Handicap adjustment following surgery

whocares86

just wondering i had back surgery last year and since i have played in about 25 single comps and barely struggling to break 30 points as i am not 100%, would it be possible for the handicap secretary to incease my handicap by a few shots on the basis of medical grounds

Myksyk

No. He will have to make a written case to the GUI. You will likely have to provide some written evidence of the injury/surgery. It's not impossible but still unlikely that u will get an increase. But worth trying.

the lawman

whocares86 wrote: »

just wondering i had back surgery last year and since i have played in about 25 single comps and barely struggling to break 30 points as i am not 100%, would it be possible for the handicap secretary to incease my handicap by a few shots on the basis of medical grounds

Good to see you're back playing I have to say. If you don't mind talking about it what was the problem that needed surgery? Disc trouble or nerve trouble? Was it caused by overgolfing!?

Reason I ask is I'm currently at physio trying to rid an upper back muscle injury but can't shake it. Sorry if taking thread off topic a wee bit.

golfwallah

As far as I know, CONGU rules allow for handicaps to be adjusted outside of qualifying competitions under General Play under exceptional circumstances. Exceptional circumstances include impaired golfing ability resulting from extended illness or injury.

Best send an email or letter to your club’s Handicap Secretary, explaining your situation and take things from there.

PS - CONGU is The Council of National Golf Unions Limited - the authorising body of the only official handicap for golfers resident in Great Britain and Ireland.

f22

Pretty sure it can be covered by your handicap secretary unless you are Category 1, then it needs to be approved by the GUI.

PhilipMarlowe

Cuts can be done without approval unless you're in cat1 or the cut would take you into cat1.
Increases need approval from the province and the best time for these is at annual review time.

Best bet is to ask your handicap sec to ask the GUI province for approval on your behalf and submit any relevant info you can that supports your 'argument'.

f22 wrote: »

Pretty sure it can be covered by your handicap secretary unless you are Category 1, then it needs to be approved by the GUI.

f22

I got offered a shot back the beginning of last year under medical grounds which I didn't take. I managed to get it back through bad golf all on my own.

Russman

FWIW I had two surgeries (hip and groin) about 3 years ago and the December after the 2nd surgery I got a letter giving me two shots back (from 5 to 7). It was completely without my knowledge, but apparently someone noticed my scores over the couple of years I was injured, I had drifted out from 3 to 5 anyway through playing bad in normal singles comps.
I don't know the mechanics of how the increase was approved etc but its definitely possible to get shots back.

Kace

whocares86 wrote: »

just wondering i had back surgery last year and since i have played in about 25 single comps and barely struggling to break 30 points as i am not 100%, would it be possible for the handicap secretary to incease my handicap by a few shots on the basis of medical grounds

Not quite sure that they would see grounds for giving you a shot if you can nearly get 30 points. Have you checked the number of players in your club who don't break 30 points in any given weekly comp? I would guess that it's probably 30% or more.

Rikand

my uncle had heart surgery many years ago and had his handicap increased from 16 - 20 due to it. So yes, it should be possible

Myksyk

From congu manual 2012-2015 in relation to increases in handicap where the handicap is considered to be too low ...

"In the event of a union delegating to home clubs unconditional authority to increase the handicaps of players in any of the categories 2, 3, 4 and 5 home clubs need not submit to the union or area authority proposals in respect of any changes in handicaps of players in the nominated categories.
In Ireland this authority is not so delegated and all proposed increases in handicap must be submitted to the appropriate provincial Council for prior approval.

Furthermore in respect of this I know that at a meeting last year in Munster they made it very clear that it would be extremely difficult to get increases in handicap. They even made the point that players who had undergone surgery were in fact probably more able to play golf to their handicap than they were before the surgery. I'm not saying that I agree I'm just saying that that's what was said.