Handicap Review (Draft) Guidlines 2022
Introduction
The World Handicap System (WHS) has been in operation for over two years. WHS Rules of Handicapping (RoH) paragraph 7.1a and Appendix D require that a Handicap Review is done at least annually, with England Golf advising in their Handicap Review Guidance that it should be done between in October to December. At the end of the 2021 golf season the Handicap Committee agreed, for several reasons, not to undertake a Handicap Review for the 2021 season therefore, the 2022 review will consider members golfing performance for both the 2021 and the 2022 golf seasons. All future handicap reviews will only consider the previous 12-month golf season period.
The annual handicap review will be a four-stage process:
1. The Handicap Committee will use the guidelines outlined below in to identify players whose handicaps could be considered for review.
2. Players whose handicaps come under review, and it’s decided to amend their current Handicap Index (HI) will be notified prior to any adjustment being made.
3. Players whose HI are to be amended will be given one week to appeal before the adjustments to handicap indexes are put into effect
4. Handicap adjustments will be published to the full Club playing membership on the club website.
Handicap Review Guidelines 2022 (Draft)
In reviewing members handicaps one or more of the following criteria will be considered:
1. Any direct request from members to review their handicaps
2. Any members who have been flagged for review by the WHS system (Handicap Review Report)
3. Number of scores submitted in the last 24 months
4. Competition prize winners over 24 months
5. Representative matches for PGC
6. Deviations from the expected scoring performance for the player.
7. Whether or not a member has played to their Handicap Index In the last 12 months
8. Review of members whose HI have risen to a point where the Soft Cap / Hard Cap has been triggered.
9. Any other knowledge that the Handicap Committee has relative to the player’s golfing ability. For example, improving play following golf lessons, declining scoring potential due to frequency of playing, ageing, incapacitating injuries or illness, etc.
Additional Notes for Clarification:
1. Review of players’ handicaps may be made at any time of the year where there is a strong case for more immediate adjustment based on the factors listed above.
2. Just because a player may come under review it is not certain that their HI will be adjusted.
3. All players whose HI is recommended for adjustment have the right to refuse the recommended change in their HI
4. The handicap committee, in line with the spirit of WHS consider that after 2 years of WHS all members should be playing off a HI that reflects their current ability e.g. Have a minimum of 20 cards submitted for handicap purposes.
5. An independent appeals panel made up of Club Members will adjudicate on any appeals made by members re their Handicap Index
6. For 2023 season external comps e.g., Invitations, Opens may be used as data points for handicap review.
Competitions and Handicap Committee
Penwortham Golf Club
December 2022
