The Council of National Golf Unions (CONGU) and the Ladies’ Golf Union (LGU) have agreed on a Unified Handicapping System to become effective on the 1st February 2004.
In order to reflect the wider scope of the Unified Handicapping System, CONGU will be re-constituted with a revised Council consisting of an equal number of representatives from each of the men’s and ladies’ Unions and Associations.
When the Unified Handicapping System is in place the LGU will cease to be the handicapping authority for its member clubs. Instead, CONGU will be the policy making body and the overall jurisdiction for the administration of the System will be the responsibility of the men’s and ladies’ unions and associations in each of the four Home Countries.
The Standard Scratch Score and Handicapping Scheme that currently operates for men’s handicaps in Great Britain and Ireland was first introduced in 1983 and is the basis for the new Unified Handicapping System. Now for the first time, men’s and ladies’ handicaps will be subject to the same rules and will use the same software for the computerised administration of handicaps.
Information will be made available to clubs in the near future. Clubs however, are advised that there is no need to amend the way in which they administer handicaps. A club may continue to have two separate handicap committees or may elect to set up a joint handicap committee.
“This change to our system of handicapping has been overdue for some time,” said Andy Salmon, Secretary/CEO of the LGU. “Now there will be only one system that applies to both men and ladies and, for the long term good and harmony of the game, that can only be seen as a move in the right direction.”
Kevin McIntyre, Secretary of CONGU said, “The Unified system represents many months of co-operation between CONGU and the LGU to produce a handicap system common to men and ladies and which cements the ongoing relationship between the Unions in the administration of amateur golf in Great Britain & Ireland.”
Andy Salmon, Secretary/CEO, LGU, Tel: 01334 475811
Kevin McIntyre, Secretary, CONGU, Tel: Int. +(353) 41 6861476 e-mail golfinmcinere@hotmail.com
LGU www.lgu.org