Handicap manipulation - how to address

[wjemather]

Sounds to me like someone is going to be very disappointed in March/April when their anticipated "updates" are in the form of a memo.

 

[Dunesman]

Can you please post a link to these clear references?

1.
"The Mauritius Golf Federation (MGF) wrote to the Handicapping and Course Rating Manager of R&A in January 2025. We were ... informed that a review of the WHS Rules is underway, and updates are expected by the end of March or early April 2025. MGF has...taken the decision to temporarily revert to the original method of submitting General Play (social) scores until we receive the revised RULES from WHS."

https://www.mgf.mu/uploads/mauritius/File/misc/revised_guidelines_for_submission_of_general_play_social_scores.pdf

2.
TG "In his final interview before departing the R&A, Martin Slumbers....why more changes may be coming to the World Handicap System."
MS : "We invited 40 of our most significant golfing affiliates to St Andrews last week and 37 turned up. They had a very good and extensive discussion around real feedback, not anecdotal feedback, from around the world. I am sure – and I know – that will lead to ways in which we can improve it."

R&A reveal more changes may be coming to the World Handicap System

R&A reveal more changes may be coming to the World Handicap System

www.todays-golfer.com

 

[doublebogey7]

1.
"The Mauritius Golf Federation (MGF) wrote to the Handicapping and Course Rating Manager of R&A in January 2025. We were ... informed that a review of the WHS Rules is underway, and updates are expected by the end of March or early April 2025. MGF has...taken the decision to temporarily revert to the original method of submitting General Play (social) scores until we receive the revised RULES from WHS."

https://www.mgf.mu/uploads/mauritius/File/misc/revised_guidelines_for_submission_of_general_play_social_scores.pdf

2.
TG "In his final interview before departing the R&A, Martin Slumbers....why more changes may be coming to the World Handicap System."
MS : "We invited 40 of our most significant golfing affiliates to St Andrews last week and 37 turned up. They had a very good and extensive discussion around real feedback, not anecdotal feedback, from around the world. I am sure – and I know – that will lead to ways in which we can improve it."

R&A reveal more changes may be coming to the World Handicap System

R&A reveal more changes may be coming to the World Handicap System

www.todays-golfer.com

Thank you, but neither of those state that there will be revision to the rules of handicapping this year. Sorry moly that they are expecting an update on the review.

 

[Dunesman]

Thank you, but neither of those state that there will be revision to the rules of handicapping this year. Sorry moly that they are expecting an update on the review.

The MGF certainly slants that way.
MGF, and we dont have the source wording from the R&A, certainly seem under the impression that March or April is the expected time for an actual change of rules. Not just a progress update on their review. Their "temporary" reversal of their policy appears based on that short duration of a couple of months. And not temporary pending changes that might come in in 2028.

The Slumbers one is not so explicit. But neverthless shows something is up, and somewhat corroborates the MGF information. Were it groundless, there would have been no mention, or Slumbers would have repeated - WHS will be reviewed every for years, too early to say what might change for 2028, but we monitor, listen to stakeholders, and will modify at that time if warrented, etc etc. Not confirming that changes are afoot.

 

[wjemather]

The MGF letter (in a sentence conveniently omitted from the quote above) makes it clear that "updates" does not refer to a revision to the rules, but to an update on progress of the review.

• "WHS will also be looking into how the above issues could be addressed in the next revision of Rules."

And all Martin Slumbers confirmed is that WHS (like every handicap system before it) is under continuous review and development, and detailed some of the things that are going into that.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Sorry, got confused. You mentioned "away from home" GP scores, I focused on the away from home.

But is away from home not a red herring? Surely if your GP scores are at home, they still not help qualify you for competitions. You simply need 8 competition scores over the last year, home or away. You can have as many GP scores as you like, home or away. So, you could have 8 competition scores in the last year, and 100 GP scores (even away from home), and you still qualify for board comps?

As a member I need 8 qualifying scores in the preceding 12months - that’s the basic criteria for entering any board comp…these could be 8 GP cards at my own ‘home’ course. GP cards on my record for ‘away’ rounds do not count towards the 8 (though obviously they count towards my HI). To enter my club champs I need at least 4 of my 8 to be comps played at my home club.

 

[badgergm]

Not as I understand it. Its only from this year, and is legal under WHS, but fundamentally reveals, that like EG valuing competition scores more highly than GP ones for its competitions, Ireland doesnt trust handicaps for entry to its either and so is applying a reduction to handicaps according to previous results in those competitions, to determine entry eligibility now. Mauritius just went too offline, and so are pausing their rule until, presumably, the R&A legalises it or solves the problem of GP scores some other way that also satisfies Mauritius but legalises it for everyone.

So clubs doing their own little fixes. Country associations doing their own thing. For a one world system, it doesnt give an image of buy-in and trust in WHS.

No, it applied before this year. And unless I’m going mad, the Low HI is used not just for eligibility but for some competitions is also used to calculate Course Handicap and hence Playing Handicap. See Sections D and E of the Golf Ireland handbook. I don’t really understand how it fits with WHS rules.

 

[D-S]

Following on from the other thread re the HC ‘draconian’ 3 shot cut where it was suggested that the player just puts in several GP scores to dilute and quickly expunge the cut (as the round involved was an aberrant one off). This was called out by some as it would be obvious handicap manipulation and ‘dealt with’ by the HC.
Assuming these would all be genuine cards, playing to best of ability, to the rules etc. and were merely a change of behaviour. I.e just playing singles instead of team or match play format with mates or putting cards in on away trips whereas that wasn’t normally done before. Where is the line re manipulation? How can the HC tell? If they are genuine cards how can that be a problem?

 

[D-S]

Further to my post above, if a player who normally doesn’t put cards in in winter and normally doesn’t do GP cards just plays in comps in summer but feels their index doesn’t represent their form so he/she decides to put 20 GP cards in January, February and March on a parkland course whilst the course is playing very long due to wet ground, low temperatures and the ground conditions are not as good as summer. Is this manipulation?

 

[wjemather]

Player Responsibilities. In order to comply with the requirements of the Rules of Handicapping, a player is expected to:

1. Act with integrity by following the Rules of Handicapping and to refrain from using, or circumventing, the Rules of Handicapping for the purpose of gaining an unfair advantage.
2. Have only one Handicap Index from a single scoring record, which is managed by the player’s home club in accordance with the Rules of Handicapping.
   Note: This Handicap Index will apply elsewhere, including at all other golf clubs of which the player is a member.
3. Ensure each golf club of which they are a member knows the details of:
   • All other golf clubs that they are a member of, and
   • Which golf club that they have designated to be their home club.
4. Ensure that, prior to playing a round in an authorized format of play, they:
   • Know their current Handicap Index
   • Inform the Handicap Committee or the Committee in charge of the competition of any discrepancies with their Handicap Index and provide details of any outstanding scores yet to be submitted or posted to their scoring record, and
   • Know the holes where handicap strokes are to be given or received.
5. Attempt to make the best score possible at each hole.
6. Where applicable, ensure all acceptable scores are submitted for handicap purposes in order to provide reasonable evidence of their demonstrated ability. This includes scores from outside the player’s home jurisdiction. Acceptable scores should be submitted:
   • As soon as possible after the round is completed and before midnight on the day of play (local time), and
   • In the correct chronological order.
7. Provide any new golf club with the full details of their previous playing history, Handicap Index held, memberships and any other information relevant to their golfing ability.
8. Play by the Rules of Golf.
9. Certify the scores of other players.

 

[D-S]

The question still remains - is putting more cards in than otherwise would have been the case 'gaining an unfair advantage'?

 

[clubchamp98]

The question still remains - is putting more cards in than otherwise would have been the case 'gaining an unfair advantage'?

I can’t see how it’s gaining an advantage as that option is avaliable to everyone.

Or it should be but due to conditions in the UK that’s not always possible!

 

[SteveJay]

How about my situation? We suspend GP cards (and qualifying comps) through winter as we are off the fairways. I have 3 good (low) qualifying scores which will drop off when i eventually put in my next 3 qualifying cards, when the ability to do so recommences, probably late March.

Unlike some, I continually strive to lower my HC with the aim of getting to single figures (before i'm too old ).

If I was playing well and put in 3 or 4 GP cards at the start of the season, to try to negate the likely increase from those good scores falling off, would this be also considered manipulation, or is it really only a one way street?

 

[Dunesman]

How about my situation? We suspend GP cards (and qualifying comps) through winter as we are off the fairways. I have 3 good (low) qualifying scores which will drop off when i eventually put in my next 3 qualifying cards, when the ability to do so recommences, probably late March.

Unlike some, I continually strive to lower my HC with the aim of getting to single figures (before i'm too old ).

If I was playing well and put in 3 or 4 GP cards at the start of the season, to try to negate the likely increase from those good scores falling off, would this be also considered manipulation, or is it really only a one way street?

It is a one way street. One can go out to try and get ones HI down, but not try to get it up.
But its a moot point really. Getting it down is classed as trying to play your best. Try to get it up is classed as not trying to play your best.
So WHS has inbuilt, that you are always trying to get it down. Which is reasonable.

 

[wjemather]

The question still remains - is putting more cards in than otherwise would have been the case 'gaining an unfair advantage'?

"using, or circumventing, the Rules of Handicapping for the purpose of..."

Seeking to circumvent a decision of the Handicap Committee (bypassing the appeals process) very clearly falls under that.

If a player feels their HI doesn't reflect their ability they should speak to their Handicap Committee; they can also request a review, for which the committee may ask for a number of (recent) GP scores as supporting evidence. However, there is very little reason for someone to be submitting an unusual glut of GP scores - with the stated intention of increasing their HI, because some good scores are conveniently due to fall out of the calculation - other than to use the rules to gain an unfair advantage.

 

[Dunesman]

Player Responsibilities. In order to comply with the requirements of the Rules of Handicapping, a player is expected to:

1. Act with integrity by following the Rules of Handicapping and to refrain from using, or circumventing, the Rules of Handicapping for the purpose of gaining an unfair advantage.
2. Have only one Handicap Index from a single scoring record, which is managed by the player’s home club in accordance with the Rules of Handicapping.
   Note: This Handicap Index will apply elsewhere, including at all other golf clubs of which the player is a member.
3. Ensure each golf club of which they are a member knows the details of:
   • All other golf clubs that they are a member of, and
   • Which golf club that they have designated to be their home club.
4. Ensure that, prior to playing a round in an authorized format of play, they:
   • Know their current Handicap Index
   • Inform the Handicap Committee or the Committee in charge of the competition of any discrepancies with their Handicap Index and provide details of any outstanding scores yet to be submitted or posted to their scoring record, and
   • Know the holes where handicap strokes are to be given or received.
5. Attempt to make the best score possible at each hole.
6. Where applicable, ensure all acceptable scores are submitted for handicap purposes in order to provide reasonable evidence of their demonstrated ability. This includes scores from outside the player’s home jurisdiction. Acceptable scores should be submitted:
   • As soon as possible after the round is completed and before midnight on the day of play (local time), and
   • In the correct chronological order.
7. Provide any new golf club with the full details of their previous playing history, Handicap Index held, memberships and any other information relevant to their golfing ability.
8. Play by the Rules of Golf.
9. Certify the scores of other players.

Tbe player exampled, would still be playing tge game with full integrity. Gp cards are legal, and encouraged. The more the better, and correctly representative of form. There is no way this golfer could be sanctioned or his HI further manually adjusted simply for a rush of cards.
If the case was genuine, I would have indeed like to have seen him do it. Maybe his handicap would move really, and he would then acknowledge the 3 shot cut was entirely correct.

 

[Colin L]

The question still remains - is putting more cards in than otherwise would have been the case 'gaining an unfair advantage'?

Absolutely not - assuming the player has the integrity to play his best at all times. What it will achieve is a handicap much more accurately reflecting his/her current performance, one more fit for starting the new season with. And that has to be fairer both to the player and to everyone else.

 

[D-S]

Absolutely not - assuming the player has the integrity to play his best at all times. What it will achieve is a handicap much more accurately reflecting his/her current performance, one more fit for starting the new season with. And that has to be fairer both to the player and to everyone else.

This is my view as well but seemingly not shared by all.

If the player is trying his best, following the rules and acting with integrity surely such a behavioural change can’t be construed as manipulation? He may think his HI is wrong but he ‘risks’ decreasing, maintaining or not changing HI by suddenly submitting far more cards than he has done before.

How a Committee can prove manipulation in such a case is beyond me.

 

[wjemather]

This is my view as well but seemingly not shared by all.

If the player is trying his best, following the rules and acting with integrity surely such a behavioural change can’t be construed as manipulation? He may think his HI is wrong but he ‘risks’ decreasing, maintaining or not changing HI by suddenly submitting far more cards than he has done before.

How a Committee can prove manipulation in such a case is beyond me.

You indicated the players intentions in the questions you posed.

 

[D-S]

You indicated the players intentions in the questions you posed.

I said that the player felt that his HI did not reflect his ability but also that the rounds would be played according to the correct strictures i.e. to the best of their ability, according to the rules etc.