Keeping track of players in different jurisdictions can be a handicap headache. Here’s what the governing bodies advise
This article is part of GCMA Insights – topical content for golf industry professionals, discussing the things that matter to those who work in golf clubs.
The World Handicap System is supposed to be global – the clue is in the name. In practice, though, interoperability – as it’s called – has yet to become truly global.
While we can play golf in other parts of the planet, getting a score onto our handicap record can be more of a challenge. Different World Handicap System authorities can use different software and they can’t always talk to each other.
This can be irritating for golfers on a short golfing holiday, but you may also have members who live in another country for part of the year and are also members of golf clubs where they reside.
How do you keep up to date with their handicap index when they may be playing multiple rounds in another jurisdiction?
Golf’s handicap chiefs have advice for what to do whenever you encounter a player who has membership of multiple golf clubs in different jurisdictions. So what does it say?
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How to deal with members of multiple golf clubs in different jurisdictions
A World Handicap System guidance document produced by Golf GB&I, which administers handicapping in the home unions of England Golf, Scottish Golf, Wales Golf, and Golf Ireland, says any scores returned in GB&I will “automatically be returned to their home club”.
But there is “no automatic post back of scores from outside of GB&I”.
Rule G1.4b/3 advises that players residing outside of GB&I for a short period should “return any scores to their home club as soon as possible to ensure their handicap is updated”. That can be on returning from the holiday or “by any other facility which exists to do this in a more timely manner”.
What if the period away is of a longer nature – for example a month or more abroad?
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The guidance says players should take a copy of their last 20 scores with them. “The foreign jurisdiction will take this and set up the handicap record locally”.
It adds: “Typically in these situations the player is a member of an overseas club in that jurisdiction and plays competitively whilst resident there.
“At the end of the period away, the player should take a copy of their record whilst residing abroad to allow these scores to be input at their home club and thus adjust their handicap accordingly on the home system.
“This process will vary depending upon which jurisdiction the player is temporarily resident. The National Union should be able to advise the best approach for a specific country.”
This article is part of GCMA Insights – topical content for golf industry professionals, discussing the things that matter to those who work in golf clubs.
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