Inactive Handicap

[fade_away]

Morning people
A friend has just been informed that his handicap has become inactive. He has not played much this year due to work commitments and injury etc so the fact it is now inactive is fair enough. The question we have is how does he get his handicap active again. Can he just play one medal or does he have to play three medals and hand three cards in??
thanks

 

[Fyldewhite]

A handicap can only become inactive at the annual review as it is part of the "year end process" in the software. So it either has been inactive all year because he didn't do 3 qualifying scores last year or perhaps he's been told it will be inactive at this years review?
Either way it will automatically become active again when the third qualifying card is submitted next season season.

 

[chrisd]

Normally he would put in 3 signed cards. A lot of clubs allow people to play in the early season competitions to submit cards, but they would not win the competition if they put in good rounds until their inactive handicap status became active.The beauty of the system is that they never actually lose their handicap.

Chris

 

[MashieNiblick]

Hi

My handicap is currently inactive as I have been unable to play due to illness so I have had a look into this.

Best place to start is here

http://www.englishgolfunion.org/showpage.asp?code=0001000200090017

And check the Active/Inactive Specification and the FAQs

As I understand it you have to submit 3 cards to make the handicap active again.

These have to be "qualifing scores". This would normally I think mean from a qualifying competition but if your friend is unable to play the required number of medals he can submit Supplementary Cards, which it would seem would count as "qualifing scores". There are certain rules about submitting "Supplementary Scores" which are also on the EGU site here

http://www.englishgolfunion.org/showpage.asp?code=0001000200090011

Fyldewhite, I know you're good on this kind of thing and I am interested in when the handicap becomes inactive as the EGU specification refers to submitting 3 scores in a calendar year. I submitted scores in 2009, but not this year. I was surprised that HowdidIdo is showing my h/c as inactive now as theoretically I could still submit 3 cards in 2010. I assumed it was just the software noting I hadn't submitted three cards in the last 12 months but given the calendar year thing it seems my h/c shouldn't become "inactive" until 1st Jan 2011. It's academic in my case as I won't be submitting cards this year, but maybe not in other peoples, like fadeaway's friend. Surely his h/c shouldn't become inactive until 1st Jan either. Any thoughts?

Overall it's a good scheme as it does, as chrisd says, mean you keep your handicap and it doesn't lapse.

 

[viscount17]

I thought it was three cards in the 12 months since the last was submitted.

also a qualifying card doesn't need to be in competition but played on the qualifying course in the same way as your initial handicap cards. in our case, card annotated beforehand, marked and signed by an 'active' member.

 

[Fyldewhite]

I've re-posted this after looking more at some of the links. The FAQ does make it clear that it's a calendar year ie <3 in 2009 = inactive 2010 until 3 scores submitted.

However all this is still relatively new and only came into full force last January so exactly how it works year on year remains to be seen. My understanding though is that it should still be part of the year end routine. The main thing is to note that to get it active again you have to do as above with qualifying and/or supplementary scores.

 

[MashieNiblick]

Thanks Fyldewhite. You were right that it's a year end thing and it does seem that a h/c shouldn't become inactive till the start of the calendar year. Strange that fade_away's friend and I have both been given the "i" before the end of the year. Maybe he could check with his club. In my case it's academic.

As you say though, whatever the situation, fade_away's friend needs to get 3 qualifying cards in and that'll get his h/c active again.

 

[Imurg]

Am I right in thinking that from next year the number of cards increases to 7? Heard this around the club a few weeks back. Not that its going to worry me but some might struggle.

 

[viscount17]

hope not or I'll be struggling. that would mean I'd have to play every monthly medal and hope to not be away or ill. if that is the case then a move to a club with a better (ie drawn) weekend qualifier policy may become a must.

 

[Smiffy]

Would an inactive handicap certificate be acceptable to play a course on a Society day? It's not as if you are playing in an official competition.
Obviously if it's about 5 years out of date I doubt it, but a fairly recent one?

 

[chrisd]

Would an inactive handicap certificate be acceptable to play a course on a Society day? It's not as if you are playing in an official competition.
Obviously if it's about 5 years out of date I doubt it, but a fairly recent one?

I would say certainly yes, it would still be more accurate than most of the El Banditos I come across in societies

Chris

 

[Smiffy]

I would say certainly yes, it would still be more accurate than most of the El Banditos I come across in societies
Chris

I meant from the pro shops point of view Chris.
Some clubs say they require to see handicap certificates (Beau Desert next year for instance) although in my experience I have never been asked for one.
Would say a 2 year old inactive certificate prove to them that you have some idea of how the game is played!

 

[The_LHC]

I would say certainly yes, it would still be more accurate than most of the El Banditos I come across in societies

I meant from the pro shops point of view Chris.
Some clubs say they require to see handicap certificates (Beau Desert next year for instance) although in my experience I have never been asked for one.
Would say a 2 year old inactive certificate prove to them that you have some idea of how the game is played!

I've often wondered this myself, I've had an official handicap but I've never had a certificate, the club I was a member of certainly never issued me with one. There was someone here asking for people to play in Devon with but his home club (East Devon I think) website states handicap certificates MUST be shown, so I haven't bothered following it up.

It does annoy me a little, I've been playing since I was 4 years old, alright I'm only off 14 but 5 minutes watching me in a practice net will show you I know how to play the game, and a damn site better than most members at these clubs, so why isn't that good enough?

Alright I admit I probably will take a chunk out of at least one tee, but most people do that...

 

[chrisd]

I would say certainly yes, it would still be more accurate than most of the El Banditos I come across in societies
Chris

I meant from the pro shops point of view Chris.
Some clubs say they require to see handicap certificates (Beau Desert next year for instance) although in my experience I have never been asked for one.
Would say a 2 year old inactive certificate prove to them that you have some idea of how the game is played!

I have only ever had to show a h/cap certificate once and that was at Wentworth, I have voucher for Sunningdale and understand that I will need one there. Most clubs are so deperate for money I wouldn't think that a certificate is at all necessary, but if it were, an inactive one would be fine - as you say Smiffy, it does indicate that you arn't going to mutilate their course or consign the lady members to a 6 hour round


Chris

 

[viscount17]

I would say certainly yes, it would still be more accurate than most of the El Banditos I come across in societies

I meant from the pro shops point of view Chris.
Some clubs say they require to see handicap certificates (Beau Desert next year for instance) although in my experience I have never been asked for one.
Would say a 2 year old inactive certificate prove to them that you have some idea of how the game is played!

I've often wondered this myself, I've had an official handicap but I've never had a certificate, the club I was a member of certainly never issued me with one. There was someone here asking for people to play in Devon with but his home club (East Devon I think) website states handicap certificates MUST be shown, so I haven't bothered following it up.

It does annoy me a little, I've been playing since I was 4 years old, alright I'm only off 14 but 5 minutes watching me in a practice net will show you I know how to play the game, and a damn site better than most members at these clubs, so why isn't that good enough?

Alright I admit I probably will take a chunk out of at least one tee, but most people do that...

which would you do as a pro - spend 5 mins watching you practice, then 5 for next guy, and the next or 20 secs checking a certificate? which sells more mars bars?

 

[Smiffy]

I have only ever had to show a h/cap certificate once and that was at Wentworth

In 24 years of playing I have only ever had to show mine once...the Old Course at Vilamoura.
Played many, many championship courses... The Old Course, Carnoustie, Woburn, Royal St Georges, Walton Heath, to name but a few and have never been asked for it.
The only pro who looked a little suspicious was the one at Chartham Park recently...but once he saw my white chinos he knew I was a good golfer so he let me go.

 

[chrisd]

but once he saw my white chinos he knew I was a good golfer so he let me go.

When he saw the pee stain it confirmed that you are a patchy golfer?


Chris

 

[richart]

First time i had to show a certicate was at Parkstone a few weeks ago. One of our group forgot his, but was able to download off 'howdidido'.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

A lot of the top end clubs can be hit and miss. I know some that have needed certificates for Swinley, Wentworth, Sunningdale and Walton Heath and others that have turned up, handed over their cash and gone out without a quibble. I guess the rule of thumb should be to take it with you (active or not) and then you've got it if required

 

[The_LHC]

I would say certainly yes, it would still be more accurate than most of the El Banditos I come across in societies

I meant from the pro shops point of view Chris.
Some clubs say they require to see handicap certificates (Beau Desert next year for instance) although in my experience I have never been asked for one.
Would say a 2 year old inactive certificate prove to them that you have some idea of how the game is played!

I've often wondered this myself, I've had an official handicap but I've never had a certificate, the club I was a member of certainly never issued me with one. There was someone here asking for people to play in Devon with but his home club (East Devon I think) website states handicap certificates MUST be shown, so I haven't bothered following it up.

It does annoy me a little, I've been playing since I was 4 years old, alright I'm only off 14 but 5 minutes watching me in a practice net will show you I know how to play the game, and a damn site better than most members at these clubs, so why isn't that good enough?

Alright I admit I probably will take a chunk out of at least one tee, but most people do that...

which would you do as a pro - spend 5 mins watching you practice, then 5 for next guy, and the next or 20 secs checking a certificate? which sells more mars bars?

You know what I mean, it doesn't have to be that long, the point is because my club doesn't issue certificates I couldn't play these courses and yet I'd do far less damage than most of their members.

And probably repair twice as many pitch marks as the members do...