CONGU Club Handicaps

Old Skier said:
2 Players who came up for an ESR but were representing their club in a county comp. No action taken, the county it occurred in didn't or couldn't take any action as it's not mandatory, so who are all this chaps that are trying to manipulate their handicaps up. I presume it's something you have spotted at your club since you joined your handicap committee.
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I believe there will always be a number of people who will look to increase their HC to enable them to win more comps and those people will be in every club
 
Old Skier said:
Still interested in how people in your club are manipulating their handicaps. Perhaps it's something I could look out for.
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How do you think people manipulate HC ? Ensuring they get a load of .1's to get shots back - only play a certain amount of qualifiers or just add in three supplementaries to keep HC where it is - people entering medals etc looking to get .1 back.

I'm pretty sure you know how people can manipulate their HC to get it higher or keep it how it is.
 
Liverpoolphil said:
How do you think people manipulate HC ? Ensuring they get a load of .1's to get shots back - only play a certain amount of qualifiers or just add in three supplementaries to keep HC where it is - people entering medals etc looking to get .1 back.

I'm pretty sure you know how people can manipulate their HC to get it higher or keep it how it is.
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Does your club implement ESRs and ISRs
 
Playing devil's advocate here - wouldn't it have been better to increase the limit of Congu handicap to 36 rather than trying to differentiate between less than 28 and greater than 28? Why is 28 a magic number?
 
rulie said:
Playing devil's advocate here - wouldn't it have been better to increase the limit of Congu handicap to 36 rather than trying to differentiate between less than 28 and greater than 28? Why is 28 a magic number?
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It's the first (tentative) step in moving to the World Handicap System. Pretty everywhere else in the world goes up to 54.

Perhaps the second really with the introduction of USGA rating for England men.
 
Reading this thread I am a bit surprised by your position, Phil, as you are normally an evangelist for handicap golf when it is discussed. What makes this any different?

Club handicaps seem a good way, as discussed, to encourage newbies into the game. It hard enough to take up but must be dispiriting if you can't even see any progress as you can't play to the current maximum handicap.
 
Years ago I was teamed up with a pair of elderly Dutch guys for a round in Portugal. They both claimed to have handicaps in the low 40's. At first I thought they were pulling my leg, but actually they were operating under the European Golf Association (EGA) handicapping system, which allows handicaps up to 54, and were able to produce handicap certificates. They really were that bad btw! :rolleyes:
 
FairwayDodger said:
Reading this thread I am a bit surprised by your position, Phil, as you are normally an evangelist for handicap golf when it is discussed. What makes this any different?

Club handicaps seem a good way, as discussed, to encourage newbies into the game. It hard enough to take up but must be dispiriting if you can't even see any progress as you can't play to the current maximum handicap.
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Because whilst I believe Handicaps are good for golf there does need to be a sensible limit

28 for me was a sensible limit - I really hope we don't go anywhere near people getting HC of 54

When it was discussed I asked why higher HC would enoucrage new players to join - they couldn't answer really.

In any discussion about why people don't play golf - how many times has the answer been about HC - is it not normally cost , attitude to the game even dress code but can't recall it ever being about HC being too low a level.
 
Old Skier said:
It's not completely up to the player, it may depend on their record and as most members weren't aware of the new rules nobody came asking.

In sorted I meant assessed the players record and discussed with the player whether they would like a club handicap of greater than 28 and inform them of the consequences.
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That’s a relief - we’re not really seeing it substantially differently! I don’t think you are disagreeing that it is entirely up to a player who is eligible for a Club Handicap whether to opt for it or not, but talking of establishing that eligibility.

There is certainly a job to be done to explain the new set-up to members and determine what to provide for this new category. At my club, after we get formal approval from our Board to implement the Club Handicap and develop competitive opportunities, we’ll have to do a good job on explaining first and then spend some time on consultation about possible competitions.
 
Colin L said:
There is certainly a job to be done to explain the new set-up to members and determine what to provide for this new category. At my club, after we get formal approval from our Board to implement the Club Handicap and develop competitive opportunities, we’ll have to do a good job on explaining first and then spend some time on consultation about possible competitions.
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Which is a good approach. We have been wary with new members and have found that once you explain the possible down side they are happy with a 28 or better and we then look at them again if they are on the ever increasing .1 merry go round as I presume the exception increase built into the software will offer advise even for +28s.

Interesting times and one I still feel CONGU officials have not fully thought through.
 
I believe the reasoning was less about attracting new players but more about keeping old players. I understand there was significant evidence of numbers leaving clubs (and the game) because they couldn't keep up with their handicaps.
 
rulefan said:
I believe the reasoning was less about attracting new players but more about keeping old players. I understand there was significant evidence of numbers leaving clubs (and the game) because they couldn't keep up with their handicaps.
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That is our experience so far. Four responses received, 3 elderly gentlemen - who play regularly and always occupy the bottom of the pile - accepted and 1 not so old - who had his first handicap very recently - declined on the grounds that he was determined to reach 28 or lower.
 
Sorry but I believe that to be false - no surveys of clubs were carried out so not sure how they would find that out and we have had over 200 people leave the club over the last 3 years - none because of HC issues
 
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