Looking ahead, handicapping is changing

A new World Handicap System (WHS) is to be introduced as from Monday, 2 November 2020. Your handicap will become a ‘Handicap Index’ and will be exact to one decimal place (i.e. 15.6) and NOT rounded up.

Handicap Categories for Men, Bronze and Silver Divisions for Ladies will be abolished. Competitions will be open to ALL members and some will be played with Men and Ladies playing for the same prize, off their own tees. but with adjustments to cater for shorter courses. etc. Decisions will have to be made whether we retain maximum handicaps at 18 for Honour’s Board comps.

Your handicap will be calculated on the average of your best eight scores from your last 20 competitions over the last two years. You will have a handicap, provided you have at least three competition scores recorded this year, but it will not be a true reflection of your ability and may have an adverse effect on your future scores.

DO NOT WORRY, all calculations are computerised within our Handicap Software.

As from NOW. and out of competition, any number of ‘Supplementary Scores’ can be entered into your Handicap Record if you are not able to play sufficient comps. More about this in a later notice.

The above is a very brief ‘flavour’ of what to expect.

THIS IS HAPPENING! Accept it with a smile. You cannot change it. Welcome to the 21st Century.

Over the next weeks and months, I’ll be issuing bulletins with more and more information, as it’s received from England Golf.

My advice to you all is:

1. Subscribe to e-mails from England Golf ( englandgolf.org) for much more detailed information.

2. Download ‘Howdidido’ app (from Play Store) for all Leek GC competition results and Club handicaps.

3. Download R&A app for all information on rules and changes as and when they happen.

4. Ensure that the Club have your e-mail address and contact number (NB we do not use your e-mail for anything other than passing on information to you).

Mike Barker (Match Secretary 30/06/2020)