In the wake of England Golf’s decision to toughen up its entry policy in relation to its elite events, we asked three high-level amateurs their opinion on the changes being made plus how the World Handicap System is operating more generally
Ellena Slater
Club: Kings Hill Golf Club
Handicap index: +2.3
How well do you think the handicap system is working?
In terms of making golf more enjoyable and accommodating for players of all abilities, I think the newly-introduced WHS is great. Handicaps now are generally more reflective of people’s current abilities and having a “handicap index” that changes to reflect the difficulty of not only the course being played, but under what conditions as well, makes more sense, rather than having a fixed handicap for all courses. At club level, I’ve witnessed less stigma surrounding handicap fluctuations and I think this is because of how the handicap index is calculated.
How would you change the handicapping system to make it better?
Personally, I would like to see a change in how course handicaps are calculated for “plus” handicaps. I find that my handicap drops to +3 on tougher courses yet remains at +2 on easier courses, which makes little sense.
What do you think of England Golf’s plan re its elite events?
I appreciate how they’re wanting to monitor the players entering their competitions. While I am all for submitting casual cards on occasion, if most or all of your eight counting rounds all come from when playing supplementary cards on home turf, then that doesn’t represent your ability to play under the pressure you find at regional/national/international events. The mass appeal of the big England events is something that England Golf deserves to celebrate and it’s great to see that so many players enter these competitions, yet this appeal will suffer if players with handicaps from only casual rounds make the ballot ahead of other players whose index may be 0.1 or 0.2 higher, yet all or most of their counting rounds have come from competitive events.
RELATED: Handicap concerns force England Golf to alter entry policy on oversubscribed events
Steven Capper
Golf Club: Royal Liverpool Golf Club
Handicap: +3.0
How well do you think the handicap system is working?
I believe the world handicap system is working well in terms of people who are new to golf and golfers who aren’t members of golf clubs. They can pay the annual fee rather than a membership and enter scores for themselves and it’s good for them to get into the game and see how things work. In terms of low handicappers and high level amateur golf I believe it is a total disaster. It’s also been a disaster for club matchplay competitions. The general consensus is it’s now totally pointless playing in them for low handicappers as a plus handicapper goes higher (away from scratch) and a normal handicap will also go up off a competition tee. This results in the difference can be huge. For example my plus four handicap moves up to plus five and the five handicapper I am taking on has gone up to seven. The whole difference with a low handicapper against a higher one, over 18 holes, is you would make up two shots on a lot of holes, which doesn’t matter in matchplay. It also means a crazy amount of points or low nett win the non-matchplay competitions. I have teed off having to shoot 60 to win a club competition. Your handicap should be your handicap. It shouldn’t be adjusted. I must admit though I am lucky at my golf club we have a prize for the best gross in most competitions so we are competitive for that. Then there is also the Playing Conditions Calculation (PCC). I have not once seen it move, playing in 40mph winds or playing on a flat-calm day. This is crazy as a golf course (especially a links one) can play as many as seven or eight shots harder on a really windy day. I really don’t understand why it never changes. I’ve seen 31 points win a nett and it didn’t move. Level par can be a great score one day and a poor score another, depending on conditions.
How would you change the handicapping system to make it better?
To improve the system I would definitely introduce categories. Similar to our last system we had three categories. I don’t believe anyone in category one (whatever the handicap boundary would be) should be able to enter general play scores. This would also help at club level to have different competition categories and different prize brackets. Having these categories in which a low handicapper can’t enter general play would also solve the huge issue going on with people putting in lots of general play rounds to obtain a low handicap. Whether it’s a macho thing, or someone who wants to get in competitions, I’m not sure but it needs to stop. I was recently first reserve for the St Andrews Links Trophy after the “ballot”. I was really looking forward to playing but I didn’t get in. I watched the scores closely and there was clearly something wrong when I saw people off plus 5 shooting in the 90s. I have never entered a general play score and never will. The sad thing is most players know who it is doing this.
What do you think of England Golf’s plan re its elite events?
I’m glad something is getting done by England Golf but it’s still not enough in my opinion. They shouldn’t be counted at all (general play). Playing well with your mates on a Monday night under no pressure – and it goes well so you enter it afterwards – seems totally incorrect to me. That’s what people are doing. Some people are doing worse than this and doing it in their front room. I believe the Walton Heath Trophy organisers last year said they wouldn’t accept an entry off a competitor who had more than two counting general play scores. This is definitely the way it needs to go and maybe people would think twice about doing it then. It’s just cheating at the end of the day and then they get exposed during competitions. I’ve seen someone who doesn’t shoot over 70 in practice rounds but doesn’t break 82 in any competition. It can’t be proven but if they just stop the general play option, for even people off scratch and better, it would solve everything.
RELATED: WAGR rankings system changed to reduce importance of appearing in professional events
Katie Sibley
Club: Carlisle Golf Club
Handicap: 0.8
How well do you think the handicap system is working?
I think the new handicap system has definitely taken some time to get used to but makes sense that it is universal.
How would you change the handicapping system to make it better?
For the most part I think the system works well but it is worrying that general play scores can count towards a persons handicap. I personally dont think this should be allowed and it is something I would change. I definitely think we have seen a dramatic fall in some handicaps because of it.
What do you think of England Golf’s plan re its elite events?
I think England Golf’s plan is a good one because it means players have the opportuity to compete against the best players in each tournament. From a competitive point of view this can only be beneficial for the standard of golf in England. It also means that those who have worked hard to get their handicap down have the opportunity to play in events at great golf courses.