An England Golf team of volunteer course raters proved they are on top of their game when they beat off a challenge from over 20 other European countries.
Karen Hearn, from Warwickshire, Rosemary Rice of Surrey, Jackie Keay of Hampshire and Mark Ward of Kent represented England at a course rating seminar in Vienna, attended by teams from countries and golf associations across Europe.
They came out on top when all the teams undertook a series of tasks to show how each country rates and evaluates the golf courses under its jurisdiction and how that compares to the master rating, set by the United States Golf Association.
Gemma Hunter, England Golf Handicap and Course Rating Manager, remarked: “Our course rating teams are very knowledgeable and we were absolutely delighted to prove this to the rest of Europe!”
England Golf has over 70 volunteer teams who rate the courses at its 1900+ affiliated clubs, giving them a standard scratch score which is used for handicapping purposes.
The seminar was hosted by the Austrian Golf Federation at The Colony Golf Club, Vienna and led by Scott Hovde, the USGA Assistant Director of handicap and Course Rating.
The volunteers also managed to squeeze in some sight-seeing time during their trip.
England Golf www.englandgolf.org