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GENTS EXTRA DAY SCORES
EXTENDED TRIAL - 2005
CONDITIONS FOR IMPLEMENTATION
Definition:
An Extra Day Score is a stroke play score returned at the
Player's Home club, other than in a Qualifying Competition, and adjusted
under Clause 19.8 of the Unified Handicapping System.
Objectives:
To provide additional opportunity for the return of scores far handicap
purposes by those players who
-
cannot participate in club competitions because of work or family
commitments,
-
cannot obtain, on a regular basis, an acceptable starting
time on competition days.
-
wish
a handicap reflective of current ability and have little desire, for
whatever reason, to play in formal competition.
Controls:
The trial is confined to Players in handicap categories 2,
3 and 4 who returned five* or less scores in 2004.
(*Note: 2005 change - this may be increased to ten or less
qualifying scores in 2004 at the sole discretion of the golf club
Committee).
The following conditions apply:
-
A
Player intending to return an Extra Day Score will be required to
signify his intention prior to the commencement of play.
-
An
Extra Day Score may only be returned at the Home club of the Player. An
acceptable score for Extra Day Score purposes is any authenticated score
other than in a Qualifying Competition returned under stroke play
conditions over a measured course (see Def. M) e.g. the score can be
returned from Forward or Yellow tees provided that a Standard Scratch
Score has been allocated by the Scottish Golf Union,
-
No
CSS will be calculated and adjustments to handicap will be made in
relation to the SSS,
-
Scores returned will be subject to Clause 19.8 adjustment. The Extra Day
Score should be recorded in the Player's Handicap Record Sheet and any
adjustment in handicap (up or down) made in the usual manner.
-
A
maximum of 10 Extra Day Scores may be returned per annum. At the
discretion of the Club the return of Extra Day Scores may be limited to
one per week, or such other time period as the Club may decide.
-
The
acceptance of any Extra Day Score is at the discretion of the Club and
returns will be subject to Clause 19 application if `manipulation' is
suspected.
Actions
Required by Golf Clubs:
-
Display a notice for the attention of members outlining
the object of the Extra Day Score trial and the controlling conditions
(sample notice enclosed).
-
Display a list of those members in handicap categories 2,
3 and 4 who returned five** or less scores in 2004 and are eligible to
take part in the trial. (**or such number, up to a maximum of ten
qualifying scores in 2004, as decided by the golf club Committee)
-
Define for participating members the manner and place in
which they signify their intention to return an Extra Day Score prior to
play.
-
Define where the Extra Day Score should be returned at
the conclusion of the round.
-
Enter the Extra Day Scores in the Player's Handicap
Record as soon as practicable. It is suggested that this could be done
as an 'Away' score played at `Home'.
On a regular basis reconcile Extra Day Score entries with returns and
where necessary make appropriate upward adjustment in handicap.
It should be noted that, although not the prime purpose of
the Extra Day Score trial, those scores returned will 'count' towards the
three qualifying scores required under Clause 17.6 to retain an official
CONGU Unified Handicapping System handicap.
EXTRA DAY SCORES
THE CASE FOR IMPLEMENTATION
Introduction
-
Golf provides sport for
life, in contrast to other sports such as football, cricket or rugby
where active participation is `time limited'.
-
The other almost unique
asset of golf is its handicap system whereby players of very different
age and ability can compete against one another under reasonably
equitable conditions. In the words of John Updike "In many sports, such
as tennis, one player's superiority over another is quickly established
and monotonously reaffirmed. The inexhaustible competitive charm of
golf, for the non-professional player, lies in its handicap strokes,
whereby all players are theoretically equalised and an underdog can
become, with a small shift of fortunes, a top dog,"
How 'Equitable' is the CONGU
Handicap System?
-
It is generally recognised
that the CONGU system can provide fair and equitable handicaps
throughout all handicap categories.
- For
the regular competitor the system allows for handicap changes to take
account of improving or declining ability.
-
Application of the full
difference between handicaps in match play reasonably preserves the
equilibrium of the system although there remains a modest bias in favour
of the lower handicap player.
- The
good reputation of the CONGU system resulted in it being chosen as the
re' component of the EGA Handicapping System.
-
The CONGU system, however,
has one fundamental flaw.
CONGU System - Fundamental
Flaw?
·
To operate in
the intended manner, all handicap systems require information i.e. the
return of scores,
-
The USGA Handicap System,
for example, is based on the premise that a player will return a score
each and every time he plays a round of golf, be it social or
competitive. The average American player posts 21 scores a year.
-
The CONGU system, on the
other hand, only allows scores returned in Qualifying Competitions to be
considered for handicap purposes. The result is that very many CONGU
handicaps are based on sparse or historical information. Improving
players and those of declining ability who play infrequently, if at all,
in qualifying competitions are therefore very likely to have false
handicaps. It is not uncommon for a player to obtain a CONGU handicap
based on the return of three cards, one from the medal tees and the
other two from the `boxes'. Such a handicap can currently be retained
for `life' unless scores from qualifying competitions are returned.
·
Analysis of the frequency of scores returned by club
members in three typical golf clubs confirms that a significant proportion
either do not return scores at all or in sufficient numbers to provide the
necessary confidence that their handicaps reflect current ability, This is
detailed in the following paragraph.
Competition Playing Patterns
-
The
competition play pattern of the members of three urban golf clubs was
analysed over a playing season, Typically these clubs organise 22 stroke
play competitions at weekends and 12 mid week medals per annum. On the
face of it this should afford ample opportunity for members to compete
regularly. However, in reality this is not the case.
-
The
percentage of members returning:
• no scores in the course of a season and
• the percentage of rounds in the bands specified, are shown
in the following table:
| |
% 0f membership
playing the undernoted number of rounds |
| Club |
Nil |
1-5 |
6-10 |
11-15 |
16-20 |
21-25 |
26-30 |
>30 |
| A |
39 |
17 |
14 |
9 |
10 |
5 |
2.5 |
3.5 |
| B |
33.5 |
21 |
15.5 |
9 |
10 |
8 |
2 |
1 |
| C |
31.5 |
28 |
16 |
13.5 |
5.5 |
2.5 |
2 |
1 |
| Ave. |
34 |
22.5 |
15 |
11 |
8.5 |
5 |
2 |
2 |
-
On
average 34% of the membership failed to return any scores in the year.
An additional 22.5 % played in 5 or fewer qualifying competitions.
-
As
expected members in the `senior' category represented a disproportionate
percentage of the members returning few, if any, scores. It was of
concern, however, to find that Junior members and those in the 18-21
years of age membership category did likewise.
| |
% of Category playing
the undernoted number of rounds |
| Memb. Cat |
Nil |
1-5 |
6-10 |
11-15 |
16-20 |
21-25 |
| Senior 20 yr Assoc. |
41 |
24 |
14 |
7 |
7 |
7 |
| Senior 30 yr Assoc. |
42 |
32 |
5 |
0 |
5 |
16 |
| Senior 40 yr Assoc |
65 |
17.5 |
7.5 |
5 |
0 |
5 |
| Junior |
43 |
21 |
6 |
6 |
9 |
15 |
| 18-21 Yrs |
35 |
30 |
15 |
10 |
0 |
10 |
Why
Do Some Members Return So Few Scores?
The majority of golfers in membership of a golf club
affiliated to a National Union have CONGU handicap. Why then does a large
proportion of the membership in a typical golf club return so few cards to
maintain the currency of their handicap? The following are possible
reasons:
-
Club
memberships typically run at 400-500 with some clubs having approaching
1000 members all theoretically eligible to play in at least a proportion
of the club competitions. With club competition field sizes being
typically c.150 it is obvious that there can be a demand for starting
times that cannot be satisfied.
· This
is compounded by the fact that the `competitive element' within a club
tend to dominate the available places. Some members of this faction would
even assert that they had a divine right to the prime times! Consequently
the less determined either do not enter competitions or must settle for
the less popular and possibly less convenient times.
·
As the cost of club membership increases, new members seek
value for their financial outlay and look to use playing rights to the
full. When this includes a desire for competitive golf, additional
pressure is brought to bear on the available spaces. With the ever
increasing move to equality lady members too, will increasingly `compete'
for the available starting times.
-
Changed social pressures and attitudes have resulted in a strong bias
towards early morning play with family commitments thereafter taking
precedence. Again this can be a disincentive to play at the less
favourable times.
·
In addition a number of members work or study away from
home and fit golf into the time they have available. This is often not
compatible with competition golf.
·
Many members of long standing, although still fit enough to
play and enjoy golf on a regular basis do not have the enthusiasm of old
to actively participate frequently enough in qualifying competitions to
have a handicap that keeps pace with their declining ability. The
opportunity to return Extra Day Scores from the forward tees may be
welcomed by this group.
-
Some
golfers, particularly in the higher handicap category, do not feel
comfortable or confident enough to play competitive golf, particularly
in the company of golfers of greater ability.
Discussion
-
The
golf equipment industry is based on the presumption that golfers wish to
it longer drives, play more accurate shots to the green, and pitch and
putt like the pros. That is, most golfers have an insatiable desire to
improve (sometimes in contradiction to the evidence!) The mark of
improvement is a reduction in handicap.
-
The
current position is that if members cannot; or do not wish for any
reason, to enter qualifying competitions on a regular basis their
handicap cannot change other than by application of Clause 1 9 - there
is no other mechanism available to members for the return of scores for
handicap purposes.
-
It
is now evident that many golf clubs are finding it increasingly
difficult to retain a full complement of members and no longer have the
comfort of a waiting list for membership. To make membership of a golf
club as attractive as possible to present and future members, it is
perhaps an opportune time to review our historical attitude to
handicapping and make it possible for players to return scores for
handicap purposes, at a time of their choosing, other than
in qualifying competitions.
-
This
is supported by the fact, as previously discussed, in many club
competitions there are insufficient starting times available at the most
suitable times to satisfy the demand, a situation that is not improving
as new members seek value for their financial outlay.
-
Measures that golf clubs have taken to address slow play have also
contributed to a reduction in available starting times. It is not so
long ago that starting times were at six minute intervals. That has now
increased to 7-8 minutes. The result is that times per hour have reduced
from 10 to 8. Over a 7 hour competition this equates to a `loss' of 14
three-balls i.e. 42 competitors.
In addition
there has been, in recent years a very marked increase in more `social'
forms of competitive golf - member/guest days,
tri-ams, scrambles, and fourball better ball events. Often these
competitions replace a medal play event on the club calendar.
-
Climatic change in many parts of the country has effectively curtailed
the playing season with November to March becoming a `closed' season for
competitive golf.
In
recognition of the above points it is suggested that the needs of the
modern game could be satisfied by allowing Extra Day Scores, under
strictly controlled conditions, to augment tournament scores. This would
provide more evidence of ability over a wider range of players and so make
handicapping more accessible and equitable.
Recommendation
To recognise
the needs of modern golf and golfers and encourage the return of scores in
sufficient numbers to provide handicaps more reflective of ability, it is
recommended that member Golf Clubs participate in the extended Extra Day
Score trial during the 2005 playing season.
Not only
should this provide better handicapping it will provide an increased
number of golfers additional opportunities to plan golf, at a time of
their choosing, around their current lifestyle commitments, thus enhancing
both their enjoyment of the game and the ability to monitor their relative
progress within the game.
W F Mitchell
Director Golf Services
Scottish Golf Union Limited |
