Handicap Lost v Inactive

[Deleted member 16999]

Can someone explain the difference between a “Lost” Handicap and an “inactive” Handicap please.

 

[duncan mackie]

Not really....

Handicaps are either (c) competition, or they aren't. You might consider the aren't to be inactive, non-competition or any other name but the status is that it's a handicap, but not a competition handicap, as defined.
Clubs have their own rules relating to what can, and can't be played, competed in etc based on the status (Terms of Competition).
When you leave a club you lose any handicap status, consider it 'on ice, suspended (although that has a specific meaning as well and can apply when you remain a member as well). This on ice status ceases after 1 year outside membership, after which you need to be allocated a new handicap.

 

[Deleted member 16999]

So if a person fails to keep his handicap due to medical reasons in the previous 12 months, does a committee have the option of keeping a handicap active or have they no choice but to remove the (c) and insist the player submits 3 qualifying cards to reinstate the (c)?

 

[rulefan]

So if a person fails to keep his handicap due to medical reasons in the previous 12 months, does a committee have the option of keeping a handicap active or have they no choice but to remove the (c) and insist the player submits 3 qualifying cards to reinstate the (c)?

The term 'active' or 'inactive' used to ave a special meaning. The term is now 'Competition' or 'non-competition'.

If a person does not return 3 or more qualifying scores in a year, he does not lose his handicap, it simply becomes 'non-competition' and the 'c' is removed. Once the player returns 3 qualifying scores it is reinstated.

Handicap Committees have discretionary powers in very exceptional circumstances to allow the retention of a ‘Competition Handicap’ where ill health or injury has precluded a player from returning the specified number of scores in accordance with Clause 25.1.

Once the requisite returns have been entered into the player’s Handicap Record the Competition Status shall be re-instated subject to a review by the Handicap Committee as detailed in Clause 26.4

 

[jim8flog]

In the CONGU areas a lost handicap is when someone ceases to be a member of a CONGU affiliated club.

Several years ago you lost your handicap when you failed to return 3 qualifying scores in a year, it was then replaced by active/ inactive, (through complaint about the terminology) it was then changed to competition status.

 

[rulefan]

Several years ago you lost your handicap when you failed to return 3 qualifying scores in a year.

Are you sure? I have no record of that in my files.

 

[jim8flog]

Are you sure? I have no record of that in my files.

It is only a memory for me long before I got involved with handicaps.

Maybe it was a club ruling that we had in place before active/inactive

If not what was the system before inactive/ active came in to force.

I am sure I remember something about needing 3 qualifying score before that time. I remember going in to a bit of panic once after being out due to injury for nearly a year.

 

[duncan mackie]

It is only a memory for me long before I got involved with handicaps.

Maybe it was a club ruling that we had in place before active/inactive

If not what was the system before inactive/ active came in to force.

I am sure I remember something about needing 3 qualifying score before that time. I remember going in to a bit of panic once after being out due to injury for nearly a year.

Prior to the UHS, which won't be relevant to the specific question but is pertinent to the wider element, there were neither Q scores nor active etc. Handicaps were basically for life and lapsed on leaving a club - the relatively violent adjustments to form meant that any time based drift was quickly resolved anyway!
When the UHS came in with Q scores and it's softer focus on form and fixation (can I say that?) with underlying capability I though that the concept of active and inactive came with it? This subsequently, and for somewhat bizarre (to me) reasons, morphed into either (c) or simply not (c) (but not anything else) and will shortly die...
Some clubs had rules requiring a minimum of 3 returned scores in a 12 month period for their trophy comps before the UHS which had a dual function - an element of handicap refreshing and a recognition of members actively involved with the club (as opposed to turning up for the club championship once a year and never seen again). Those more focused on the latter retained such rules into the UHS era, some switched their rules to require an active handicap instead etc etc

 

[jim8flog]

Thanks.

I have only ever known the 0.1 etc adjustments (first handicap was in 1986).

I remember that active /inactive only came in during , roughly, the past ten years , roughly.

 

[duncan mackie]

Thanks.

I have only ever known the 0.1 etc adjustments (first handicap was in 1986).

I remember that active /inactive only came in during , roughly, the past ten years , roughly.

Depends where you were. Came in in Scotland first - around 2007 I think, then the rest added it some 3 years later. Caused a bit of a stir at the time and was accused of creating a mass exodus (from club memberships) of those who were inactive - but the reality was more around the significant other changes occurring at that time both within Golf, and UK plc.

 

[rulefan]

I took on the job of handicap chair in 2002. Certainly in England handicaps did not lapse at that time. I'm pretty sure that my CONGU manual described the system as the UHS. If it didn't it was within the next few years. I would agree with Duncan's comment re Scotland and the other unions following two or three years later. Active handicaps were introduced in England & Wales in 2010.