It has been one of the World Handicap System’s longest running sagas but it’s finally here. From June 13, golfers can digitally submit scores for handicap across the UK and Ireland.
England Golf, Scottish Golf, Wales Golf, and Golf Ireland all confirmed the arrival of ‘interoperability’ in a tweet – saying players using governing bodies’ respective apps will be able to add general play scores from any affiliated golf course in any of the home nations.
🚗 Take the MyEG app across GB&I! 📱
From 13th June, golfers using the MyEG App will be able to add general play scores from any affiliated golf course in Ireland, Scotland, and Wales.@GolfIreland_ @ScottishGolf @wales_golf
🇺🇦 #EGStandswithUkraine 🇺🇦 pic.twitter.com/O90RDTxSjG
— England Golf (@EnglandGolf) June 9, 2023
The ability to enter a meaningful round at bucket list courses was marketed as one of the key attractions of WHS before the new system’s introduction in November 2020, but the project has been beset by delays.
While players have been able to submit cross-border scores manually since last August, as part of a pilot scheme the home nations carried out on behalf of the R&A and USGA, players have still been crying out to do it digitally.
We reported, back in March, that geolocation issues were part of the hold-up but that Scottish courses had started appearing in course lists on England Golf’s MyEG app following Scottish Golf’s move to New Zealand-based operator DolfGolf’s software.
That meant all the home unions were using the same WHS platform and now golfers will now be able to use their phones to pre-register and submit scores – as long as they’ve got an appropriate marker.
Scottish Golf had offered interoperability since July 2021 but it had been temporarily suspended following their software migration last winter.
James Luke, England Golf’s head of handicapping and course rating, said: “It’s fantastic to be able to provide cross border scoring input. Although, we’ve been able to manually submit scores through handicap committees, this digital function has been what golfers across GB&I have wanted and we’re delighted to be able to deliver on this.
“This means all users of the MyEG app including iGolfers, can now pre-register their intent, play, submit and attest a general play score anywhere within GB&I and more importantly with any affiliated member from the other nations golf governing body.
“This is pleasing news for our club handicap committees too as they won’t need to manually input scores anymore and will be able to monitor and manage their golfers through their clubs WHS™ platform.
“It’s been a robust process and working closely with home nations’ colleagues and our technology platform provider DotGolf we’re all very happy with the outcome.”
David Kernohan, head of VMS at Scottish Golf, said: “We are really excited to re-launch this across GB&I, we know players have missed the ability to post scores from outside of Scotland. Scottish Golf’s short-term rollback of this functionality allowed us to work collaboratively with the other home nations and bring a smooth interoperability function back to Scottish golfers this spring.
We recognise that Scotland’s booming golf tourism industry brings many domestic tourists to our golf courses, and it was important to launch this before the height of the summer tourist season. We will now continue to work with our provider to ensure scores from outside of GB&I can also be included.”
What do you think? Are you going to get out and put in general play scores WHS at other courses in the UK and will it enhance the World Handicap System? Let me know what you think about interoperability in a tweet.
Steve Carroll
