Unified Handicapping -System in detail
Unified Handicapping -System in detail
23. Review of Handicaps
The Annual Review is an important element of the handicapping system. It is the process by which the Handicap Committee reviews, and adjusts as necessary, the handicaps of all Members to ensure that, as far as practicable, they reflect current playing ability.
It should be stressed that uniformity in handicapping can only be achieved by all Handicap Committees applying the same principles in a uniform and equitable manner. These principles apply just as much to the manner in which the Annual Review is conducted and General Play Adjustments applied, as to the routine administration of handicapping related to returns in Qualifying Competitions. Handicap Committees should recognise, however, that the majority of players who have returned a reasonable number of Qualifying Scores through the year will most probably have had appropriate handicap adjustments applied by the UHS to take account of any changes in their playing ability. They should also be confident that provided the intent of the system is honoured by all parties, the UHS produces handicaps in relation to each player's current ability that stand comparison with the handicaps of players at other clubs.
A) ANNUAL REVIEW
23.1 The Handicap Committee is required to carry out an Annual Review of the handicaps of all Members for whom it is the Home Club – see Clause 7.7(i). This review should be conducted in compliance with the requirements of Appendix M.
23.2 If the Handicap Committee determines that a player's Exact Handicap is too high and does not reflect his current playing ability the Handicap Committee should, subject to the provisions of Clause 23.4, reduce his Exact Handicap to the figure it considers to be appropriate. Except when a Union determines otherwise, the reduction shall be not less than one whole stroke. Fractional reductions in excess of one stroke are permitted.
23.3 (a) If the Handicap Committee determines that a player's Exact Handicap is too low and does not reflect his current playing ability the Handicap Committee should, subject to the provisions of Clause 23.4, recommend to the Union, or Area Authority if so delegated, that his Exact Handicap should be increased to the figure it considers appropriate. Except when a Union determines otherwise, the increase shall be not less than one whole stroke. Fractional increases in excess of one stroke are permitted.
(b) In the event of a Union delegating to Home Clubs the unconditional authority to increase the handicaps of players in any of the Categories 2, 3, 4 [and 5] Home Clubs need not submit to the Union or Area Authority proposals in respect of any changes of handicaps of players in the nominated Categories.
23.4 When the Handicap Committee has decided that the:
- (a) Exact Handicap of a Category 1 player should be reduced, or the
- (b) Exact Handicap of a Category 2 player should be reduced into Category 1, or the
- (c) Exact Handicap of any player should be increased (subject to any direction made pursuant to Clause 4.5(a) and 23.3(b))
then the Handicap Committee must refer the matter to the Union, or Area Authority if so delegated, with its recommended adjustment. The Union or Area Authority shall then authorise the recommended variation, reject the recommendation or refer the matter back to the Handicap Committee for further consideration. The Union or Area Authority shall be supplied with all the information upon which the recommendation is based and with any further information required.
23.5 The Handicap Committee shall advise a player of any change of handicap under this Clause and the change will become effective when the player becomes aware of the adjustment.
Unlike changes to handicap resulting from participation in Qualifying Competitions, adjustments of handicap under this Clause are not of a routine nature and often cannot be anticipated by the players affected. Consequently, it is not considered to be sufficient for a Committee to merely post a list of changes on the club notice board. Individual Members should be notified in writing or by some other agreed method of communication adopted by the club.
23.6 Decisions made by a Handicap Committee, Union or Area Authority under this Clause shall be final provided that the correct procedures are followed.
Note: A computer generated report has been designed to assist the Handicap Committee in the Annual Review – see Appendix M.
23/1 Requirement for an Annual Review of Handicaps
Q. Why is an Annual Review of handicaps necessary? Surely the UHS, by using Qualifying Scores to adjust handicaps does this routinely.
A. For the majority of players who play regularly in competitions this is correct. However, there are a number of reasons why the Handicap Committee must carry out an Annual Review including the following:
- Even for those players who take part with reasonable regularity in Qualifying Competitions, particularly those of declining ability, the system can be too slow to react to changes in their standard of play and, by looking at all the returns over the twelve month period, trends that may not be apparent on a week-to-week basis are highlighted. To promote fair and equitable handicapping, it is just as important to increase handicaps, where necessary, as it is to reduce them.
- In general, players who have been recently allotted a handicap have the potential to improve more rapidly than the system can take account of, and such players should be reviewed at the end of their early seasons to ensure that they are correctly handicapped.
- Players may be infrequent competitors in Qualifying Competitions and so have few opportunities to reduce their handicap in line with their improved standard of play. They may compete frequently, however, with success in other forms of golf and their handicaps may require adjustment to reflect this.
For these reasons the Annual Review is an important element in the handicapping process at every club. It should be carried out by the Handicap Committee who should have as much information as is available to them when conducting the review.
23/2 Conducting the Annual Review
Q. The Handicap Committee is required to review the handicaps of all Members annually. Our club has a large membership, is a review of this nature not an impossible task?
A. It is recognised that, for large memberships the Annual Review is difficult to undertake effectively. To address this problem a feature, "The Annual Review Report", has been incorporated in the licensed software packages. This report is designed to assess the performance of all players who have returned three or more Qualifying Scores in the review period and is based on the expected playing performance of players with respect to their Handicap Category. The report will 'flag-up' players who require consideration as detailed in Appendix M. It should be emphasised that it is not the intention that every player 'flagged-up' qualifies automatically for an increase or decrease in handicap. Any adjustment should only be made when all the evidence available on the player has been considered.
It is recommended that the Annual Review should be conducted at a time convenient to the Handicap Committee between the 31st of October and the 1st of March.
B) GENERAL PLAY ADJUSTMENT
23.7 In exceptional circumstances the Handicap Committee may adjust the handicap of a player in the period between Annual Reviews if there is compelling evidence that his Exact Handicap does not reflect his current playing ability. Appendix M should be consulted for guidance.
23.8 General Play Adjustments should be made in accordance with the provisions of Clauses 23.2 to 23.6.
23.9 The Handicap Committee or other body organising a competition at a club which is not the player's Home Club may, if it considers that his handicap is too high, reduce that handicap. Any reduction made under this clause shall apply only to the competition for which it is made.
Note: If the handicap of any player is reduced other than to the extent required by Clause 20 or by the correct application of Clause 23, the player's handicap will not be a CONGU® Handicap and must not be used in any competition for which a CONGU® Handicap is required.
23/3 Arbitrary General Play Adjustments
Q. My club routinely reduces the handicap of players who play more than five shots under their handicap by at least one shot more than the reduction applied by the UHS. They call this a General Play cut. Is this acceptable?
A. Absolutely not, if the score is just one isolated score. An extra reduction on the basis of just one exceptional score cannot be justified in any circumstances. A General Play Adjustment is exactly that - a reduction/increase based on the general play of the player. However, if there is a pattern over time that indicates the player is playing better than expected for his Handicap Category then a Committee would be justified in applying a General Play Adjustment.
General Play Adjustments are merely reactions to exceptional situations that can occur through the season. Any adjustments should be made under the same criteria used in the Annual Review. It would not be expected, on other than medical grounds, for a General Play Adjustment to be used to make an upward adjustment of handicap. Any such adjustment should be applied at the Annual Review.
Decisions Relevant to Clause 23
5(a) Consequences If a Reduction of Handicap Under Clause 23 (Review of Handicaps) Is Inappropriately Applied
5(b) General Play Adjustment Applied at a Time When the Player Has Not Returned Relevant 'Away' Scores – Consequent Action