Category 5 Handicaps - will be allocated during the Annual Review, and be implemented into the coming seasons competitions.

Initially, Division 4 will be extended to include Handicaps up to 36.4 in all Competitions.

However, players with a Competition Handicap of 20.5 > 28.4 (Category 4), who play below their Handicap, will be deducted 0.4 for each shot under par, whereas players with Competition Handicaps of 28.5 > 36.4 (Category 5) will be deducted 0.5 for each shot under par. Handicaps will continue to be increased by 0.1 for all scores outside the ‘buffer zone’

Category 6 Handicaps – It is envisaged that Handicaps of 36.5 > 54 will only be used to assess a beginner’s progress, or help a player who cannot otherwise compete with his peers.

All members should therefore support these players by allowing them to join in with ‘social golf’ and not insist their Handicaps be ‘limited’. Help, by encouraging them to submit Supplementary Scores (as often as they like) to enable the Handicap Committee to adjust their Handicaps where necessary.

It’s worth considering the use of Supplementary Scores as a means of controlling the ‘bandits’ within you Groups!!

There is no intention to use Category 6 handicaps in Club Competitions until we have more information on their ‘take-up’ and the effect they might have on results.

The Continuous Handicap Review will be used at the end of each month during the Playing Season.

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All of the above is an initiative from CONGU and England Golf to help, in particular, aging players whose ability is declining, in the hope that they can retain a competitive edge and extend their playing careers.

Much more information is available on the websites – www.congu.co.uk & www.englandgolf.org 

M.Barker (Match Secretary)

February 2018