More about Handicaps !!

[Barney]

I started golf around three years ago and joined a club straight away.
No pity please but I played alone 90 percent of the time and never really got to mix with a lot of other members(probably because the majority of them were pompous old 2@'s). Due to this I was never able to submit three cards to get a handicap.
When I join my new club next month with a couple of friends we will be playing together.
Am I right in thinking that we will be able to sign each others cards to get three submitted and also am I right in thinking that every round you have at the club does not go towards your handicap and you can only adjust it when you play in club comps !!??!

 

[USER1999]

You can only adjust during official comps. You can submit cards outside of this, called general play, but the h/cap secretary can, and probably will ignore them.

You may find your mates can't mark your cards until they have official club handicaps too.

 

[Macster]

I'm not sure how they would view 3 'new' members signing each others cards for new handicaps, so you may need to check with them.

And yes, generally, your H/c would only come down in Competetive play.
(unless you beat the Secretary 7 & 6 in a matchplay Comp, and have clearly played 7/8 under !)

 

[Twire]

I think the person marking the card has to have a reconised handicap....better check this with your club secretary.

Your handicap will only change when playing qualifiying competitions which should be marked qualifiers on the entry sheet.

The only other way they can change is with rule *19* which is a general play rule.


EDIT Could'nt find rule 19 but there is a general play rule where your handicap can be reduced.

 

[Fore]

Hi Barney,
i just posted this on HTL's thread about handing in his cards.

"my club allows you to put in 3 non competition cards, signed by another member, to get your handicap started and that allows you to take part in competitions but not to take the winnings for your first three competitions. Then once you have taken part in three proper competitions and handed those cards in they adjust your handicap under rule 19, after which you can then take any winnings".

 

[Barney]

So by the sounds of things we will have to find a.n.other to make up a four ball for three rounds so we can submit three cards. Im sure that wont be a problem.

Thanks

 

[Mike_j_golf]

Hi,
I think a lot of clubs have people that will play with new mwmbers to help them get their handicaps and as far as i know the person dosen't have to be a member of your club just hold a handicap.
Regards michael

 

[Fore]

I've been told they can be non handicap members and it does not even matter if they are Juniors. It's just to get the ball rolling.

 

[Herbie]

I started golf around three years ago and joined a club straight away.
No pity please but I played alone 90 percent of the time and never really got to mix with a lot of other members(probably because the majority of them were pompous old 2@'s). Due to this I was never able to submit three cards to get a handicap.
When I join my new club next month with a couple of friends we will be playing together.
Am I right in thinking that we will be able to sign each others cards to get three submitted and also am I right in thinking that every round you have at the club does not go towards your handicap and you can only adjust it when you play in club comps !!??!

It really depends on the club and what practice they adopt for mew members initial h/c. If you join with mates togeather they may well accept your cards, some (if they like the cut of your jib) may accept your cards unsigned, other clubs are strict on h/c policy and some clubs have outrageous methods. generally they have to be signed by a member of the club. If you held a h/c at another club sometimes a simple phone call between pros is enough, it all boils down to the club itself and how they do things.

Every round you have at the club is only used if you hand cards in with the notification as to what the cards are for, eg. h/c assessment. The only cards used otherwise are those handed in from comps, even then some clubs do not use stableford records unless there is obvious need. Hand any card in and it can be used if the club chooses to but they dont often bother with many for logistical reasons.

 

[kingshankly]

will the 3 cards still count if winter rules is is play?

 

[Twire]

will the 3 cards still count if winter rules is is play?

They should do. We have qualifiers all year round, and we are on winter rules at the moment.

 

[ball_basher]

it's unlikely that you will be able to sign each others cards , if not try putting a notice up on the board , surely you will get a few offers

 

[Imurg]

I've put plenty of General Play cards in and been cut.
But you won't get put up 0.1 (will you Dave? (RGUK!).

 

[viscount17]

have a word with the handicap secretary. a lot of clubs will have members willing to play a card round with you, and as has been said, usually it has to be a member with an existing club handicap.

mine also requires that if you are playing a 'subsidiary round' to count for handicap you have to sign the book beforehand and use a stamped card.

 

[CarpeDiem]

It is nearly impossable to get cut on general play at my club unless its a gross 73 or something.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

I had to put cards in with members that had official handicaps and had themselves put a minimum of three qualifying cards (basically the had to have played in three monthly medals or stablefords). The fact that they were all mates that I had know for years didn't matter.

 

[Imurg]

At mine, you have to put in a card that will cut you at least 1 shot. So for a category 4 player if you're 3 below SSS you can get cut 1.2. So a category 2 needs to be 5 below SSS. Not easy when off the yellows our SSS is 4 under par!

 

[SammmeBee]

It is nearly impossable to get cut on general play at my club unless its a gross 73 or something.

There is no such thing now as getting cut on general play.....

 

[SammmeBee]

From CONGU on obtaining a handicap:

"Having satisfied the requirements for membership of a Club, CONGU® requires that to get a handicap a player must submit cards from at least three rounds, marked by a person approved by the Club. The rounds must be played at that Club over 18 holes of, preferably, a measured course. The Club will then adjust the returned scores, so that a lady never records more than 3 over par and a man never more than 2 over par on any individual hole. The cards are then assessed and the club allocates a CONGU® handicap based on the amount the lowest score returned exceeds the Standard Scratch Score of the course played (after taking into account other factors it considers relevant).

When the club considers it appropriate to the player’s ability, a lower CONGU® handicap than that indicated by the scores may be allocated; particularly where the player has previously held an approved handicap. In exceptional circumstances a club may allocate a higher handicap than indicated by the scores returned. Once the Club has allocated a CONGU® handicap to a player, it becomes the player’s Home Club for handicap purposes and it is responsible for administering and maintaining that CONGU® Handicap fully in accordance with the requirements of the System.

Although not specifically required by the System the Club may require the player to demonstrate a knowledge of the Rules of Golf and the etiquette of the game before allocating a handicap."

 

[CarpeDiem]

As a Junior I reckon that you should be able to. For example in the summer hols, I play near enough every day and can't get cut, unless comps of course, but thats a mere percentage of the time I spend playing. So to perform on those set dates throughout that large amount of time is hard, as you would know? But I think that they should have an exception for Juniors for this reason. However not being cut also annoys more senior members at my club, as restrict Juniors from playing in open comps because we keep winning everything because we become so practised at playing of a certain handicap, which as Juniors is normally 20+ or so.

If that makes sense?