WHS chiefs in GB&I say club committees should not use a Local Rule that makes golfers responsible for showing handicaps on their scorecards.
It used to be down to players in stroke play to ensure their marks were on their cards, but that was changed in the 2023 Rules of Golf update – with the onus now falling upon committees.
It means a player can no longer be disqualified if they fail to record their handicap but clubs can use Model Local Rule L-2 to shift the obligation back onto entrants.
That Local Rule guidance acknowledged that, in some circumstances “it can be difficult for the Committee to calculate players’ handicaps” – citing those that don’t have computers to help with administration or where they “don’t have access to a database of player handicaps”.
Golf scorecard rules: Should clubs implement the Local Rule on scorecards?
But with the main UK competition season set to get under way in the next few weeks, CONGU, who hold the licence for the World Handicap System in GB&I, have given their view.
Their “recommendation is NOT to implement such a Local Rule”.
Where clubs decide to ignore that recommendation, and bring in the Local Rule regardless, CONGU chiefs have advised that to avoid disqualification a player must put their Course Handicap on the scorecard.
That’s the number that reveals how many strokes a golfer would get, from a handicap perspective, for both competition and general play scores. In Ireland, recording the Handicap Index is a requirement.
CONGU say it’s the committee’s duty to apply the handicap allowance for any stroke play competition but that, in practice, this will be done by software.
Now have your say
What do you think of these golf scorecard rules? Should club committees follow CONGU’s recommendation or should players be responsible for ensuring their handicaps are shown on their scorecards? Contact me on X and let me know.
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