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Winter rules for new handicap

  • 18-09-2025 04:13PM
    #1
    Ro-76
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 627 ✭✭✭


    Hi

    Apologies, this is probably a question that has previously been asked, but I couldn't find an answer on search. I'm a new club member and getting my cards in to get a handicap. I understand that once winter rules kick in, I can't submit any cards. The club said that golf ireland decide when winter rules are active, but when I Google that, it seems it's the clubs. Is there a difference in terms of submitting cards? When is that likely to start? Just wondering if I'll get it done before then.

    Thanks



Comments

  • #2
    billy3sheets
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2, Paid Member Posts: 1,177 ✭✭✭billy3sheets


    Golf Ireland were advocating this initially but last year there was about 7 months of winter rules and it was impractical to block new handicaps for this length. If you're submitting cards, you should play from where the summer markers (stones in some clubs) rather than where they're placed for winter. Consult your club Handicap Committee.



  • #3
    awec
    Administrators Posts: 55,861 Admin ✭✭✭✭✭awec


    As above, talk to your handicap committee. You may still be able to get a handicap allocated even if winter rules are in place.

    I am 99% sure I got my initial handicap during winter, before counting started.



  • #4
    prawnsambo
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 14,411 ✭✭✭✭prawnsambo


    A lot of misconceptions here. First, Golf Ireland don't decide, clubs do. It's generally accepted that the winter season starts at the beginning of November and ends at the end of March.

    "Winter rules" are a set of local rules to help protect the course during wetter weather. So you can have preferred placing on the fairways, lift, clean and replace in the rough and other local rules.

    You can only put in handicap cards when the course is in qualifying condition. Having 'winter rules' in place does not mean the course isn't in qualifying condition. The two rules I quoted above allow for handicap qualifying rounds to be played.

    Some rules mean rounds are non-qualifying. For example having all bunkers out of play. Or placing in the rough.

    So as long as your course is in qualifying condition, you can put in handicap cards. Same goes for general play rounds.

    You can also play handicap rounds from other tee markers than the summer ones. They are all rated for handicaps, but check with your handicap committee first.



  • #5
    coillcam
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,061 ✭✭✭coillcam


    TLDR: Get your handicap sorted before the winter rules kick in. You can still find links courses open for counting rounds through winter. You can put cards in from those rounds or even some comps on those courses. Ring ahead to confirm the course is counting for handicaps.

    Most courses during the winter period won't consider scores to be acceptable for handicaps because of the course conditions. Essentially there are so many things going on, it's not realistic to compare it to normal conditions. Lost/plugged balls, course work disruptions, closed holes, forward tees etc.

    Yes some people can score well on a soft shortened course but others are losing 3 plugged balls that otherwise are found and playable in May. So should one person be cut and should the other get shots back? The answer is it's not fair to either person as it's not comparable to how it plays out on the full length dry course in May.

    During winter some courses stay counting for handicaps year round. It's predominantly links courses which don't waterlog and stay firm.

    From November through March is considered the preferred lies period (winter rules). This means that GI are acknowledging the ground has gone very soft and wet. They pass on the mandate to clubs to have the final say in counting or not counting during this period. Clubs can also have local rules for clean and place to remain counting per whs/rules of golf.

    Note that all clubs are encouraged to be counting throughout the year where it is feasible to do so. My local is a parkland in the Midlands which turns into a swamp in winter.

    You will 100% lose balls once they stray a yard of the fairway. Tees are brought forward significantly from regulation and you'd have everyone slowed down hunting plugged balls. It's just not possible for it to be considered suitable for counting.



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