Handicap rules

1. Scope

Every BTRGS member must have either a society handicap or a golf club handicap to be eligible to participate in BTRGS competitions.

Society handicaps are used for two main reasons; to enable non-club golfers to play in competitive events and to avoid having the same winners over and over again.

2. Administration

2.1 Handicap committee members

The handicap committee consisting of the Membership Secretary and one other committee member will administer society handicaps. The membership secretary shall maintain an up-to-date list of society handicaps.

2.2 Duration of modifications

2.2.1 Members with a club handicap

HandicapFor members with a club handicap, the handicap modifications shall remain in force from the date of the modification until after the event in which the handicap revision was made, the following year. This is known as the “a year and a day” rule.

a) The society handicap is aligned with the club handicap after “a year and a day”

b) If another, later modification, is still in force, the difference of the lapsed modification is added to the society handicap

c) If the club handicap falls below the modified society handicap, the society handicap is aligned to the club handicap and any pending “a year and a day” adjustments are cancelled

d) If a player’s club handicap increases during “a year and a day”, the society handicap remains at the modified level, and is not adjusted until the “a year and a day” period has lapsed.

2.2.2 Members with a society handicap

For members with a society handicap and no club handicap, the handicap adjustment is permanent and will only otherwise be adjusted based on cards handed in according to 3.6.

2.2.3 All Members

The committee maintains the right to adjust the society handicap for any member at any time.

The committee can alter and cancel modifications at any time (based on observation or on other information).

3. Basis of society handicaps

3.1 Players with society and club handicaps

In all BTRGS competitions, members shall play off the lower of club or society handicaps.

3.2 Winners' modifications

3.2.1 Stroke play (individual stableford)

After BTRGS stroke-play competitions, the winner and runner up of each category shall receive a modified society handicapaccording as follows:

Low Handicap Category
1st Place - 1 shot

High Handicap Category
1st Place - 3 shots
2nd Place - 2 shots

Note - The Committee for each individual competition sets the range for the high and low handicap categories. (Normally the categories will be split somewhere around the 18 mark).

3.2.2 Annual knock out competitions

After the annual BTRGS Knock Out competitions, the winners shall receive a modified society handicap as follows:

1st Place Singles KO - 1 shot
1st Place Doubles KO - 1 shot each

(This modification will be taken into account immediately after the presentation of prizes for the events)

3.2.3 Spring and Autumn Meeting 4BBB stableford competitions

After the BTRGS Spring and Autumn 4BBB Stableford competitions, the winners shall receive a modified society handicap as follows:

1st Place - 1 shot each

(This modification will be taken into account immediately after the presentation of prizes for the event)

3.3 Better than handicap performance

After BTRGS stroke-play competitions, all members whose net score is below the standard scratch score of the type of match being played (i.e. 36 points for stableford) shall have their society handicap cut by half the number of shots they played below it up to a maximum of 25% of the day's starting handicap.

The committee reserves the right to adjust the standard scratch score. This will be done to avoid too many adjustments after playing easy courses in good conditions and to promote adjustments after playing difficult courses and/or in challenging conditions.

3.4 Applicable modification

Players coming 1st or 2nd in their category will have their society handicap reduced by EITHER the 1,2 or 3 shots as specified in 3.2 OR the reduction specified in 3.3, which ever is the greater.

3.5 New handicaps

A society member who is not a member of a golf club will be given a society handicap, at the discretion of the committee, after returning three cards signed by another society member with a society handicap, or a recognised club golfer. The handicap will be maintained by the committee based on performances in BTRGS stroke-play events, general play in society events, and on cards returned to the committee under rule 3.6.

3.6 Handicap maintenance

Following the award of a society handicap, members will be required to submit a minimum of three cards in a rolling year. Failure to comply with the above will result in the society handicap being withdrawn. A member must apply for a new society handicap as detailed in 3.5.

4. Rules for visitors for spring and autumn meetings

4.1 General rules

Visitors and guests will play off their club handicaps and will play for separate prizes.

4.2 BTRGS Member and visitor

Society members partnering a visitor will play off their society handicap (if they have one) and shall compete for the visitors' prize.

4.3 Visitors without handicaps

If a visitor does not have a club handicap, he will have to satisfy the committee of his eligibility to play, and will have to meet the same requirements as BTRGS members detailed under section 3.5.

5. External competitions

BTRGS members with club handicaps will play off their club handicaps in competitions against other societies and teams.

6. Implementation

The revised handicap system is effective from 1st February 2005.

The committee maintains the right to revise handicaps on observation.

Please contact the Handicap Secretary if you have any queries regarding handicaps.

Document history

4/12/2006: Sections 3.2.2 and 3.2.3 updated, see AGM 2006