Club Handicap

Well the time as come for me to join my local club so I can obtain a offical handicap as the English Golf Union are stopping their Associate Member program which provided my handicap cert.

My local club as informed me that I need to submit three countersigned cards to be accessed. I will then enter a "probationary period" which during this time the first 5 comp cards I enter will be used to reallocate a handicap.

Can someone with experience please explain what happens if I dont play in 5 comp during this period as i'm on call for work so fixing days for golf is impossible?

You are probably correct in saying that it is something the club has made up, Chris, but on reflection, I think it is a great idea, as the cards then produced will be under competition rules and likely to be more accurate than the three friendly cards one puts in.

They use 3 different entry groups so I can see both points of views Chris/John so does this make any sense. This is the email the Club Secretary sent me:

Group 1: You are joining from a CONGU affiliated club and have a current handicap - you must  provide a certificate - we will then apply the same handicap. You may start playing in competition straight away

Group 2: You were a member of a CONGU club but membership as lapsed more than a year its important you provide your handicap history. You will then submit three countersigned cards and the handicap commitee will consider them along with your history before assigning a handicap

Group 3: You have no CONGU handicap history you will be asked to submit three countersigned cards and the committee will assign a handicap.

If you fall into groups 2 and 3 you enter a probationary period. The first five competition cards you submit during this period will be used to reallocate a handicap if appropriate.

I'm just slightly concerned regarding my time for these competition rounds. I work on the basis that i'm free for a game I go but due to being on call all the time for work I never plan ahead.

Think I'm going to have to pop in and clear all this up because like you said Chris I'd like to play my normal weekly game with the lads but under Competition rules and hand the card.

Cheers Chris  I'll get onto it next chance I get. I love to play golf by the rules but with mates getting away from work/kids etc not to be forced to enter competitions that I have no interest in if that makes sense