Maximum Handicap

dennyire

Hi Guys,
I always understood maximum GUI handicap for men was 28.
A friend of mine started last year and was given a handicap of 28 and while all he won was a category prize, his scores were mixed...some low 18/ 19 , a lot in the mid to late 20s and a few in the 30s
He got a letter from the club saying they were raising his handicap to 30.
He was aiming to get to 24 this year but this he feels is embarrising.
Can the club do this?

Thanks in advance

e.r

He could ask the club to stay at 28, they possibly taught they were doing him a favour.

And if he can play to 24, hopefully his scoring in the coming months will reflect this.

dennyire

e.r wrote: »

He could ask the club to stay at 28, they possibly taught they were doing him a favour.

And if he can play to 24, hopefully his scoring in the coming months will reflect this.

Yeah he said he was going to email the club about it and try stay at28

Senna

Mens handicap can now go up to 36, over 28 is at discretion of club.
The club are doing it to try and make the game more enjoyable for your friend, it's not an insult.
Your friend my feel he is capable of much lower, but the club don't know this and are probably worried that your friend might not be enjoying playing if he had a year of bad scores, especially at renewal time:)

mafc

Senna wrote: »

Mens handicap can now go up to 36, over 28 is at discretion of club.
The club are doing it to try and make the game more enjoyable for your friend, it's not an insult.
Your friend my feel he is capable of much lower, but the club don't know this and are probably worried that your friend might not be enjoying playing if he had a year of bad scores, especially at renewal time:)

This only applies when playing home club competitions, when playing opens away the max is 28.

Nemesis

From Golf Monthly :

http://www.golf-monthly.co.uk/news/notice-board/congu-announce-big-changes-to-handicap-system-for-2016-74643


I played the 90% fourball recently but are the changes in the link for England or do the GUI have to give their approval for the CONGU suggestions?.

Hoof Hearted2

Nemesis wrote: »

From Golf Monthly :

http://www.golf-monthly.co.uk/news/notice-board/congu-announce-big-changes-to-handicap-system-for-2016-74643


I played the 90% fourball recently but are the changes in the link for England or do the GUI have to give their approval for the CONGU suggestions?.

It's the other way around the GUI tells CONGU what specific rules they want applied to Ireland, but for the most part they are the same as Walesn England and Scotland with a few additions.

A New earth

mafc wrote: »

This only applies when playing home club competitions, when playing opens away the max is 28.

This is not the way it works. You can only have one handicap and if you have a club handicap you cannot play in competitions in other clubs unless the other club specifically allows it. Of course clubs can set rules for each Open/Semi open competition and ones that may be used would be something like " CONGU Club Handicaps permitted" or "CONGU Club Handicaps permitted but maximum handicap allowed is 28"

and yes you can decline to take the club handicap and stay on 28.

mafc

http://www.golf-monthly.co.uk/news/notice-board/congu-announce-big-changes-to-handicap-system-for-2016-74643

Boskowski

My understanding is that you cannot play with +28 even in your own club's open comps. You can only play with a club handicap in comps that are confined to your club.

which makes sense really

mafc

Boskowski wrote: »

My understanding is that you cannot play with +28 even in your own club's open comps. You can only play with a club handicap in comps that are confined to your club.

which makes sense really

Exactly what I said.

Boskowski

mafc wrote: »

Exactly what I said.

True, but others said 'away opens' and not everyone follows a link. I just wanted to make that clear.

A New earth

Boskowski wrote: »

My understanding is that you cannot play with +28 even in your own club's open comps. You can only play with a club handicap in comps that are confined to your club.

which makes sense really

Don't know about playing in your own club's open (or semi open) comps but I'd guess that you can. Regarding the second point you could play with a club handicap in another club if they allow it in the conditions of the comp.

The previous point I was trying to make (maybe not too clearly) is that if there is no reference to club handicaps in the conditions of the other clubs comp. then you can't play, i.e. you can't decide to play off 28.

Anyway these kind of questions will be all worked out in this first year of the new system.

Boskowski

A New earth wrote: »

Don't know about playing in your own club's open (or semi open) comps but I'd guess that you can. Regarding the second point you could play with a club handicap in another club if they allow it in the conditions of the comp.

The previous point I was trying to make (maybe not too clearly) is that if there is no reference to club handicaps in the conditions of the other clubs comp. then you can't play, i.e. you can't decide to play off 28.

Anyway these kind of questions will be all worked out in this first year of the new system.

The moment its open you must play to GUI and not club rules regardless whether its home or away. Pretty certain about that. There'd be murder if people travel to an open and a local off 32 won it. A lot of people would be put off coming again for sure.

A New earth

Boskowski wrote: »

The moment its open you must play to GUI and not club rules regardless whether its home or away. Pretty certain about that. There'd be murder if people travel to an open and a local off 32 won it. A lot of people would be put off coming again for sure.

CONGU Club Handicap is a "GUI" recognised handicap and it is up to each club what conditions it sets for it's open comps. For example a club might agree that Club Handicaps are allowed for say their Senior Opens or as previously mentioned that that they would agree to Club Handicaps but with a max (which might be 28). If they don't mention Club Handicaps at all then players with Club Handicaps (from other clubs anyway - don't know about home players) can't play.

thoscon

We were at a GUI handicap meeting last night, there was a lot of discussion on this and they were very clear on the club handicaps
Anyone given a club handicap cannot play any opens away from home and they cannot even play opens at their home club
They can only play home club competitions

A New earth

thoscon wrote: »

We were at a GUI handicap meeting last night, there was a lot of discussion on this and they were very clear on the club handicaps
Anyone given a club handicap cannot play any opens away from home and they cannot even play opens at their home club
They can only play home club competitions

Then they are giving out different info at different meetings or we are taking it up incorrectly, I was at the meeting in Bray GC on Monday night. I suppose we will have to wait and see how things develop.

thoscon

A New earth wrote: »

Then they are giving out different info at different meetings or we are taking it up incorrectly, I was at the meeting in Bray GC on Monday night. I suppose we will have to wait and see how things develop.

To be honest it did cause quite a lot of confusion, I don't think they were getting their point across atall
There was a lot of questions about this and that's my understanding of what's happening
They kept making the point that it's a club handicap and therefore anyone with a club handicap can only play club competitions

Boskowski

thoscon wrote: »

We were at a GUI handicap meeting last night, there was a lot of discussion on this and they were very clear on the club handicaps
Anyone given a club handicap cannot play any opens away from home and they cannot even play opens at their home club
They can only play home club competitions

It only makes sense and I can't see anything confusing with that either.

My understanding would also be that it's not like you can't play it's just that you can't have those extra shots in open comps.

thoscon

Boskowski wrote: »

It only makes sense and I can't see anything confusing with that either.

My understanding would also be that it's not like you can't play it's just that you can't have those extra shots in open comps.

They were quite clear on this last night if you get the club handicap that's your old handicap gone.
I imagine there will be quite a few turning it down knowing that you can't play opens if you get the club handicaps

A New earth

Yes, you'd wonder if the GUI know themselves how it will work or are making it up as they go along, they were very clear at the meeting I was at that you can only have one handicap i.e. normal or club and you can't elect yourself to play off 28 if you have a club handicap. They also said (which seems to be different to what they said at other meetings) that a club can decide to accept club handicaps in their open or semi open comps or allow players with club handicaps to play but have an upper handicap limit (such as 28).

thoscon

A New earth wrote: »

Yes, you'd wonder if the GUI know themselves how it will work or are making it up as they go along, they were very clear at the meeting I was at that you can only have one handicap i.e. normal or club and you can't elect yourself to play off 28 if you have a club handicap. They also said (which seems to be different to what they said at other meetings) that a club can decide to accept club handicaps in their open or semi open comps or allow players with club handicaps to play but have an upper handicap limit (such as 28).

It's all very confusing and they aren't been consistent with what they are telling people

Happy4all

Rather than start a new thread, can anyone clarify max men's handicap. And does the 36 club option apply and if it ecxcludes you from playing open comps or allow you play them off 28?

slave1

There is now a Category 5 and 6 and the maximum handicap is 54, there is now no difference between men/women's handicap Categories or Maximum

http://www.congu.co.uk/congu-changes-2018/

prawnsambo

Happy4all wrote: »

Rather than start a new thread, can anyone clarify max men's handicap. And does the 36 club option apply and if it ecxcludes you from playing open comps or allow you play them off 28?

This is an old thread quoting old rules. There are now two new categories of golf handicap since January 2018: Categories 5 and 6. Category 5 is from 28.5 to 36.4 and category 6 is from 36.5 to 54.


They are competition handicaps. More details here.

Happy4all

prawnsambo wrote: »

This is an old thread quoting old rules. There are now two new categories of golf handicap since January 2018: Categories 5 and 6. Category 5 is from 28.5 to 36.4 and category 6 is from 36.5 to 54.


They are competition handicaps. More details here.

Thanks, the reason I asked was someone mentioned 54, but I couldn't see the enjoyment of playing or competing with someone off 54!

prawnsambo

Happy4all wrote: »

Thanks, the reason I asked was someone mentioned 54, but I couldn't see the enjoyment of playing or competing with someone off 54!

You'll see very few of them tbh. Mostly juniors or golfers with physical handicaps. After almost a year of the new system, my club has only one category 5 golfer and he's off 30. Afaik, category 6 is downward adjustment only, but I could stand corrected on that one. Nobody currently playing golf with a handicap from last year is ever likely to get to category 6. It would take years.

Golfgraffix

36 is the highest starting handicap, this is only in Ireland the other CONGU areas can award up to 54.

prawnsambo

Golfgraffix wrote: »

36 is the lowest starting handicap, this is only in Ireland the other CONGU areas can award up to 54.

Lowest? Do you not mean highest?


I could be a bit slow today. Go easy if so.

slave1

Happy4all wrote: »

Thanks, the reason I asked was someone mentioned 54, but I couldn't see the enjoyment of playing or competing with someone off 54!

It will take a lot of 0.1's to get to 54, we have a long time to wait until we see a 54

backspin.

prawnsambo wrote: »

54

The pre-graveyard handicap.

prawnsambo

backspin. wrote: »

The pre-graveyard handicap.

Or post-cradle. :P

Seve OB

slave1 wrote: »

It will take a lot of 0.1's to get to 54, we have a long time to wait until we see a 54

I'm currently off 12
So another 42 years and I'll get there.
I'll be 84 then ... might need the 54, but one way or another...……. I'll be happy if I'm still swinging a club

GreeBo

Your handicap sec can move you up outside of your own 0.1's and the limit.

Previously you got stuck at 28, this is no longer the case.

Seve OB

GreeBo wrote: »

Your handicap sec can move you up outside of your own 0.1's and the limit.

Previously you got stuck at 28, this is no longer the case.

I know that .

Just hope that I'm never that ****e

prawnsambo

GreeBo wrote: »

Your handicap sec can move you up outside of your own 0.1's and the limit.

Isn't that a maximum of four shots? And generally no more than two.

GreeBo

prawnsambo wrote: »

Isn't that a maximum of four shots? And generally no more than two.

It was before the max changes came in, you'd have to show evidence to support it to the GUI, but if a guy has been having 12 points off 28 for the last 5 years I think thats all the evidence you'd need.

prawnsambo

GreeBo wrote: »

It was before the max changes came in, you'd have to show evidence to support it to the GUI, but if a guy has been having 12 points off 28 for the last 5 years I think thats all the evidence you'd need.

So (and fogive me for being lazy and not looking it up myself) what you're saying is that it can go higher than four strokes?

GreeBo

prawnsambo wrote: »

So (and fogive me for being lazy and not looking it up myself) what you're saying is that it can go higher than four strokes?

Lazy sod!
Actually it still seems to limit to 4.

To assist Handicap Committees in this regard Players whose current handicap is in the range of 27.5 to 28.0 may grant an increase of up to 2 whole shots for such players whose Nett Differentials have been outside their Buffer Zone but in single digit figures (5 to 9) for the past 2 to 4+ years.
Players whose current handicap is in the range of 27.5 to 28.0 may grant an increase of up to 4 whole shots for such players whose Nett Differentials have been outside their Buffer Zone but in double digit figures (10 upwards) for the past 2 to 4 years. Players who have not played any Qualifying Rounds during the past 2+ years may be considered for an increase of up to 4 whole strokes.

Seems unfair on the guys having 12 points...next they will have 16...and then they are back to 1.0...gee thanks GUI!

prawnsambo

GreeBo wrote: »

Seems unfair on the guys having 12 points...next they will have 16...and then they are back to 1.0...gee thanks GUI!

I suppose we need to look at it in the context of the whole system. If the player's initial handicap allowance was so far off that he's only scoring 12 points, you'd have to question the handicap sec. tbh.

There was a time when me and my handicap were never on the course at the same time, but even then, I don't think I went below 20 points.

Miley Byrne

prawnsambo wrote: »

I suppose we need to look at it in the context of the whole system. If the player's initial handicap allowance was so far off that he's only scoring 12 points, you'd have to question the handicap sec. tbh.

There was a time when me and my handicap were never on the course at the same time, but even then, I don't think I went below 20 points.

Think it means single digits outside the buffer as opposed to actually having a single digit score

prawnsambo

Miley Byrne wrote: »

Think it means single digits outside the buffer as opposed to actually having a single digit score

We were talking about a hypothetical golfer regularly scoring 12 points. Since that would be double figures outside the buffer, he'd be entitled (should his club handicap sec. so decide) to a four shot handicap adjustment.

Miley Byrne

prawnsambo wrote: »

We were talking about a hypothetical golfer regularly scoring 12 points. Since that would be double figures outside the buffer, he'd be entitled (should his club handicap sec. so decide) to a four shot handicap adjustment.

Oh I get that, but you would be similarly entitled to 4 shots back if you were shooting 20/21 points, as in most places that would be double digits outside the buffer.

GreeBo

prawnsambo wrote: »

We were talking about a hypothetical golfer regularly scoring 12 points. Since that would be double figures outside the buffer, he'd be entitled (should his club handicap sec. so decide) to a four shot handicap adjustment.

But my understand is that this is a once off (that expired in March) and now they are back to 1.0 per year?

prawnsambo wrote: »

I suppose we need to look at it in the context of the whole system. If the player's initial handicap allowance was so far off that he's only scoring 12 points, you'd have to question the handicap sec. tbh.

The handicap sec had no option if they guy was scoring 12 points off 28.0....there was literally nowhere else to go.

We would have *many* people in this category.

prawnsambo

GreeBo wrote: »

But my understand is that this is a once off (that expired in March) and now they are back to 1.0 per year?

As far as I know, handicap secretarys have always had the option to adjust a handicap upwards. Not sure what the limit was, but definitely up to two shots.

GreeBo wrote: »

The handicap sec had no option if they guy was scoring 12 points off 28.0....there was literally nowhere else to go.

We would have *many* people in this category.

Well there was the previous 'club handicap' system that would have allowed an internal handicap up to 36.

GreeBo

prawnsambo wrote: »

As far as I know, handicap secretarys have always had the option to adjust a handicap upwards. Not sure what the limit was, but definitely up to two shots.

Yeah, up to the 28 limit but you would have to get then approved by GUI.

If we are back to the 2 shot limit and GUI approval then its not going to make much difference to the guys struggling to hit 20 points right now.

prawnsambo

GreeBo wrote: »

Yeah, up to the 28 limit but you would have to get then approved by GUI.

If we are back to the 2 shot limit and GUI approval then its not going to make much difference to the guys struggling to hit 20 points right now.

I suppose they can get another annual review plus the 1SL every year. Slow way to go about it though. If you were on 28, got the 4 this year plus another slew of 0.1s, you'd be at 33 by year end. Then there's the option to get another annual review and possibly another two strokes in the new year taking them to 35. That's seven strokes iin the space of just over 12 months and possibly hitting the heady heights of the high twenties in points.