With the lockdown ending (for now) we are starting the winter league again – unfortunately every other golfer has the same idea so getting tee times on the weekend is not as simple as it was.

But the first event has been arranged to kick off the winter league and the new WhatsApp chat is being introduced to allow quicker responses to event suggestions (to allow us to get tees booked). The WhatsApp chat can be seen here.

Handicaps for 2021

With the new World Handicap System being introduced, things will be changing in the new year across the whole of amateur golf worldwide. For the winter league we will be continuing to use our existing handicaps, but the committee is looking at the new system for the new year.

So

The Handicap index is what we currently call handicap (our normal one decimal number).

The Slope Rating is what the course is rated as (different for different tee colours)

The Course Handicap is what you play a match play round off

The Handicap Allowance is what fraction of your handicap you play in each competition – so for us we normally play it as 100% for either medal or stableford rounds, but the new system has the following fractions:

Individual stroke play, Stableford, par/bogey, maximum score: 95%

Fourball stroke play: 85%

Fourball Stableford: 85%

Fourball par/bogey: 90%

Individual match play: 100%

Fourball match play: 90%

Foursomes: 50% of combined team handicap

Greensomes, Pinehurst/Chapman: 60% low handicap + 40% high handicap

Best 1 of 4 stroke play: 75%

Best 2 of 4 stroke play: 85%

Best 3 of 4 stroke play: 100%

Best 4 of 4 stroke play: 100%

Scramble (4 players): 25%/20%/15%/10% from lowest to highest handicap

Scramble (2 players): 35% low/15% high

Total score of 2 match play: 100%

Best 1 of 4 par/bogey: 75%

Best 2 of 4 par/bogey: 80%

Best 3 of 4 par/bogey: 90%

4 of 4 par/bogey: 100%