The CONGU handicapping changes that started this month
15th January, 2012 by admin
England Golf has been highlighting the changes to the CONGU (Council of National Golf Unions) Unified Handicapping System (UHS) which took effect on January 1, 2012.
Nine-hole handicaps
The first of these changes concerns the allocation of a handicap. Previously it has been a requirement that anyone wishing to obtain a CONGU handicap must submit three 18-hole scores at their club in order for a handicap to be allocated. It is now permissible to submit a number of nine-hole scores in addition to 18-hole scores so long as the total holes submitted is 54. Should nine-holes be used, the best two scores will be taken for the allocation of the handicap. Should nine holes be used, the club must ensure that the course has had a standard scratch score (SSS) allocated by England Golf.
Buffer zones
Another change is the move from SSS+2 to SSS+Handicap Buffer Zone (BZ) in the calculation of a competition scratch score (CSS). This change, which should have little impact on men’s competitions, should improve the precision of a CSS in a typical ladies’ field which comprises of a high number of category four ladies (21 to 28 handicap). The inclusion of an additional small field CSS table has also been introduced to aid in a more reflective CSS when the CSS has been determined as ‘Reduction Only’ (R/O) in competitions comprising of less than 10 competitors. Using the table under these conditions will assess the CSS using the best nett score over ‘Buffer Zone’. This should reduce the number of R/O events and help to ensure that handicaps are adjusted accurately.
Exceptional scores
The introduction of a facility to monitor exceptional scores has also been included. This will aid handicap committees in identifying members who have submitted a number of good qualifying scores during the calendar year and provide recommended handicap reductions. The system will ‘flag’ a member who returns a score of SSS-4 or better and monitors future qualifying scores returned during that calendar year. An ‘Exceptional Score Reduction’ (ESR) is then applied should a second score of SSS-4 be returned. Depending on the frequency of which these scores are returned will determine the recommended handicap adjustment. It is hoped this will prevent committees from applying knee jerk reactions to single good scores, which is contrary to the CONGU UHS.
Annual review
The final significant change concerns an amendment to the annual review. With the inclusion of active/inactive handicaps into the CONGU UHS, the annual review report now recommends handicap adjustment, albeit with caution, based on the return of only three qualifying scores. Ideally, seven qualifying scores or more should be returned in order for sufficient statistical information to be received.
Other minor changes include the introduction of a definition in regards par sixes, the ability to runMedfordcompetitions, a combination of stroke play and stableford and the introduction of a central database of handicaps (CDH) clause.
All the changes will be included in the latest versions of your handicapping software for 2012.
James Crampton is the handicap manager of England Golf
