How reliable are handicap websites?

[philly169]

Hi guys,

I was thinking today, I am not a member of a club yet therefor do not have an official CONGU handicap.

How reliable are websites like golfshake and mulligan+, and are they valid for open competitions?

Cheers

 

[beggsy]

not that i know of they arnt as they could easily fixed open comps that i have entered will only accept congu

 

[Fyldewhite]

Nearly all opens will require an official CONGU handicap to enter. Some charity events will maybe accept unofficial handicaps (society or websites such as you mention etc) but generally these are meaningless in "proper" competition golf.

 

[philly169]

I did think as much.

I'm looking to get an official handicap, but this requires being a member of a club - i'm hoping to join one in June, but until then I guess I'm pretty stuck.

Can you only get a membership by playing in competitions or can you get one playing with other members?

 

[Parmo]

That said, I would question some comp sec's

 

[beggsy]

you get your official handicap after putting 3 cards in then you must maintain it by playing in so many club comps

 

[mulliganplus]

Sites like Mulligan+ (which I do run so just to make sure everyone is aware) mainly offer handicaps to non club golfers.

The Opens are often limited to golfers who are club members as they are reduced priced opportunities to play.

I would like to see the whole system shaken up to be honest so that golfers do not need to be a member of a club to get an official handicap - like it is in France, where a yearly fee to the Union (roughly £75) means that you can play in any competition anywhere.

With a central database of handicaps, the club where you are playing just keys in your ID and then at the end of the competition, your round is updated immediately. You can play at any club, in any competition and keep your handicap maintained.

At present, its what we offer to golfers who do not want to pay joining fees and membership fees - the nomad golfer like myself.

 

[DCB]

The Opens are often limited to golfers who are club members as they are reduced priced opportunities to play.

What's price got to do with it ?

Anyone with an official handicap can enter any relevant handicap open they wish. They may be balloted out, but they can enter knowing they have a handicap issued by a club under the CONGU system.

Cornflake Packet Handicaps are not official handicaps ... so... are therefore not acceptable

It's got nothing to do with price

 

[HomerJSimpson]

CONGU is the recognised "standard" for handicapping for most competitions and so it may make it hard to enter Opens. If you are joining a club soon anyway, bide your time and then whack three qualifiers in asap and get into as many medals and stablefords as you can and get it down. A lot of over subscribed opens tend to ballot higher handicaps out so the lower the better really