Getting to Grips with the Rules of Golf and Handicapping
Explaining Rules of Golf and Rules of Handicapping for everyone
For those of you who are unfortunate to be in Tier 4, England Golf have updated their recommendations for Golf Courses located in Tier 4 following the UK Government’s recent announcements on Wednesday 22 December.
If you click on the Button below, or the link, you can learn more:
Covid-19 Update: Golf Courses Remain Open in Tier 4 Locations
Whatever you do, please Stay Safe and Play Safe
Well Christmas is nearly upon us and the end, I hope, of an extraordinary year.
What had all the promise of an exciting golfing year with the launch of the
World Handicap System proved to be exciting in a way we did not expect.
I feel sorry, not just for the disruption to everyone’s golf but to the year that many Captains of all sections had planned and were looking forward too.
But what I have seen is that many adapted to the unprecedented circumstances and became quite enterprising in adapting their golfing calendar and competitions.
AGMs and Captains’ Drive-ins also had to be adapted, but I’d like to take this opportunity to congratulate everyone of you have taken on a position within your club this year and wish you every success for 2021.
Despite the COVID-19 Restrictions it is good to see many of you able to play golf and organise or participate in competitions.
The drive to introduce Gender Neutral Tees and also to encourage more mixed competitions, has , from the number of emails I have received, been taken up worldwide and actually includes many Clubs in England.
This has led to more Mixed-tee Competitions being organised.
However, with the complex nature of calculating Mixed-tee Playing Handicaps under the World Handicap System, many have struggled with the new Handicap Calculations.
CONGU have come to the rescue and produced a WHS Mixed-Tee Handicap Calculator, set out in a Microsoft Office Excel Spreadsheet for everyone to use it covers:
To read more about the WHS Mixed-tee calculator, how to use it and Download your own copy click on the link below:
World Handicap System Mixed-Tee Calculator
Enjoy your golf
Stay Safe
Tony
PS England Golf have updated their recommendations on Play Safe for those of you who, unfortunately, find yourselves in Tier 4. Follow the link below:
The WHS recommended stroke allowances does not cover advice on ‘Best of’ 3-ball teams.
I have updated the Handicap Allowances Document to include the following recommendations from CONGU:
The following stroke allowances should be used:
|
|
Best 2 of 3 | All 3 of 3 |
| 70% | 85% |
100% |
You can download a copy of the document by clicking on the Download Button below:
Enjoy your golf, but for those of you who cannot play at the moment stay patient until the day is announced that you can return to playing golf safely.
Best wishes
Tony
Getting to grips with the World Handicap System is presenting some of you with problems.
But now that England Golf and Independent Software Vendors are managing to overcome some of the teething problems it is evident, from the many emails I am receiving, that many of you, who can play golf at the moment, are doing so and entering and organising a number of competitions.
In1983 the Council of National Golf Unions (CONGU) introduced the Unified Handicapping System) UHS) to GB&I for the first time.
It was based on the Australian Handicapping System and has stood us in good stead since then.
But on 2nd November 2020, the World Handicap System (WHS) was introduced bringing together and regularising six different Handicap Systems.
So, what does this mean for us and organisers of competitions?
Firstly, a steep learning curve because there are many changes to get used to and implement.
Secondly, the CONGU UHS Manual no longer applies as a source of reference and we must turn to new publications for information on Handicapping.
The sources we must now use and rely on are:
Unfortunately, the Guidance on Rules of Handicapping as Applied to GB&I, is not as clear and precise as the old CONGU UHS Manual, and no doubt will be re-written over time, but it is all we have at the moment.
But love it or hate it, the WHS is here to stay and once understood and used properly will, in my opinion, provide a much fairer Handicapping System for all.
Keep safe
Tony
Please accept my apologies but there seems to have been some confusion, especially on social media, as to actually when golf could resume in England., December 2nd or 3rd, which not only confused me but England Golf as well.
Addressing this confusion, Craig Tracey, the chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Golf, confirmed Golf Clubs could open on the Wednesday, 2nd December Wednesday.
‘For the avoidance of doubt, new rules come in to effect from 00:01 on 2nd December, so shops, beauty salons, and indeed golf courses, can open on that Wednesday’
Again many apologies to you all.
Tony
Following the good news from the UK Government that we can exit the second Lockdown on 2 December and Golf in England can return from 3 December, we are all going to have to get used to a new level of tier restrictions that may be in place until spring.
A question that a lot of us are asking is “Can I play golf in another Tier?”
Some of you may already be used to the tier concept, but the measures announced by the Government, and which will come into force on December 2, are said to be much tougher than those that preceded them.
The Covid tiers will still determine what applies to you and your club in England and they are still labelled Tier 1: Medium Alert, Tier 2: High Alert and Tier 3: Very High Alert.
So, in which tier is your golf club and how will this affect you?
England Golf have updated their Coronavirus FAQs to answer this for you.
The most pertinent recommendation are:
To Download a copy of the England Golf Coronavirus FAQs click here.
England Golf have also produced two other useful documents:
You can download copies of both documents by clicking on the download buttons below:
So, enjoy your golf, but remember
Play Safe and Stay Safe
Tony
Industry members in the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Golf have welcomed the Prime Minister’s announcement today (23 November 2020) that golf clubs and other facilities in England may reopen from 2 December.
The announcement paves the way for golf to return at all COVID-19 alert levels within the Rule of Six, permitting fourball play without restriction on number of households.
Coaching, fitting and ranges will also be allowed to open, as will indoor hospitality facilities in tiers one and two (those in tier three can continue a takeaway service only).
Details are being reviewed by industry bodies and clubs and facilities are encouraged to review the England Golf website for national details, as well as the websites of their industry bodies.
Speaking after the Prime Minister’s announcement, the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Golf’s Chairman, North Warwickshire MP, Craig Tracey said: “I am sure all involved in golf in England welcome the sport’s return and the industry has yet again pulled together to form a coherent message to Government articulating why it was safe to do so.
“As was seen both before and during this lockdown, golf is a sport that can be played safely and the industry adapted quickly to manage the restrictions imposed previously.
“Golf now has operational experience and established COVID secure practices, including rule changes and other mitigation measures that meet the ‘Hands, Face, Space’ directive.
“It is therefore ideally placed to welcome people back when lockdown ends in all the home nations.
“The health and wellbeing benefits of playing golf are well documented in scientific literature and leaders in public health, public policy and sport from across the globe recognise that golf tackles physical inactivity and contributes to the prevention of a range of non-communicable diseases.
“Combining the undeniable benefits that golf offers to a significant proportion of the country, and the steps taken that ensure golf is a sport that can be played safely, the golf industry looks forward to welcoming players back and is confident it can meet future restrictions.”
Great news, but use your common sense and Play Safely.
Enjoy your golf
Tony
Now we all hope that courses will re-open on 3rd December, or as soon as possible after that and give us some respite from Lockdown-2 in England.
There may be some light on the horizon, if common sense prevails and it does not put lives at risk.
A forthcoming debate by the UK Government may offer us some sort of promise, but we should know more by Monday evening.
England Golf has confirmed that the UK government will debate the petition that was delivered to it ‘Exempt golf courses from the list of venues required to close due to Covid-19’, which attracted over 250,000 signatures, on Monday 23 November.
As you know, Golf courses in England have been closed since Thursday 5th November, when we started a four-week national lockdown.
That was despite arguments being put forward by England Golf, members of the golfing industry and the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Golf.
England Golf has said that it wholeheartedly supports the views of the petition, details of which you can read by clicking here, that golf courses should be allowed to remain open through this current lockdown, enabling golfers of all ages to continue playing golf and to exercise safely.
England Golf, however, has also acknowledged that there is no guarantee of courses re-opening on 3rd December,
Jeremy Tomlinson, England Golf CEO, said, “We know the benefits our sport can provide for both mental and physical health at this time of isolation and hope the government can recognise this during the upcoming debate and support golf’s return to playing,”.
“Earlier this year, the game of golf was able to clearly demonstrate that it could be enjoyed in a COVID-safe way, which is why it was one of the first sports to return once restrictions were lifted.
“This was a privilege that the sport took incredibly seriously and accordingly adopted the highest possible standards to keep participants safe.
“Our sport has come together in one voice during this difficult year and it’s thanks to the support of our members, clubs and counties, as well as our collaboration with the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Golf.”
Don’t get too despondent if the decision is not the one we would want
On a lighter note,
My England Golf (MyEG) will allow golfers to stay up to date with their Handicap Index as part of the World Handicap System (WHS).
The app, available now to download for free in Apple and Google Play stores, follows on from the official transition on 2 November to the new WHS for the 1,800 golf clubs and 630,000 golfers across England.
England Golf has created the app to provide golfers with the ability to access their Handicap Index on the go, as well as to easily keep track of their overall playing record on a regular basis.
A Course Handicap calculator is another unique feature of the new My England Golf app.
This function will allow golfers to cross-reference their Handicap Index with whichever set of tees they will be playing from on a particular day, for any course in the country, in order to work out their Course Handicap.
You can read more about MyEG App and how to download it by clicking on the MyEG App link below:
As ever
Stay safe and well
Tony
A reader commented on my mention of Stableford and Maximum Score formats relating to England Golf and not other jurisdictions.
I must thank him for bringing it to my attention and hope I have not caused any confusion for anyone.
The reason I mentioned that my comments related to England is that, although I do try and advise on all jurisdictions (worldwide) I do concentrate on England and have to remember that some of my readers are from other countries and I could easily confuse them if I don’t qualify some of my points.
Although the WHS is supposed to be worldwide, not all of its features have been adopted by some Countries.
My comments therefore on Stableford and Maximum Score formats do also apply to Wales, Scotland and Ireland.
However, unlike England, Scotland and Wales, it is Ireland’s intention to trial the inclusion of some match play events into handicapping and to also include some Four Ball Better-Ball scores in situations where the returned scores are better than a target expectation for this format of play.
Where scores returned in match play or four-ball formats are Acceptable Scores there is a need for calculating a ‘Most Likely Score’ when a player starts a hole but does not hole out.
So in Ireland, when using a ‘Most Likely Score’ a player must still bear in mind the score that would be recorded compared to a Net Double Bogey against their Course Handicap.,
NOTE: This will not be in use for the rest of GB&I, although it is part of the WHS and in use in the rest of the world.
Something, no doubt, England Golf will review that situation in the future.
Golf Ireland will issue details of the inclusion of match play and 4BBB in due course, but at the moment these formats are not acceptable in England or Scotland.
Hope this clears things up.
Sorry, however, if I did manage to confuse you.
Tony
Well while we, in GB&I, find ourselves in Golf Lockdown again, some golf is being played around the world and I am receiving both Rules of Golf and World Handicap System queries, which is why I have not posted anything yet on Mixed Tee Competitions as promised.
While England Golf struggles with teething problems over the introduction of the WHS the 4-week lockdown may give them some respite and time to sort things out before we get back to playing golf with a vengeance.
I recently received a query from a reader to which I could provide a straight forward answer but which also raised a point with the New World Handicap System that many players may not be aware.
Unlike the previous CONGU Qualifying Rounds, which were played off Full Handicap, under the the WHS there are occasions when acceptable rounds will be played off a percentage of a Course Handicap and you must be aware of both your Course Handicap and your Playing Handicap in the same round so that you ‘do not pick up before you run out of strokes, according to your Course Handicap’
Now this goes against the teachings of improving the Pace of Play, but is a necessary action under the WHS when competitions are being played for Handicap purposes.
The R&A will no doubt have to reconsider Rule 21 in the light of the WHS and remove the wording ‘To help pace of play, players are encouraged to stop playing a hole when their score will result in zero points.’ for Stableford Formats and ‘To help pace of play, players are encouraged to stop playing a hole when their formats. score has reached the maximum’, for Maximum Score formats.
All will, I hope be revealed below.
The question was:
‘In a Stableford qualifying competition, do I record on my card, the number of strokes taken based on my course handicap or my playing handicap for the competition?’
My answer was:
You record your Gross Score for each hole, and you should base it on your Course Handicap not your Playing Handicap for the reasons which I will give below.
The Course Handicap, calculated from your Handicap Index and your Course’s Slope Rating, replaces your CONGU Handicap, and could be considered to be one and the same. It is this Handicap that dictates if any Adjustments to Hole scores need to be made for Handicap purposes.
The Playing Handicap is your Handicap for a particular competition depending on the format being played and is the number of strokes you actually receive for that round and is the one you use, in the case of a Stableford Competition, to calculate your points for each hole and the one that your Club’s Handicap System will use to calculate your points for each hole for a competition result.
This last point is an important one because you must ensure that by having a Net Double Bogey recorded for not completing the hole does not award you a score higher than if you had completed the hole.
This is relevant especially when a Handicap Allowance for a particular format reduces your Playing Handicap or a Committee sets a Maximum Score for each hole.
An example would probably better illustrate my point.
Caroline has a Handicap Index of 20.1
She is playing an Individual Stableford Competition on her home course from the Red Tees which have a Course Rating of 72.8, a Par of 72 and a Slope Rating of 126
Caroline’s Course Handicap (in GB&I) is: 22
The Handicap Allowance for an Individual Stableford is 95% which adjusts her Playing Handicap to: 21
From this Playing Handicap Caroline will receive one stroke on holes with Stroke Index 4 -18 and two strokes on each of holes with Stroke Index 1, 2 and 3.
Caroline is playing well but on Hole 6, a Par 4 with Stroke Index 4, where she receives 1 stroke in this competition, she runs into a bit of trouble and after just missing a putt for a 6, decides to pick up and record a 0 at that hole, because she is out of shots for that hole according to her Playing Handicap.
Hole 6 is a hole on which she would in general play have received 2 strokes, but off 95% of her Course Handicap now only receives 1 Stroke.
This would be all right for the result of the competition, but for Handicap Purposes the WHS would record a Net Double Bogey of 8 for her not completing play of the hole, working from her Course Handicap.
This would in fact be one more stroke than if she had putted out and completed play of the hole.
It would therefore have been better for Caroline to putt out and record a 7, recording one stroke less for handicap purposes.
Many players will not fully appreciate the importance of continuing beyond the maximum hole score to reach their NDB score on a given hole.
So remember in England when playing Stableford or Maximum Score Formats you need to keep an eye on your scoring against your Course Handicap and not just your Playing Handicap or the Maximum Score for a Hole.
Think before you pick up and record a Net Double Bogey or a Zero on your scorecard.
This can be a little confusing to begin with, but just keep your wits about you.
This situation obviously does not occur in General Play, when no Handicap Allowances apply and you are playing off your Course Handicap
Have fun and
Enjoy your golf as soon as it is allowed
Best wishes and stay safe
Tony