Communication

[10ClarionSt]

A golfing friend of mine received an email from the Handicap Secretary of his club advising that his handicap had been reduced. Nothing wrong with that, I hear you say. Except the Handicap Secretary is his wife and was sat next to him on the setee. When he asked why she couldn't just tell him, she said that he gets the same treatment as agreed for everyone else, i.e. email notification of handicap changes. Don't you just love 'em? That's communication for you!

[Tilly2]

Quite right too. Now he has proof.

[dannyk13]

She was right.

[10ClarionSt]

That's correct Tilly. Which is why the email rule was brought in. But it's also sad in a way because it's a kind of Nannyism brought about because members never read notices or check their handicap status. After many years on the committee and as secretary, this has always baffled me.

[dannyk13]

Surely if the members are entering competitions they know what their handicaps are, otherwise they are laying themselves open to disqualification.

[Tilly2]

I don't know anything about golf clubs and their mysterious ways.

[10ClarionSt]

That's just the point Danny. You are correct, but it's not always the case.

[dannyk13]

The club I played for always pinned up change of handicaps in the changing room.

[10ClarionSt]

And if there's any confusion for golfers at the moment, just wait till January 2020 when the current handicapping system is scrapped and we move on to something known as "The Slope System", where a players handicap will vary depending on the SSS of the course they playing/visiting. Handicap committees everywhere will be reaching for the Valium!

[10ClarionSt]

You are correct again Danny. But some members don't read them. Trust me Danny. I know.

[Tilly2]

There'll be emails flying all over the place.

[dannyk13]

What is the point of the Slope System?I can't see any sane reason for it.

[TonyV]

my BIL is golf mad, now hes retired dont no how many times he plays a week. One time he was on weekend away to play club tournament, decided to turn it into a week, he has very understanding wife.
anyway, they have charity auction at the prize giving dinner and Stacey put in "brand new moped" people where aghast , " how on earth has Stacey got that" after bidding had finished he said "oh sorry spelling mistake, "should have said mop head", which auction prize was, all taken in good humour

[Rockrose]

She’s right!

[sunny-dave]

“Golf has too much walking to be a good game, and just enough game to spoil a good walk.”

[spathiphyllum]

Dave it depends how good you are! The better at golf you are the less you play. Isn't it funny how golf is just a walk in the country with a pal trying to hit a ball the least amount of times

[10ClarionSt]

Danny, the change to the rules in January this year, and the introduction of the new handicapping system are meant to achieve 2 things: to speed the game up and to make the game more even and take into account players' abilities and age. One change with regard to handicapping will be that the competitor will be able to choose which course they play, rather than being told on the starting sheet that it is "white", "yellow" etc. The player will tick the box at the top of the card next to the relevant colour, and their handicap will be adjusted accordingly. It's meant to give a more accurate reflection of ability. It would also be used in open comps. Imagine playing a course where the SSS is 72 as opposed to one where it's 68. A big difference, but currently you would have to play off the same handicap. Under the slope system, your handicap would be adjusted accordingly, BEFORE you played.
All this is meant to try and get more people into golf, which, as you are probably aware, is suffering from falling membership in most parts of the country. But that's another debate.

[dannyk13]

10cs, I still don't see how Slope would be much of an improvement.No matter what the SSS is , it is still the same for all competitors no matter what their handicap.

[10ClarionSt]

Sorry Danny, but the R&A, England Golf and CONGU don't see it like that. Some members have conditions that limit their abilities, which means, on some holes, they are not able to carry the ball as far others. This is obviously a problem if you encounter a carry of say, 170 yards, as with 3 holes on our course. I can assure you Danny, that the authoroties have given this lots of thought and it's all being done in the element of fairness.

[aelmpvw]

my handicap's hitting the ball ...

[dannyk13]

OK I'll take your word for it.Exactly how are the handicaps adjusted? If you have a handicap of 8 playing against some one with a handicap of 4 are the handicaps both altered by the same amount?