World Handicap System Update
9th November 2021
On the first anniversary of the introduction of the World Handicap System, we would like to provide an update on WHS with regard to Winter Golf, Handicap Reviews and eligibility to win Major Competitions and Knockouts in 2022:
• The Gentlemen’s White tee markers have been removed and the Yellow tee markers have been moved to the forward winter tee positions. This has sufficiently reduced the length of the Yellow course so that it is no longer compliant with WHS requirements for handicap purposes. Gentlemen’s competitions off the Yellow winter markers will, therefore, be non-qualifying and casual scores for Gentlemen will only be valid for handicap purposes if played from the Blue tees.
• The Ladies’ red tee markers will remain in place and these can be used to provide casual scores for input into WHS.
• The provision of the local rule confirming preferred lies on closely mown areas is WHS compliant.
• As part of WHS, handicap committees are required to carry out an annual handicap review before 31 December 2021 using reports generated by WHS and advise members of any proposed changes to their Handicap Index. The reports produced by WHS are exception reports detailing only those players who performed above or below their expected level over the last 12 months. Handicap committees are also allowed to take into consideration casual scores and scores/results from non-qualifying competitions.
• In order to play in and win 2022 Major and Knockout Competitions, the Board of Directors have agreed that members must have an “Active” Handicap Index generated by the submission of three 18-hole or six 9-hole scores (or any combination of 18 and 9-hole scores that total 54 holes) under WHS in the 12 months prior to the entry date for the competition. This requirement is, therefore, similar to Clause 25.1 of the previous CONGU system.
Last week we received the following communication from England Golf regarding automated penalties for unsatisfied score intents:
“With the introduction of WHS, came the greater opportunity for players to submit general play scores.
While it remains the responsibility of the player to ensure they pre-register and submit their scores, we have seen this isn’t always the case. It can leave an unsatisfied score intent in the player’s record for your club's handicap committee to deal with through the application of a penalty score.
We want to make these processes easier for you and reduce your workload while still providing you with oversight. As a result, we have decided to introduce some automation around the submission of general play scores either by the MyEG app or via the club software.
What does this mean for the handicap committee at your club?
You will no longer have to track and chase players for non-submission of scores in general play. Where players fail to submit scores following automated reminder emails, a penalty score will be automatically applied.
Your handicap committee will have full sight of this and reports will be provided for you to see which players have received automatic penalty scores. This will provide you with the ability to adjust or remove the score if required.
The committee can also identify players who pre-registered a round by the MyEG app but subsequently delete it. As part of this process, they are asked to provide a reason for deleting the score and it would be up to the committee to review the Delete Score Intent Report, review the reasons and, should it be required (not a valid reason), apply a penalty score. We would recommend Course Rating + Course Handicap unless the committee wish to apply something different.
What does this mean for the player?
The player is now totally responsible for submitting their score once it has been pre-registered. If they fail to do so without providing the committee with a valid reason, an automated penalty score will be applied.
Should a score be deleted after it has been registered they will have to provide a reason for the deletion and it is then up to the committee if they accept the reason or apply a penalty score.”
Handicaps & Fixtures Committee
• The Gentlemen’s White tee markers have been removed and the Yellow tee markers have been moved to the forward winter tee positions. This has sufficiently reduced the length of the Yellow course so that it is no longer compliant with WHS requirements for handicap purposes. Gentlemen’s competitions off the Yellow winter markers will, therefore, be non-qualifying and casual scores for Gentlemen will only be valid for handicap purposes if played from the Blue tees.
• The Ladies’ red tee markers will remain in place and these can be used to provide casual scores for input into WHS.
• The provision of the local rule confirming preferred lies on closely mown areas is WHS compliant.
• As part of WHS, handicap committees are required to carry out an annual handicap review before 31 December 2021 using reports generated by WHS and advise members of any proposed changes to their Handicap Index. The reports produced by WHS are exception reports detailing only those players who performed above or below their expected level over the last 12 months. Handicap committees are also allowed to take into consideration casual scores and scores/results from non-qualifying competitions.
• In order to play in and win 2022 Major and Knockout Competitions, the Board of Directors have agreed that members must have an “Active” Handicap Index generated by the submission of three 18-hole or six 9-hole scores (or any combination of 18 and 9-hole scores that total 54 holes) under WHS in the 12 months prior to the entry date for the competition. This requirement is, therefore, similar to Clause 25.1 of the previous CONGU system.
Last week we received the following communication from England Golf regarding automated penalties for unsatisfied score intents:
“With the introduction of WHS, came the greater opportunity for players to submit general play scores.
While it remains the responsibility of the player to ensure they pre-register and submit their scores, we have seen this isn’t always the case. It can leave an unsatisfied score intent in the player’s record for your club's handicap committee to deal with through the application of a penalty score.
We want to make these processes easier for you and reduce your workload while still providing you with oversight. As a result, we have decided to introduce some automation around the submission of general play scores either by the MyEG app or via the club software.
What does this mean for the handicap committee at your club?
You will no longer have to track and chase players for non-submission of scores in general play. Where players fail to submit scores following automated reminder emails, a penalty score will be automatically applied.
Your handicap committee will have full sight of this and reports will be provided for you to see which players have received automatic penalty scores. This will provide you with the ability to adjust or remove the score if required.
The committee can also identify players who pre-registered a round by the MyEG app but subsequently delete it. As part of this process, they are asked to provide a reason for deleting the score and it would be up to the committee to review the Delete Score Intent Report, review the reasons and, should it be required (not a valid reason), apply a penalty score. We would recommend Course Rating + Course Handicap unless the committee wish to apply something different.
What does this mean for the player?
The player is now totally responsible for submitting their score once it has been pre-registered. If they fail to do so without providing the committee with a valid reason, an automated penalty score will be applied.
Should a score be deleted after it has been registered they will have to provide a reason for the deletion and it is then up to the committee if they accept the reason or apply a penalty score.”
Handicaps & Fixtures Committee