Handicap Information
Please feel free to contact me should you need to discuss a Handicap related matter.
We have a great golfing year ahead, at a course that is fast becoming one of the best in the UK.
Wesley Jones
Handicap Secretary - Wesley Jones
E-mail address - wesleyjones1977@yahoo.co.uk
Inactive Handicaps
Obtaining a Handicap
A Handicap at Wychwood is something to be proud of; here's how you can get one
New members to Wychwood Park have a number of options in obtaining a handicap when they join.
Firstly, if they already have a handicap at another or previous club, they can simply transfer there handicap to Wychwood Park, by providing a handicap certificate from that club which has been signed by a handicap secretary or committee position.
If the new member decides to keep memberships at more than one club, this is allowed, but he/or she, must stipulate where the hanidcap is to be managed, i.e. the Home Club.
If a new member wants Wychwood Park as the home club, this must be stipulated on the handicap cerificate, or covering letter and the other club(s), must be informed. (We will also need to be aware of what the away club(s) are so that we can forward information to these clubs.
If a new member wishes to keep their hanidcap at a club other than Wychwood Park, we will still need to see a certificate, but we need to be told that the Handicap is an "Away" hanidcap and which club is the players home club.
If a new member does not have a current valid handicap, or has never had a handicap, 3 cards, played at Wychwood and signed by a current member with a handicap, need to be submitted to the Handicap Secretary.
If the new member has never had a handicap before, this is all that is required (although if this information can be included on the card it will help the process). If, however, the new member submitting cards has held a handicap in the past, this information needs to be included as well, so that this can be taken into account when setting the handicap.
Once the 3 cards have been received, they will be assessed based on rules stipulated as part of the CONGU rules, where the total medal score is adjusted to remove any scores above double bogey and subtracted from the Standard Scratch Score (SSS) and the BEST score of the three is used to set the handicap.
If you need and further assistance in relation to obtaining a new handicap at Wychwood Park, please feel free to contact the Handicap Secretary via Email
Maintaining Your Handicap
It is the players responsibility to maintain there handicap and there are basically two ways that this is done.
Firstly, by submitting cards scored as part of Qualifying competitions, where the card will automatically be assessed as part of the competition and adjusted against the Competition Standard Scratch Score (CSSS)
Adjustments will be based on your score in relation to the CSSS and your handicap category. (A further explanation of Handicap Categories and Buffer zones will be provided)
The player must ensure that competition scores are returned via the computer system (when available) and the signed card must be placed in the competition box. This ensures that the CSSS is set correctly and hanidcaps are adjusted according to the playing conditions.
If you score over your "buffer zone" your exact handicap will be increased by 0.1 shots.
If you score "under CSSS", you exact handicap is reduced according to the Handicap Category you are in. (See table below)
| Category | Hcap Range | Buffer | Reduction | Increase |
| 1 | 0.1 - 5.4 | +1 | - 0.1 | +0.1 |
| 2 | 5.5 - 12.4 | +2 | - 0.2 | +0.1 |
| 3 | 12.5 - 20.4 | +3 | - 0.3 | +0.1 |
| 4 | 20.5 - 28.4 | +4 | - 0.4 | +0.1 |
The second method of maintaining a handicap is commonly known as General Play and is simply an assessment of a players playing ability outside of competition. It is based on the reliance of the player to honestly provide non-competition scores in order to establish improvements (or in some cases the opposite) in playing ability and, therefore, scores.
Any "general play" card can be assessed by the Handicap Secretary and a change in handicap will, where applicable, be agreed by the Handicap Committee applied.