Members may not be aware that the computerised nature of the World Handicap System now means that submitted scores are subject to a far greater degree of electronic scrutiny.
England Golf, and by extension, Essex County Golf, are now able to monitor scores in real time and in far more detail.
What this means for you, as players and members of Stoke by Nayland, is that you need to take more responsibility for the management of your own handicap by ensuring all scores entered are accurate, are marked or attested by another member, and, importantly, are entered within the rules of WHS.
Each year, more than 16,000 general play scores are entered online by members playing at Stoke. While it is almost physically impossible for the Handicap Committee to monitor that number of scores, the WHS software can, and does, identify and highlight any irregularities.
In recent weeks, the club has been asked by Essex County to take action against members whose scoring record has been shown to include scores which are not acceptable – for any one of a number of reasons.
One of the most common reasons for scores being marked as unacceptable, is players not registering their intent to submit a score before they start playing. The WHS software identifies the time that a player signs into the system (either England Golf or How Did I Do ) and also registers the time the score was subsequently entered.
There have been many instances recently of players at Stoke signing in and then entering scores for an 18 hole general play round less than two hours later. These are classified as unacceptable scores and, when taken out of a player’s scoring history can have quite dramatic effects on handicaps.
Retrospectively, when scores are analysed and found to be unacceptable, players face disqualification or a suspension or withdrawal of their handicaps.
Steve Clark, the Chair of the Stoke Handicap Committee makes this appeal: “Please can all members take note, and take extra care when entering scores – particularly general play scores. Every player intending to submit a score must register that intent before they go out to play, and must then enter a valid score when they complete their round – whether they finished all 18 holes or not.
“You must also name the person marking or attesting your score so that this can be verified.
“If you don’t follow these simple rules, we will be faced with an increasing number of players facing WHS discipline which would be unfortunate for them and for us as a club”.
England Golf has produced a short video outlining player handicap responsibility, which can be viewed by clicking this link:
