Could you be breaking handicapping rules if you play in a regular roll-up and don’t submit your score?
A World Handicap System guidance document, produced by the four home nations in Great Britain & Ireland, says “regular informal competitions”, such as the “roll-ups or society events” played by thousands of golfers at clubs, are actually an “organised competition”.
And it states that not only are those rounds “considered to have been pre-registered” if they’re in an acceptable format but that “players have a responsibility to ensure that their scores from such events are returned to their home clubs”.
Since the dawn of the WHS system in GB&I, governing bodies have encouraged club committees to ask those who play in roll-ups and swindles to return their scores, arguing there is little difference between them and a regular club event.
But the information, found in under section G2.1a (1) Authorised Formats of Play in a document called Guidance on the WHS Rules of Handicapping as applied within GB&I, seems to go further.
For it implies that players who do not return their scores from such events might not be living up to their responsibilities under handicap laws.
That may have big implications for some clubs, whose members routinely play in gatherings that could be classed as an acceptable format, where an entry fee is taken, scores are recorded, and prizes paid out, but might never consider submitting scores into WHS.
What does the document say about golf roll ups and swindles?
An acceptable score is classed in the Rules of Handicapping as having been played:
- In an authorised format, such as Individual Medal or Stableford
- In the company of at least one other person
- To the Rules of Golf
- On a course with a current Course and Slope Rating
Appendix A of the Rules of Handicapping says that, where applicable, players must “ensure all acceptable scores are submitted for handicap purposes in order to provide reasonable evidence of their demonstrated ability”.
Now the guidance reveals: “WHS requires that rounds in ‘organised competitions’ in an acceptable format are considered to have been pre-registered.
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“This raises the question as to what comprises an ‘organised competition?’ The term is broader than would previously have been considered by most clubs and players.
“Under WHS, for example, regular informal competitions, often organised as roll-ups or society events, would now fall into this category.
“Players have a responsibility to ensure that their scores from such events are returned to their home clubs.
“Clubs that regularly hold such events may well find that setting them up as competitions on the computer will make it easier for players to ensure that their scores are returned correctly.
“From April 2024 (or as soon thereafter as the WHS Platform has been amended to allow) Four Ball Strokeplay Competitions over 18 holes will be acceptable for Handicap purposes”.
Listen to The NCG Golf Podcast
Listen to Tom Irwin and Steve Carroll discuss this World Handicap System golf roll ups advice in this week’s episode.
Have your say
What do you think of this guidance? Will it change the way you approach golf roll ups and swindles? Do you already submit scores from this format to WHS? Let us know by leaving a comment on X.
