It’s the clubhouse drama that retains on giving and it’s been a busy few weeks for watchers of the World Handicap System.
The R&A launched an consciousness marketing campaign in Nice Britain & Eire reminding gamers of their tasks below the Guidelines of Handicapping as they appear to fight manipulation.
Govt director of governance, Grant Moir, defined why it really works barely in another way in several elements of the world and the adoption of Course Ranking minus Par within the house nations marked its first anniversary.
Our postbag has been brimming together with your views on the controversial system and we’ve had so many responses that we’re printing what you’ve stated right here…
What have you ever been saying concerning the World Handicap System?
How can we cease folks manipulating WHS?
The R&A stated golfers who intentionally manipulated their handicaps had been cheats, with Moir arguing the observe was “frankly unacceptable”.
He added the governing physique didn’t assume it was “many golfers abusing the system to try to acquire an unfair benefit” however added if solely a small quantity did it may “affect the enjoyment of competitors golf and it impacts negatively on the notion of WHS.”
Kev emailed to say: “Handicap manipulation by Normal Play Playing cards is the largest gripe at our membership. R&A are right that is “dishonest”.
“Nonetheless, a easy option to at the very least curb this could be to restrict the quantity of GPC (basic play playing cards) per participant to three in a rolling yr.
“Within the case of latest joiners seeking to get a handicap this could possibly be raised to regardless of the Membership match and handicap committee really feel acceptable. Within the case of my membership that is 5 playing cards.”
Jeff added: “Good to see the R&A taking an curiosity. I feel they might have been a bit extra pro-active by stating a number of the issues you possibly can’t do, relatively than simply asking you to play by The Guidelines of Handicapping (which I think nearly all of golfers have by no means opened).
“For instance, they might specific state that you just shouldn’t put a GP (basic play) card in from group occasions (e.g. finest 2 of three) or from 4BBB.
“I think that is being ignored each weekend because it’s a highly regarded format. It’s just about unattainable for a handicap secretary or committee to police this side.”
He continued: “The mathematical aspect of WHS handicaps is a lot better and fairer than the outdated CONGU system, it’s the benefit of GP rating enter and lack of rigour that provides the system a nasty title.”
Scott wrote: “In my opinion a handicap is meant to permit gamers to “compete” in opposition to others. An informal spherical with nothing at stake doesn’t require a handicap to create any type of equality with others.
“The final perspective of gamers is prone to differ relying on what’s at stake on the finish of the spherical. Due to this fact I consider that handicaps ought to replicate the relative skills of gamers in a aggressive state of affairs and “basic play” scores shouldn’t be included in any evaluation of handicaps.”
In the meantime, John argued: “I’ve but to talk to a seasoned golfer who says that WHS has improved {the golfing} expertise at their membership.
“Every one has stated that if they’ll’t shoot 43 factors or a web -7 in competitions, they haven’t received an opportunity of profitable something.
“What occurred to you solely play to your handicap 4 occasions a yr? It’s a automobile crash that the governing our bodies received’t maintain their palms as much as and say now we have made a mistake.”
International variations within the World Handicap System
On The NCG Golf Podcast, Grant Moir, conceded that with out regional variations to WHS discovered in several elements of the world – akin to Most Probably Rating in the US – it won’t have been attainable for the brand new system to get the buy-in it required to get off the bottom.
John stated: “All handicap authorities should gravitate in direction of adopting precisely the identical system and make attainable the recording of scores straight from wherever on the planet you might be taking part in.
“For the time being you continue to can’t try this within the UK so we haven’t even received a totally built-in British system not to mention a World one.”
Brian wrote: “I feel if it’s being known as the World Handicap System, then it ought to be performed and used as such for each golfer worldwide, and never gave slight variations of this dependent the place on the planet you play.”
Eric had an analogous view, saying: “I’ve performed for 55 years, after all all international locations ought to be the identical. My private opinion of this technique is that it’s huge open for the bandits.”
And Brad, who’s a member of a membership within the UK and in Spain, defined he had two WHS indexes. “The completely different guidelines between international locations means my WHS calculation differs,” he stated.
“In Spain class 1 handicaps can solely submit one non-competition spherical per 30 days however within the UK I submit most rounds, competitors or pleasant as I consider that is how the system is designed. Complication!
“In Spain in case you submit a medal competitors no return your handicap robotically goes up 0.2!”
Course Ranking Minus Par
I analysed the affect of Course Ranking minus Par, which was a considerable change to the World Handicap System introduced into golf in GB&I in April 2024.
David wrote: “I’ve received no drawback with this transformation, BUT…. The query of whether or not the course score is correct or not is one which I’m but to be satisfied on!
“It’s a subjective calculation undertaken by volunteers who can interpret the rules as they see match, in order that’s the true drawback with the calculation…are the CRs right?”
In the meantime, Andy added: “I feel the principle drawback with course score minus par is that’s not professional rata to the handicap. A 2 shot swing clearly has a better distinction to a 4 handicap participant because it does to a 14.”
And Martin stated: “Completely agree that GB&I made a mistake by introducing WHS piecemeal. They themselves realised this most just lately by including CR-Par into the calculation.
“In fact they need to have achieved it multi function go. And sure, it’s only a matter of time earlier than they permit 4BBB match play scores to depend (which btw is a positive cert as many gamers are already doing so – even with out an Anticipated Rating being explicitly allowed).”
Now have your say
How does this stack up together with your view of the World Handicap System? Do you agree, or do you might have a very completely different level? Let me know by e-mail at s.carroll@nationalclubgolfer.com or by leaving a touch upon X. We’ll focus on a few of your views in a future episode of The NCG Golf Podcast.
NOW READ: This was the largest change because the introduction of WHS. How has it affected you?
NOW READ: Why haven’t the R&A launched the suggestions from their big WHS survey?
NOW READ: If WHS is de facto the World Handicap System, why does it work in another way from one nation to the subsequent?
NOW READ: R&A: Golfers who don’t play by WHS guidelines are cheats
The put up You have got your say on the World Handicap System! appeared first on Nationwide Membership Golfer.
