 | 20.5 to 28.0 [20.5 to 28.4] |
21 to 28 |
| [5] | [28.5 to 36.0] | [29 to 36] |
Handicap Committee
A Handicap Committee is the body appointed by an Affiliated Club to administer the UHS within the Club – see Clause 6.3.
Home Club
A player's Home Club is an Affiliated Club of which the player is a Member. If a player is a Member of more than one Affiliated Club he shall nominate one as his Home Club.
Measured Course
A Measured Course is any course played over by an Affiliated Club the measured length of which has been certified in accordance with the requirements of Clause 11 and for which a Standard Scratch Score has been allocated by a Union.
Member
A Member is an amateur golfer who is eligible to compete throughout the year in all Qualifying Competitions arranged by an Affiliated Club subject only to exclusion by virtue of one or more of the following:
(a) Restrictions imposed relating solely to the handicap of the players who may compete.
(b) Restrictions imposed relating solely to the age or gender of the players who may compete.
(c) Restrictions arising from category of club membership.
Notwithstanding the above, a Member must have the opportunity to compete in a reasonable number of Qualifying Competitions in a calendar year.
Note: Under this definition a Member as defined by the UHS is not necessarily a member as defined by the constitution or rules of his Affiliated Club or Clubs.
Non Qualifying Competition
A Non Qualifying Competition is a competition when the requirements of a Qualifying Competition are not satisfied.
In exceptional circumstances only, or with the authority of the Union, the Committee in charge of a competition may declare it a Non Qualifying Competition before play commences and must so advise competitors before they commence play.
Qualifying Competition
A Qualifying Competition is any competition in which Competition Play Conditions prevail and for handicap adjustment and record purposes full handicap allowance is applied and a Competition Scratch Score is calculated, subject to restrictions and limitations contained in the UHS or imposed by a Union – see Clauses 4.1(g) and 17.2(f).
When the conditions of a competition impose handicap limits to establish a result it will be a Qualifying Competition provided full handicap allowance is applied for handicap adjustment and record purposes.
Note: A Competition Scratch Score is not calculated for a Nine-Hole Qualifying Competition.
Qualifying Score
A Qualifying Score for handicap purposes is any score, including a 'No Return' or a score adjusted under Clause 19, returned in a Qualifying Competition, or as a Supplementary Score.
Reduction Only
A Qualifying Competition for Reduction Only is determined by the Competition Scratch Score calculation as specified in Clause 18.4. The Committee in charge of a competition must not declare a Qualifying Competition to be for Reduction Only.
Note: A Committee does not have the authority to organise a competition in which handicaps can be reduced but not increased i.e. pre-determine that a competition is for handicap 'Reduction Only'.
Rules of Golf
The Rules of Golf as approved by R&A Rules Limited and the United States Golf Association.
Standard Scratch Score (SSS)
The Standard Scratch Score is the score allocated to an 18 hole golf course (two rounds of a 9 hole course) in accordance with the requirements of Clause 9.
Supplementary Score
A Supplementary Score is a score in compliance with the requirements of Clause 21, returned for handicapping purposes, other than in a Qualifying Competition.
UHS
The UHS is the CONGU® Unified Handicapping System developed by the Council of National Golf Unions and applies to ladies and men who are Members of Affiliated Clubs.
Union
The Unions/Associations are the seven national organisations, namely English Golf Union, English Women's Golf Association, Golf Union of Wales, Golfing Union of Ireland, Irish Ladies' Golf Union, Scottish Golf Union and the Scottish Ladies' Golfing Association.