Club ‘putts’ handicap is sues in writing
AS the debate rages on about the new World Handicapping system many concerns have to be allayed as to how it will apply to individual players and inter-club competitions.
Indeed, outright opposition has been voiced by players, many of whom favour letting the old system remain.
That is very unlikely to happen, but Golf Ireland has been requested to address concerns. Some of these have been crystallised by the Dundalk club who have written to Golf Ireland, the controlling body of Irish golf for ladies as well as men.
The system became operative at the start of November in Ireland and the UK and has applied in a large section of the globe for some time, most notably America.
How compatible playing conditions and the way the game is played in this part of the world, compared with America and other countries, is one of the many arguments that the system has generated.
But the core issues that have arisen concern how individual players have been affected in the new playing era - and what impact it will have on inter-club competition.
These issues have both been alluded to in the correspondence that the Dundalk club have sent to the controlling body’s headquarters at Carton House after discussing the system at committee level.
The club has noted that the lower handicap players have experienced more significant reductions than higher handicap players in what now is termed their new handicap index – players’ handicap under the previous Congu handicap arrangement.
The Dundalk club have furthermore queried what changes will be made in inter-club competitions to reflect the significant differences between the outgoing Congu handicap and the new allotted handicap index.
To illustrate the point, the Dundalk club point out: ‘Virtually none
of our Junior Cup players will be eligible to play in 2021’ if eligibility to play in the event is based on last year’s lower handicap limit. The lower handicap limit last year was four.
The club go on to point out that the new system will similarly impact on all the various qualifying handicaps in inter-club competitions.
Dundalk has adopted a policy to leave the allotted handicap index (handicap) in place where players have a high number of counting cards.
It is concerned that by adhering to the spirit and intent of the new system it will significantly weaken the club in inter-club competitions this year.
The system gives handicap committees more control over discretionary changes to players’ handicaps which in prior years would have required approval by the governing body.
The club suggests a form of oversight for teams selected to take part in inter-club events, while understanding that this is not simple, but transparency in regard to players picked to represent their clubs who were given discretionary handicap increases by their club committee is potentially a way of highlighting inequity.
The Dundalk club assert that they are committed to implementing the system, and are simply asking Golf Ireland to give consideration to their concerns.