It’s Handicap Review time

IT’S that time of the year when our club’s handicap committee’s take a look at our handicaps and see who’ll be reviewed up or down for the 2019 season based on performances on the 2018 season.

There are those among us who are hoping that we might get a shot or two of an increase to be a bit more comfortable next season and there are those too, who’s performances throughout this year will be looked at and might receive a further “trim” where necessary.

It s a thankless job being handicapping secretary and of course it comes with the invariable criticisms from members who feel they have been aggrieved in some way, so is it any wonder the job is known in many clubs as the poison chalice.

To make life a little easier on those who will be conducting annual reviews in the coming weeks, the Munster Branch of the GUI have issued a set of guidelines for handicapping secretaries and committees:

* Players with a handicap of 3.4 or lower are not subject to handicap reduction unless extremely significant reasons prevail and must be approved by Handicap Committee of Munster Golf.

* Reductions of handicap into or within Category 1 must be approved by Handicap Committee of Munster Golf.

* Handicap reductions, except for 1 & 2 above, may be implemented as soon as the player has been advised of the reduction.

* Munster Handicap Committee does not approve handicap reductions made by the Club’s Handicap Committee except in 1 & 2 above. The reason being that if a player appeals, the objectivity of the Branch appeals committee could be compromised.

* Handicap increases cannot be implemented until approval is received from Handicap Committee of Munster Golf.

* Submit completed report to Munster Golf by November 30 by post GUI Munster Golf, 6 Townview, Mallow, Co Cork or by email to info@munster.gui.ie

* All adjustments must be updated on your club’s handicap system before December 31.

So, before you go blaming the poor handicapping secretary at your club, remember that all increases to handicap must be approved by the Munster Branch.

Competitors in The Kerryman’s Captains’ Challenge at Castlegregory, from left, Tom Moriarty (Castlegregory), Andy Billot (Killorglin), Conor Harty (Ballyheigue) and Michael Lenihan (Ceann Sibeal)