A sign of how the World Handicap System can be flexible, or just another quick fix?
You’ve certainly had plenty to say since we reported how nearly 60 per cent of golf clubs in Ireland had opted not to alter handicap allowances in their competitions.
Golf Ireland are piloting a World Handicap System scheme that is set to roll out to the rest of Great Britain & Ireland next year.
Since April, clubs in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland have been able to choose their own handicap allowances for competitions.
But the governing body revealed that 59.6% of clubs who responded to a survey had not made any changes to the previous allowances.
We asked for your feedback on that decision and on WHS in general and you got in touch in numbers.
Our postbag has been brimming with your views and we’ve had so many responses we’ve been printing a selection of them across a series of pieces.
We’ve already featured your views on how to improve WHS and revealed your thoughts on general play scores.
This time, we are sharing your reactions to the Irish pilot scheme. Why have clubs decided not to implement it? What are the thoughts of those that have? And will it make any difference to competition results? You have your say…
What have you been saying about the Golf Ireland WHS handicap allowances pilot scheme?
Joe emailed to say: “At my club, we identified a situation where post-WHS, lower handicapped players were not featuring in the prizes.
“We rectified this by structuring the prizes results through the use of categories to give a mild bias to and guarantee the lower handicapped players, albeit a smaller cohort with the club, opportunities to feature in the prizes for our weekend competitions.
“This is working very well, we therefore decided not to alter the status quo when this variable in handicap allowances was made available.
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“My own view on matters such as these is to keep things simple. The WHS is too complex and the vast majority of members are bewildered with it.
“The introduction of the Course Rating minus Par is an example of adding another layer of complexity.”
Paula added: “Our club changed to 85% [for] both men and women and it has settled down really well and most people are happy.”
Anne said: “I’d imagine most clubs decided to leave well enough alone, until the matter could be put to their members for discussion and views to be expressed before being put to a vote at their AGMs.”
But Harry responded: “The men’s club committee at my club decided to introduce this trial without consulting all members in April this year.
“They have introduced a blanket 85% of course handicap across all competitions in our club.
“As a result of this, since April mid to low handicappers have won all the medals and golfer of the year competitions so far. So you may say it has satisfied the lower handicappers at my club.
“Now to flip the coin, I am a 24-handicap golfer in my 60s, I love my golf, I have always tried to improve but find it’s not as easy as one gets older.
“I and many more members like me at the club have requested that this trial be ceased as it is unfair to all golfers.”
He added: “I feel the whole WHS is not working. They can tweak it one way or another, but it doesn’t work. It’s causing problems amongst members the likes I have never seen in my 45 years playing club golf.”
And Robert wrote: “It does not surprise me that some Irish golf clubs have decided not to make any changes.
“If my golf club is anything to go by getting more members in is more important than the game itself. Statistics show that most golfers have high handicaps so the easy option is to do as this large group of players demand.
“Many golfers in this category have false handicaps, which is borne out by looking at the scores that regularly win competitions.
“The few low handicap players that bother to enter can always be found in 12th or lower positions, while returning scores of gross 70 to 75. The main board competitions have become the domain of the bandits.
“Personally, I do not enter and only look at results to see where the ‘good’ players have finished. I feel very sad that it has come to this and wonder how much longer these players will waste their time and entry money.
“Tinkering with 95%, 90%, 85% or whatever will not change anything. Until someone or some golfing body has the guts to pull the plug, golf will continue to be what it has become – a social pass time and cannot be called a sport.”
Now have your say
What do you make of the pilot on handicap allowances? Would you welcome some flexibility or, as a lot of clubs in Ireland have decided, should things just stay as they are? Let me know by emailing s.carroll@nationalclubgolfer.com or by commenting on X. If you’re looking at our new website, you can also leave a comment at the bottom of the page.
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