The European Golf Association on:

Playing to the Rules of Golf

World Handicap Meeting Far Hills, USA

23 May, 2013

Playing to the RoG

• Governing bodies: “RoG basic premise”• Rules and Handicap – defining features of golf• Playing to the RoG not major problem– Players make an effort in

competitions/handicap purposes• WWH should encourage strict adherence to

RoG; but ultimately players’ responsibility– Casual/social/EDS-rounds: announcement

crucial to commit players to RoG – If WWH assumes score is attested, then

positive peer pressure

RoG on holing out?

• Individual stroke play vs. match play, fourball, and Stableford

• Not holing out often in accordance with RoG, not essentially RoG-issue

• Key: hcp system requirement to estbl. score; features in place to accommodate

• EGA/CONGU view: whatever feature is used in WWH, make it maximally prescriptive

Dq-scores and handicapping

Dq-scores and handicappingRule number USGA EGA CONGU GA3-2 A A NA A 3-3 A A A A6-2b A A A A6-2b A A A A6-6b A A A A6-6b A A A A6-6d NA/A A A A7-1 NA A/NA A11-4 A A A A15-3b A A A A20-7c A A/NA A A20-7c A A A A1-2 NA NA NA A1-3 NA NA NA NA3-4 NA NA NA NA4-1, 4-2, 4-3 NA NA NA NA4-4c A NA NA NA5-1 NA NA NA A5-2 NA NA NA NA6-3 A A NA A6-4 NA NA NA A6-7 A NA NA NA6-8 A A/NA NA NA11-1 NA NA NA NA14-3 NA NA NA A/NA22-1 A NA NA A33-7 NA NA NA NA/A

Generalizations – conditions apply!

Dq-scores and handicapping

• Accept dq-scores for handicap purposes in WWH– Technical breaches

irrelevant for playing ability

– Little room for manipulation

– Well-established– Agreement needed on

which dq-scores are acceptable?

• DO NOT accept dq-scores for handicap purposes in WWH– Counterintuitive– Added complexity,

decisions necessary– Few scores– Limited effect– Potential

manipulation (but flagging mechanisms)

Discussion