The European Institute of Golf Course Architects has welcomed the changes to the World Handicap System which recognise of the importance and value to the game of shorter courses.
Among the changes, which come into effect next year, is a reduction in the minimum length a course must be in order to receive a course handicap rating. The new rule enables courses measuring at least 1,500 yards for 18 holes and 750 yards for 9 holes to be used for recording scores for Handicap Index purposes. The change will bring thousands more courses, including par-3 venues, into the course ratings system.
Caspar Grauballe, President of EIGCA, said: “As architects, we have advocated for compact courses for a number of years. They are an important route to growing the game of golf as they cater for a range of skills rather than simply focusing on distance.
“Compact courses widen the appeal of golf by not only providing a stepping stone for new golfers to get off the range and play on-course, but they bring a fun experience and also cater for those who do not have the time to play a standard-length, 18-hole course or find the distance challenging.”
He added: “It is important to move away from the view that golf can only be played over 18 holes spread across 6,000-plus yards. Par-3 courses or 9-hole courses require less land so can be sited nearer to populated areas, use fewer natural resources, and are potentially more profitable as they are cheaper to maintain. This recognition of the role compact courses have in the game of golf is vital in safeguarding the future of the game, and EIGCA hopes it encourages more developers and club owners to see the viability of compact courses.”
In partnership with The R&A, EIGCA is developing a set of design guidelines to explain the types of playing facilities that will fit into smaller spaces (land of up to 25 hectares). These guidelines will be publicly available in 2024 and will complement the anticipated increase in demand for the design and development of compact courses which the WHS changes will encourage.