Learning no handicap to success

Maintaining a level playing field is fundamental to the continued appeal of the game, writes

THE vast majority of golfers and administrators want a level playing field for all.

And that’s why Martina Nolan and Eric Haughan are two examples of all that’s good about the game of golf.

As the incoming Ladies Handicap Secretary at Seapoint, Martina’s goal is simply to make sure handicapping runs smoothly under her watch.

And for RTE sports journalist Eric, who has managed to get his handicap down to 12 in recent years, his only goal is to improve his game and break the magic singlefigures barrier.

It all comes down to a willingness to play honestly, by the rules, and follow guidelines that are nowhere near as complex or forbidding as one might imagine.

Asked by her Lady Captain, Mary Upton, to join her committee as Handicap Secretary, Martina baulked at first before taking steps to make sure she was well prepared to do the job well.

“In all the time I have been playing golf, I haven’t worried too much about whether my handicap was going up or down – I just enjoy my golf,” says Martina, who has played the game for 35 years and held many previous roles on Committee in Seapoint.

“As a result, I wouldn’t have had too much knowledge of the area of handicapping, so the idea of being the handicap secretary was daunting to me.

“As I am completely new to the world of handicaps, we set up a sub-committee made up of the previous Handicap Secretary and two others who would have experience in the area.

“This means that there is a continuance from the last couple years and the job is not all left to one person which I feel is important.”

The ILGU are there to help and having attended the East Leinster Handicap Secretaries meeting at Westmanstown a few weeks ago, she knows there is a handicap advisor on the end of a phone line she ever has a problem.

“The more I am learning, the more I think it is important to consult with those who have more experience and if you don’t know the answer to something there is no reason why you can’t ask,” she says.

“Week to week the role is not too taxing as our Competitions Secretary and her team look after setting up competitions and making sure handicaps are updated after all qualifying competitions.

“Really I foresee my busiest time being during the handicap review stage. We plan to do a mid-year review in July to look at anyone who may need reductions or increases in line with the new CONGU regulations which came in this year.

“Then there is the usual Annual Review at the end of the year which I will be relying on our past Handicap Secretary to assist me with as it will be all new to me!

“Other than that if we get any new members, our sub-committee will be responsible to allocate their handicaps and guide them in their first few weeks of membership.”

She adds: “One of the hardest parts of the role I foresee is making sure that our members report their away scores.

“It is difficult to know where and when all our members are playing and if their scores have been reported. But all we can do is keep encouraging them and to explain that the reason behind it to keep the game fair for all.”

Eric is simply interested in getting his handicap down as low as possible with single figures his Holy Grail.

He’s made his ambition public and will document the journey through his RTE blog.

“I’ve put my hand out to be slapped,” Haughan, 35, admits. “I just feel there’s a better standard of golf in there.”

Why anyone would want to cheat with their handicap is baffling to him.

“I don’t get it,” he says. “Your good rounds are few and far between. The last thing I would want to do is pull up.”

In 2015, he reached his current mark of 12, dropping four shots in one season.

But inconsistency with the driver has been his Achilles’ heel, so he’s recently signed up for lessons with GUI National Coach, Neil Manchip so he can keep those blanks to a minimum.

“Keeping the ball in play is the big issue for me,” he says. “I want to become more consistent.

“Every now and then, I think I am getting good at this game, and then I think I should give it up.

“I’d love to play more stress-free golf. I’d love to be more of a solid 12-handicapper.

“My extremes feel more extreme than others, What I notice about low handicap players is that they don’t follow one mistake with another.

“I liked golf from the start, and I’ve always wanted to get better at it.

“I’m looking forward to the process.”