HANDICAP (CDH) TRANSITION TO NEW SOFTWARE PROVIDER

As preparation for the 2020 golf season continues, Scottish Golf would like to inform you that the Central Database for Handicaps (CDH) will transition to a new software provider over the coming days. 

While disruption is expected to be minimal, golf clubs will experience some changes at interface over the next 10 days. A user guide for the new CDH with information on credentials for accessing the new system will be issued to you in due course. 

Should you have any urgent queries, please do not hesitate to get in contact by emailing handicapping@scottishgolf.org or calling 0131 339 3987. 

Kind regards,
Scottish Golf Handicapping Team

Tweet from ClubSystems 

Click to Enlarge

Scottish Golf Update on the World Handicap System (WHS)

Following our last update on the new World Handicap System (WHS), on Friday 27th September, we are aware of some potentially misleading communication by 3rd parties. This has led to a number of questions and as a result we would like to provide clarity on a number of these to all our affiliated golf clubs.

If you haven’t had the opportunity to read our last WHS update, then you can read more HERE.

A reminder: what is changing?

From November 2020, the way in which handicaps are administered is changing. This change is part of the new WHS being rolled out internationally by The R&A and USGA.

As part of the implementation of WHS in November 2020, the governing bodies of amateur golf in Scotland, England, Ireland and Wales will now become the official licensee for all handicap calculations in Great Britain and Ireland.

All handicap calculations will be done centrally by each home nation and no Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) will be licensed to calculate or administer any handicaps in GB&I not just Scotland.

This means that each home nation, within their own jurisdiction, will perform all handicap calculations from all authorised formats of play as outlined in the new WHS rules. Each home nation will then publish a player’s newly calculated handicap index and make this accessible to all clubs and golfers.

Are Scottish Golf working alongside the Council of National Golf Unions (CONGU) to deliver WHS?

Yes, over the next 13 months, in the lead up to the implementation of WHS, Scottish Golf will be working closely in partnership with CONGU and our partners in GB&I in order to deliver the new World Handicapping System.

Upon the implementation of WHS in November 2020, each home nation will become responsible for calculating and administering the handicaps of all golfers under their jurisdiction. 

For each nation, including Scotland, this will be done using the Central Database of Handicaps (CDH).  By moving handicap calculations to the CDH, it will mean there will be one central handicap system in each nation. This will reduce the likelihood of errors such as duplications or conflicts that occur frequently in the current setup.

For clarity, Scottish Golf has always controlled their own CDH as have each of the other home nations. The key change is the CDH will now store and calculate the golfers handicap.

Under WHS, each home nation will produce a new CDH. While Scottish Golf are using a different provider for this than the other home nations, the different systems will interface with each other to ensure our golfers’ handicaps are portable across GB&I which is not currently the case as presently the different CDHs do not interface well with each other.

Are Scotland doing anything differently to the other CONGU nations?

Presently CONGU, as the authority for handicapping across GB&I, license the calculation and administration of handicapping to the eleven various ISVs.

Under WHS, CONGU becomes the licensee from The R&A/USGA to perform the handicap calculation and administer handicaps across the whole of GB&I. No ISVs will have a licence to perform or administer handicapping under WHS in GB&I.

In the rest of GB&I, a new licence is currently still being finalised by CONGU and once agreed it will be shared with all ISVs. This will give ISVs an option to purchase a new licence agreement under the new terms outlined by England, Wales and Ireland. This licence will not be to perform the handicap calculation or to administer handicaps for golf clubs.

As the new ISV licence has not been finalised by CONGU, it’s not known how many ISVs will seek to purchase a new licence. Scottish Golf will not be offering any ISVs the opportunity to purchase a WHS licence in Scotland. Scottish Golf's implementation of WHS will ensure that all golfers and clubs in Scotland will have access to handicapping software.

What we have been working on is an option to ensure that ISVs still have the same functionality to allow clubs to administer their competitions and publish competition results by pushing data directly to them.

Will Scottish Golf Clubs be required to use the new Venue Management System (VMS) as part of this process?

Under WHS, each home nation has been provided with the specifications from The R&A/USGA to develop software required for the calculation of handicaps.

In all of GB&I, affiliated golf clubs will need to use the handicapping software supplied by their home nation, but for all club management functionality other than handicapping, clubs will still have the choice to use other ISV systems as they currently do.

Will there be any additional cost to the golf club if they use Scottish Golf's Venue Management System?

As stated at the 2018 conference and to shareholders at the EGM which approved the increase in affiliation fee which supported the investment in Scottish Golf VMS, the new system and all its club administration and management functionality including and beyond handicapping will be free of charge to all affiliated clubs in Scotland.

Additionally, Scottish Golf will provide one free touch screen per affiliated golf club at no additional charge. There will also be an option for clubs to purchase additional touch screens at cost price to Scottish Golf.

More detailed communication to clubs, golfers and stakeholders as a reminder of why Scottish Golf has developed VMS will follow in due course. Trials are at a progressed stage in a number of clubs and it is estimated that golf clubs across Scotland are currently spending circa £2.5 million annually on management software.

As a golfer, how will I view my handicap under WHS?

Under WHS, all golfers in GB&I will be required to view their handicap on their respective home nation’s handicapping software. This will allow them to view information such as their handicap index, handicap data and their handicap scoring record.

We will be providing access to this through our website, app, direct link with CDH or in the handicapping software provided to clubs who will also have access to all these platforms.

Scottish Golf announces the new Handicap System will be introduced on November 2, 2020

‪⛳️ | Scottish Golf is pleased to announce that the new World Handicap System will be introduced on November 2, 2020. ‬

The governing bodies of amateur golf in Scotland, England, Ireland and Wales are delighted to announce that they have signed the licence for the new World Handicap System (WHS) which will come into operation on November 2, 2020.

As members of the Council of National Golf Unions (CONGU), Scottish Golf, England Golf, the Golfing Union of Ireland, the Irish Ladies Golfing Union and Wales Golf have been driving forces in planning for the new system in alliance with The R&A and USGA.

The current Golf Handicapping System maintained by CONGU will be replaced by WHS which will unify the six different structures currently in operation throughout the world of golf.

With one single, global system in place for the first time, golfers will be able to obtain and maintain a handicap index and use this on any course around the world.

In addition they will be able to compete or simply play a casual round with fellow golfers anywhere on a fair and equal basis.

As well as encouraging players new to the sport to obtain a handicap with ease, the WHS will also modernise the game for those already well versed in the game of golf.

Under the new system a player’s handicap will be based on the average of eight best scores from their last 20 rounds.

WHS will also take into account factors currently not fully represented in the existing handicapping procedure through a course and slope rating system.

“Following recent education seminars across the country, Scottish Golf is pleased to confirm that the new World Handicap System will be implemented on time on November 2, 2020. We believe that moving to a more unified handicap system will be beneficial to all golfers,” said Scottish Golf CEO Andrew McKinlay.

“The team here at Scottish Golf will continue to liaise with, and support clubs across the country to ensure the transition between now and next year is as seamless as possible for everyone involved.”

 CLICK HERE TO GO THE THE SCOTTISH GOLF WEBSITE to read more and a link to portal resources

HANDICAP PORTAL RESOURCES 

ABOUT THE WORLD HANDICAP SYSTEM -- START TO LEARN MORE

The vision to unify the six different handicap systems in use around the world into a single World Handicap System required the commitment of, and collaboration between, many organizations.
All of the above organizations have provided their support to this important initiative and played their part in establishing the key principles, which shaped the proposals and drove forward the initiative to the point where a new World Handicap System can be introduced to the golfing world in 2020.

LEARN MORE

NEW WORLD HANDICAP SYSTEM SEMINARS

The World Handicap System (WHS) is set to launch in 2020 and will replace the six different systems currently in use by over 15 million golfers around the world.

It will bring these together into a single set of Rules for Handicapping, enabling golfers of different abilities to play and compete on a fair and equal basis, no matter where they play.

The R&A and The United States Golf Association (USGA) have developed the World Handicap System to include

• Course rating and slope rating
• Maximum Handicap of 54
• Abnormal course and weather conditions adjustment
• Competitive and recreational scores can count for handicap
• Handicaps calculated from an average of a player’s most recent scores

To help golf clubs prepare for the launch of WHS in 2020, Scottish Golf will be hosting an initial phase of 12 seminars around the country aimed at educating clubs to ease transition to the new system.

Seminars will take place between the 5th August and 29th August 2019. 

These evening Seminars will take place between 6.30pm and 8.30pm, with two delegates per club with responsibility for handicapping invited to attend.

To get all the various seminar dates go to the Scottish Golf Website

NEW WORLD HANDICAP SYSTEM PREPARES ROR IMPLEMENTATION BEGINNING 2020

FROM THE SCOTTISH GOLF WEBSITE

Golf’s new World HandicapSystem, which is designed to bring the game of golf under a single set of Rules for handicapping and provide a more consistent measure of players’ ability between different regions of the world, remains on track for implementation from 2020.

Education has begun with events being held in Singapore, South Africa, Great Britain and Ireland, Japan, Argentina, Brazil, Continental Europe, Canada, the Caribbean and the USA.

A secure resource portal has also been launched to provide national associations with a library of different materials that they can use to help support their own education efforts.

Coinciding with this release, the USGA and The R&A will be launching a social media video campaign to remind golfers of the eight key features of the new Rules, and to reveal more details.

These features include:

• A minimum number of scores to establish a Handicap Index and maximum Handicap Index of 54.0
• Basis of calculation of Handicap Index
• Acceptability of scores for handicap purposes
• Course Rating and Slope Rating
• Calculation of a Playing Handicap
• Maximum hole score for handicap purposes
• Adjustments for abnormal playing conditions
• Frequency of updates of Handicap Index

Significant progress has been made in preparation for the roll out of the new system, which includes building a library of education materials, finalising the new Rules of Handicapping, release of the technical specifications and the continuation of testing. 

Many national associations around the world are busy ensuring that their golf courses are rated in accordance with the Course Rating System and working to update local software platforms so that they are ready to apply the new Rules of Handicapping. While many countries will be ready to transition early in 2020, given both the magnitude of the change for some jurisdictions and varying seasonality throughout the world, it is anticipated that others will need more time.

READ MORE ON THE R&A WEBSITE --- ALSO LEARN MORE

The countdown to the World Handicap System is on! The R&A and @USGA are starting to release materials, including an animated series of videos, to get associations, clubs and players ready for implementation from 2020. #GolfWHS2020 https://t.co/KRoST25upw pic.twitter.com/BMnndqVJj5

— The R&A (@RandA) April 30, 2019

WANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT CDH (CENTRALISED DATABASE OF HANDICAPS)

For the individual Golfer:

• Players able to access their Exact and Playing Handicap online (including date of last update and listing the number of any away scores pending processing at the Player's home golf club)
• Using unique identification numbers ensures all player's scores are recorded on their own individual Player Handicap Record, eliminating the possibility of scores being recorded against the wrong name
• Full annual playing record readily available to all players
• Assurance that the integrity of the CONGU® Unified Handicapping System is being maintained and the System is being consistently applied throughout Scotland/Wales creating as level a playing field as possible across all handicap categories
• Current handicap position available to all players on central server
• Players can access and print individual handicap verifications online (worldwide)using their unique ID number e.g. where required to gain access to play golf courses, holiday golf, late entry into Open competitions etc. (Handicap look-up reports will show the number of pending away scores awaiting processing at the Player's home golf club)
• Personalised 'Scottish Golf' member card, facilitating easy access/reference to CDH

For the Club Administrators:

• A standardised system of assured integrity
• All 'away' scores returned to the 'home' club of players automatically - these will contain correct CSS information along with applicable Stableford / Nett Double Bogey Adjustments
• No further need for golf clubs hosting competitions to manually return the results back to the 'home' clubs of participating players
• 'Away' score administration streamlined through batch data processing of all members 'away' scores
• Significantly reduces the possibility of double entry of 'away' scores
• Eliminates requirement for clubs to file returns for the annual National Handicap Audit
• CDH provides a Handicap history / archive, available when player changes club or leaves the game for a period and later, rejoins a golf club
• Tournament organisers able to authenticate handicaps online for competition entrants in real time
• If a club loses its handicap data for any reason then they can immediately access the full handicap records of their members and reinstate these to minimise disruption to their operations.
• Ability to verify members of affiliated golf clubs and hence provide benefits to such members that are not available to other golfers
• Provision of 'Scottish Golf' member card enabling clubs to automatically verify handicaps of all competitors. Also, at the clubs discretion, the potential to use this member card as a club card e.g. door entry systems

For the governing bodies:

• Ability to verify members of affiliated clubs and hence provide benefits to such members that are not available to other golfers
• Monitor trends in golf club membership
• Automated information available for annual National Handicap Audit purposes
• Unions, Associations, Areas and Counties have ability to access up-to-date handicap information for team and coaching squad selection purposes
• Gives the potential for tournament organisers to access up-to-date information for entry qualification and authenticate handicaps online for competition entrants
• Provides a wealth of statistical information readily accessible to monitor trends in handicapping, participation within the game and assure a fair and equitable handicapping system for all amateur golfers
• Greater assurance that the handicapping system is being applied consistently by all clubs and players throughout golf clubs affiliated to the participating Governing Bodies - thereby increasing integrity of the CONGU Unified Handicapping System
• Provision of 'Scottish Golf' member card to all members of golf clubs affiliated to the participating Governing Bodies

SLGA Club Mailing

A mailing has been sent out to clubs yesterday (3 February). It includes 2 copies of the 2012-2015 CONGU(R) Manual, the entry form for the Match Play Foursomes (closing date 5 March) and the entry form for the Regional Medal Finals (closing date 30 April).

Central Database of Handicaps (CDH) --- UPDATE

The Scottish Golf Union, Scottish Ladies’ Golfing Association and Golf Union of Wales (GUW) have committed to producing a Central Database of Handicaps (CDH) for golf clubs and their members in Scotland and Wales.

Aimed at providing a wide and vitally important range of benefits to golf club members, clubs and their administrators and the governing bodies, the CDH project will be delivered by the Unions as a service to affiliated clubs.
As presented at the SGU Club Seminars at the end of 2009, the development of the Scottish/Welsh CDH is now reaching its final phases.To read more --- Click on the following link
Scottish Golf Website

SLGA Handicap Mailing to all Clubs

The 2010 Handicap Mailing addressed to Ladies Handicap Secretaries at clubs was posted on Thursday 4 February. It contains: - The 2010 Handicap Pack which includes the list of qualifying competitions for 2010 - A CONGU Manual - An order form for additional CONGU Manuals - An application form for a 9 hole course SSS - The entry form for the Scottish Match Play Foursomes

SLGA Matchplay Survey

In 2008 clubs were asked to send the results of their match play knockout competitions to the SLGA to ascertain the effect of the full difference in handicap. The analysis is now complete and the main finding is that with full difference in handicap the lower handicapped player still retains an advantage and can expect to win 60% of the time. The full analysis may be downloaded HERE

Central Database for Handicaps (CDH).

The SGU and SLGA have committed to producing a Central Database of Handicaps for golf clubs and their members in Scotland.

Click here to find out more information on this new development

To find answers to your questions about the CDH click here
To see the benefits for players and handicap administrators click here

2009 Medal Competitions - Added New format - Dual Day Medal

From the SLGA Website
The LGU has advised the National Organisations that LGU Medals will cease to exist from 1st February 2009 and they will be replaced by SLGA Medals. To see a summary of the changes click Click Here.

The SLGA Medal Competitions may be run in the following formats :
1 Single Day Medal
2 Alternative Day Medal
3 Dual Day Medal
To read and print out the full conditions Click Here.

Get a new link on your computer to see your County Competitions

Ayrshire, D&A, Lanarkshire and Renfrewshire Counties use CLUB2000 as their software to calculate the CSS of all our County Medals and upload and transfer your results to your home club.
HowDidiDo is the largest network of golfers anywhere in the world. Holding the handicaps, results and scores of over 1,000,000 men and women.
Registration to HowDidiDo is now required to check handicap lists or competition results. This FREE service is available to any golf club whose administrators use the market leading CLUB2000 software from Club Systems International and therefore any of their members too.

Over 1500 golf clubs currently use the HowDidiDo site. If your club isn't one of those, contact your club's handicap committee, the service is FREE and welcomes new members daily.
If your Home Club uses the software then you can see all your results on your HowDidI Do Home Page
If you haven't already, you will need to register with HowDidiDo and sign in, to use most of this site. It's FREE! To try it out by Clicking Here