These rules apply from 17th August 2011
The BGS handicap calculation is changing to a simpler system that the committee believes will be easy to understand and implement, and fair to all members.
The present system of setting society handicaps for all members and requiring them to play off the lower of society and club handicaps is being replaced, commencing with the first event in the Autumn 2011 season, which is Blackmoor on August 17th.
All handicap cuts applied this year under the previous system will be treated as reductions awarded immediately prior to the first Autumn event, one stroke to expire on 1st November, and any second strokes to expire on 1st April.
Please address any questions about handicaps to the
What handicap should I play off?
Members will play off their club handicap (or allocated BGS handicap for those who are not golf club members), less any strokes awarded for being a recent prizewinner. The reductions awarded will be one stroke to the runner-up and two to the winner. These will be removed one at a time two months and four months after the event (on the 1st of the following month).
New Handicap System Questions and Answers
- Why change the present system?
- What happens if a player earns more reductions before earlier ones have expired?
- What happens if a player’s club handicap changes during the reduction period?
- Isn’t it unfair to apply the reduction if the player’s club handicap has come down?
- Will the starting point in August be a member’s current society handicap?
- How about the winter warmer and AGM events?
- Will some players have the benefit that their reductions will expire in mid-winter?
No, the winter close period of December to February will be ignored and any unexpired reductions carried forward. For example, a one-stroke reduction awarded in October will be active for the rest of October and for the two months November and March and will expire on 1st April.
- Do members have to apply the reduction in matchplay events?
- Was a method based on performance against the standard scratch considered?
- So players who win or come second not having beaten the SSS will be cut?
- And players who do not win or come second will have no reduction even if their score is the same?
- Why implement it in mid-season, but not immediately?
- What will happen to the trophy calculations for 2011?
- Which trophy category – A or B – will a player be in if his club handicap at the start of a year or season is 21 (B) but he has a stroke reduction award still unexpired?
- So how will non-members of clubs have their handicaps maintained?
The present system is a rational development of the original society system set up in 1988 to accommodate a group who were largely beginners, occasional golfers and non-club members. It is now unwieldy and, although reasonably fair, has difficulty keeping up with improving players, or retaining players at a lower handicap than their club handicap, and gives players a second, minor handicap to track in addition to their “real” club handicap.
They are cumulative and each will expire according to the date it was earned.
The reduction is applied to the player’s current club handicap on the date of the event, whether that handicap has increased, decreased, or remained the same.
No, as that handicap has changed (up or down) based on independent results and the reduction only applies to society events.
Only if the society handicap is his or her only handicap (see below). All club members will play off their club handicap from that date as they will no longer have a society handicap, unless they earn a reduction by coming first or second in an event, except that all handicap cuts applied this year under the previous system will be treated as reductions awarded immediately prior to the first Autumn event, one stroke to expire on 1st November, and any second strokes to expire on 1st April.
Events normally held in the close period of December to February will not be used for handicap reduction awards – this includes the winter warmer if held outside this period. The AGM event, and any event in November, will be included when it forms part of the trophy season, i.e. from the first designated Champion’s Cup event to the last and including the Spring, Summer and Autumn trophies.
Yes, as it represents their current ability to play in comparison with other members.
Yes, in detail, including possible modifications to the SSS based on whether our median was high, average, or low to produce a CSS reflecting the difficulty of the event on the day. It was felt that this would not meet the objectives of clarity and immediate understanding by members, and would add nothing, and might detract, from the consistency of the system proposed.
Yes, as they will have scored best on a day when the course, pin positions, weather and other factors have caused unusual difficulties.
Correct. The reductions recognise best play and prizewinning, even if this is on countback by playing better towards the end of the round. The new system is based on results and not scores.
Options were considered to backdate it to the start of 2011, to implement it for the summer season starting at Chobham, or delay it until the start of 2012. August was seen as the best fit as backdating would alter competition results already declared, Chobham gave insufficient time for discussion, agreement and notification to members, and there is no good reason to delay until next year.
They will continue as normal, based on the median scores of each event, but from Blackmoor onwards the scores will result from club handicaps modified as above.
As his initial playing handicap will be 20 (A) that will be his category for the annual and seasonal trophies.
The handicap secretary will apply the CONGU rules to those members’ scores (modified to allow for our two categories against their four), and will advise the member by email and on the website handicap list when that causes a change in playing handicap. Reductions awarded to these players will be applied in the same way as those applied to club handicaps. General play adjustments may also be made during the season or annually.