It’s here! You can use your app to enter handicap scores across GB&I
Using our phones to put in scores outside of England has been impossible so far under the World Handicap System. But that has now changed
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 Great Britain 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
A journalist for 25 years, Steve has been immersed in club golf for almost as long. A former club captain, he has passed the Level 3 Rules of Golf exam with distinction having attended the R&A's prestigious Tournament Administrators and Referees Seminar.
Steve has officiated at a host of high-profile tournaments, including Open Regional Qualifying, PGA Fourball Championship, English Men's Senior Amateur, and the North of England Amateur Championship. In 2023, he made his international debut as part of the team that refereed England vs Switzerland U16 girls.
A part of NCG's Top 100s panel, Steve has a particular love of links golf and is frantically trying to restore his single-figure handicap. He currently floats at around 11.
Steve plays at Close House, in Newcastle, and York GC, where he is a member of the club's matches and competitions committee and referees the annual 36-hole scratch York Rose Bowl.
Having studied history at Newcastle University, he became a journalist having passed his NTCJ exams at Darlington College of Technology.
What's in Steve's bag: TaylorMade Stealth 2 driver, 3-wood, and hybrids; TaylorMade Stealth 2 irons; TaylorMade Hi-Toe, Ping ChipR, Sik Putter.
