PART FOUR: HANDICAPPING
24. Suspension and Loss of Handicap
24.1 The handicap of a player shall be suspended by a Union, Area Authority or a player's Home Club if in its opinion he has:
- (a) constantly or blatantly failed to comply with the obligations and responsibilities imposed by the UHS, or
- (b) conducted himself in a manner prejudicial to the interests of his Union, Area Authority or Home Club or to the Game of Golf.
The player must be notified of the period of suspension and of any other conditions imposed. A player's handicap must not be suspended without first affording him the opportunity of appearing before the disciplinary Committee or other body.
24.2 Subject to any direction to the contrary issued by a Union, disciplinary proceedings in respect of an alleged offence committed at a player's Home Club shall be initiated and determined by his Home Club. In all other cases, Unions shall direct whether the Union, Area Authority or Home Club shall hear and determine the issue. If a player is a Member of more than one club, a club that is not his Home Club may not suspend his handicap.
24.3 Any player who requests his Home Club to confirm or certify his handicap for competition entry purposes shall be deemed to have had adequate opportunity of reporting to his Home Club any relevant away scores on or prior to the date and time at which the confirmation or CONGU® Handicap Certificate of handicap is requested. If it is established to the satisfaction of the player's Home Club, after due investigation, that a player has so failed to report away scores his handicap may be suspended for such period as his Home Club considers appropriate.
Whilst his handicap is suspended a player shall not be eligible to compete in or enter any golf event which requires a CONGU® Handicap as a condition of entry.
Following a written request from a player whose handicap has been suspended accompanied by full details of all relevant omitted scores, his Home Club may reinstate his handicap appropriately adjusted. Home Clubs do not require the authority of the Union or Area Authority to proceed under this sub-clause.
24.4 The Union, Area Authority or Home Club shall direct the appeal procedure to be made available to a player should he be dissatisfied with a determination under the foregoing sub-clauses.
24.5 If a player's membership is suspended from his Home Club his handicap shall be suspended automatically until his membership is reinstated.
24.6 The suspension of a player's handicap shall apply at all Affiliated Clubs of which the player is or becomes a Member during the period of suspension.
24.7 A player's handicap is lost immediately he ceases to be a Member of an Affiliated Club or loses his amateur status.
24.8 Whilst a player's handicap is suspended or has been lost, he shall not enter or compete in any competition which requires a competitor to be the holder of a CONGU® Handicap as designated by the UHS.
24.9 If a player resigns from, or is expelled by, his Home Club whilst his handicap is suspended, he cannot be allotted a handicap by another club until the period of suspension has expired.