Old Course Handicap Certificates.

[Duckster]

Bit of advice required.

Later on this year (late July), me and the bro-in-law, plus families, are off up to the golfing mecca of St Andrews for our 40ths.

We have tee times on the New and Jubilee already sorted and are going to be entering the ballot for the Old (or even queue up at 4am if it comes down to it).

I'm going to be getting my handicap printed off a week or so before we go. However, the bro-in-law for one reason or another is not renewing his membership next month. His plan is to get a cert printed now and take that up. My question is do they have a time limit on them? WIll one printed in Jan be ok for use in July?

I've looked through the St Andews website and it just says about presenting a handicap certificate.

 

[Smiffy]

I played at the Old years ago and didn't have to show a certificate.
A lot of clubs say you need one, but never ask.
Although having said that, I would say that your BIL's would be perfectly okay if asked to produce

 

[Andy]

I've played the Old now about 7 times and never once been asked for a certificate. If you get on you'll see some sights that def don't play regular golf. Oh and take a flask and sandwiches lol

 

[Blue in Munich]

I've only played it once and it was a few years ago, but I was required to show a handicap certificate and the American in front of me in the queue got tossed out of the queue. I'd personally take one from January rather than not take one at all, but maybe that's just me.

 

[Smiffy]

The American in front of me got tossed off in the queue.

We were just offered a free pencil and a handful of tees

 

[Duckster]

I've only played it once and it was a few years ago, but I was required to show a handicap certificate and the American in front of me in the queue got tossed out of the queue. I'd personally take one from January rather than not take one at all, but maybe that's just me.

He'll definately be taking one from Jan, we're only worried if they say that they need one issued within the last month or so before we play.

 

[ArnoldArmChewer]

I played the Old Course 3 years ago, whilst I had my h/c cert with me I don't remember being asked to show it.

 

[Pin-seeker]

We were just offered a free pencil and a handful of tees

:rofl::rofl:

 

[Smiffy]

:rofl::rofl:

 

[louise_a]

As the handicap year runs from Jan to Jan one with the current year on ought to be ok.

 

[Crow]

I've never played it and my experience was limited to watching a few groups coming up the last and teeing off on the first, the impression I got was that standard of play is not an issue, watching groups tee off from the first there were some shockers (which may have been down to nerves at the sense of the occasion).

Some Japanese coming up the 18th must have taken over 6 shots to reach the green.

On the first tee were a group of Americans, who didn't look great but could sure talk the game, one guy hooked it so badly that it was up against the railings on the 18th hole, the next guy stepped up and hooked his OB beyond the railings of the 18th, neither of them were ejected from the course.

The impression I got was that as long as you paid your money, were kitted out correctly and had some vague knowledge of rules and etiquette then you were good to go.

 

[anotherdouble]

I played it October just gone and I showed mine

 

[Jimaroid]

They do ask for them but not every single one gets checked. You could phone the links trust and ask, they're pretty helpful, but I'd say you'll be fine if that's the most recent you have. They're only looking for competence, not active competition status after all.

For Scots folks we have the Scottish Golf App which will show CDH info and that is acceptable to them. Don't know if the EGU do a similar App/service?

 

[Liverbirdie]

I was asked in the October, about 3 years ago, as was the guy in front.

I did the just queue up option, and got there for about 7.00 am (first light was 8.00 am) and I was about 6th in the queue. The first fella had got there at 3.00. He teed off at 8.00, I teed off at 9 ish.

Summer may be a different kettle of fish though, and there may be more in the queue, or queuing from earlier.

 

[richart]

I was asked in the October, about 3 years ago, as was the guy in front.

I did the just queue up option, and got there for about 7.00 am (first light was 8.00 am) and I was about 6th in the queue. The first fella had got there at 3.00. He teed off at 8.00, I teed off at 9 ish.

Summer may be a different kettle of fish though, and there may be more in the queue, or queuing from earlier.

I think they ask for certificates from anyone that doesn't look like a golfer.

I have been always been asked.

 

[Liverbirdie]

I think they ask for certificates from anyone that doesn't look like a golfer.

I have been always been asked.

Just cos I was wearing trackieeeees, traineeeeeeeees and an hawaiian shirt, doesn't make me any less of a golfer.

I also nearly pulled it out of bounds (left) when playing the first......but ended up birdieing it.:thup:

 

[matt71]

When we went last year I gave him my name and the missus then just showed him the certificate and he checked his list and checked my name off!

it was literately a 2second job I don't think he even looked at who it was issued for !

 

[matt71]

I've never played it and my experience was limited to watching a few groups coming up the last and teeing off on the first, the impression I got was that standard of play is not an issue, watching groups tee off from the first there were some shockers (which may have been down to nerves at the sense of the occasion).

Some Japanese coming up the 18th must have taken over 6 shots to reach the green.

On the first tee were a group of Americans, who didn't look great but could sure talk the game, one guy hooked it so badly that it was up against the railings on the 18th hole, the next guy stepped up and hooked his OB beyond the railings of the 18th, neither of them were ejected from the course.

The impression I got was that as long as you paid your money, were kitted out correctly and had some vague knowledge of rules and etiquette then you were good to go.

funny you should mention the 1st tee:

an american can lady teed off and hit right under the grandstands that were being built, she was close to tears when the starter says

"you lucky so and so, you get a free relief from under there"

que barrels of laughter and if she went !

my turn next and I smashed my drive for miles however straight at the bridge and bounced into the water lol oh well

 

[Junior]

Played the New and the Castle course last Summer and wasn't asked.

 

[rulefan]

His plan is to get a cert printed now and take that up. My question is do they have a time limit on them? WIll one printed in Jan be ok for use in July?

Although they have a date on them it doesn't show if it is still current.
I doubt that they will have access to the England CDH so won't be able to confirm its currency.

However they are very unlikely to ask for a cert and even less likely to bother with the status of the handicap itself.