Software vendors to be licensed by CONGU

“The Council of National Golf Unions (CONGU) was established in 1924 at the request of The Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews. The purpose was, and is, to advise on the formulation of a uniform system of handicapping, based on Standard Scratch Scores, for men’s golf in Great Britain and Ireland. CONGU has consisted of representatives from The Royal & Ancient Golf Club, the English Golf Union, the Golfing Union of Ireland, the Scottish Golf Union and the Welsh Golfing Union.
The new CONGU Constitution has been expanded to include an equal representation of ladies‘ golf from the four Home Unions/Associations and the Ladies‘ Golf Union.
The background to this change goes back to 2001 when CONGU and the LGU agreed that it would make sense to explore the possibility of one handicapping system for men and ladies. As a result, a joint Technical Committee has been working to bring together the men’s and ladies‘ handicapping system under the umbrella of a newly constituted CONGU.
At the Annual General Meeting of the Ladies‘ Golf Union, the delegates representing ladies golf in England, Ireland Scotland and Wales overwhelmingly endorsed the proposed changes. As a result the CONGU Unified Handicapping System (UHS) will become effective on the 1st February 2004.
To make sure clubs operate the new handicap system in the same way, Independent Software Vendors will be licensed by CONGU to ensure that their software complies with the CONGU specification. In order to cover the initial and ongoing costs of monitoring these licences the Independent Software Vendors will be charged a fee of £10 per annum for each club who use their software. CONGU has also now a registered trademark.
Commenting on these changes, the Secretary of CONGU, Kevin McIntyre said, “After three years of hard work by the Joint Technical Committee the men’s and ladies‘ systems are now one and I see this as a major step forward for the game of golf in these islands. I look forward to an even closer working relationship between the men’s and ladies‘ golfing bodies in the ongoing administration of the UHS in Great Britain and Ireland.”
For further information contact: –
Kevin McIntyre Secretary CONGU 00353 41 6861476