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