Juniors

Is there a national Handicap Scheme for Juniors?

At the time of writing (March 2000), most clubs adopt their own approach for handicapping boys. In some cases, clubs in a local area with a shared interest have adopted similar procedures. However, during March 2000, the English Golf Union has announced a new recommended scheme for Clubs to adopt for the provision of handicapping for Junior boys. This is based on a similar scheme formulated by the Scottish Golf Union, but not yet published.

The English Golf Union is hoping this will provide for a more consistent approach to Junior Handicapping. Their scheme, reproduced below, allows for Juniors to be given handicaps up to 54. Once Juniors’ handicaps reduce to 28 or below, the recommendation is that their handicaps fall within the Men’s (CONGU) system.

Is there a national Handicap Scheme for Girls?

The Ladies Golf Union (LGU) Handicapping System provides for handicaps up to 45. It is believed many clubs integrate the handicapping of their Girls into the adult system.

English Golf Union Junior Handicapping -- Recommended Scheme

1. Obtaining a Handicap

1.1 To obtain a handicap a Junior shall submit three cards at this Home Club (preferably over a measured course) each of which shall be signed by a person acceptable to the Club Committee.

1.2 Any score more than two over par at any hole shall be amended to 2 over par. The maximum reduction under this clause shall be 6 strokes.

1.3 After these reductions have been made an Exact Handicap shall be allotted equivalent to the number of strokes by which the best of the submitted rounds differs from the SSS of the course.

1.4 Juniors justifying a handicap of 28 or less shall have their handicap controlled and adjusted in accordance with the stipulations contained in the current CONGU Standard Scratch Score and Handicapping Scheme 1983.

1.5 Handicaps in the range 29 to 54 may be allocated as "Club Handicaps" to those Juniors not capable of playing to a handicap of 28 or better.

NOTE: At the discretion of the Home Club it is permissible for "Club Handicaps", in the range of 29 to 54, to be allocated to Juniors submitting cards over 6 or 9 holes, such cards to be adjusted to an 18 hole score. eg. A Junior with a 'best of three' score of 60, adjusted as per paragraph 1.2, over 9 holes on a course with a par of 35 would receive a handicap of (60*2)-(35*2) = 50. It is recommended that this concession should only be applied to Juniors of 14 years or younger.

2. Alterations of Handicaps

2.1 Juniors with a handicap of 28 or less shall have their handicap adjusted in accordance with Clause 16 of the CONGU Scheme.

2.2 "Club Handicaps" (29-54) shall be adjusted as follows:-

2.2.1 Returns of 1 - 6 Strokes below the SSS will result in handicap reductions of 0.5 of a stroke for each stroke below the SSS.

2.2.2 Each additional stroke below the SSS will result in a further reduction of handicap of 1 stroke.
Eg. A Junior with a Club Handicap of 42 returning a net score of 60 over a course with a SSS of 70 will be reduced as follows:- 42-(6*0.5)-(4*1) = 35.

2.2.3 No CSS shall be calculated, Buffer Zones do not apply and handicaps shall not be increased other than in exceptional circumstances under Clause 19.

2.2.4 When a Junior's handicap is to be reduced so that it goes from a "Club Handicap" to a "CONGU Handicap", it shall be reduced at the rate appropriate to the higher category only as far as brings his handicap down into the lower category. The balance of the reduction shall be appropriate to the lower category.
Eg. A Junior with a "Club Handicap" of 30 returning a net score of 64 over a course with a SSS of 70 shall be reduced as follows:- 30-(4*0.5)-(2*0.4) = 27.2. (Such a Junior having attained a "CONGU Handicap" will subsequently have his handicap adjusted in accordance with paragraph 2.1).

3. General

3.1 All Junior competitions involving competitors with a handicap of 28 or less shall be played off a measured course with an official SSS.

3.2 The scores of competitors playing from a "Club Handicap" shall be excluded from any CSS calculation.

3.3 In the event of a majority of Juniors competing with "Club Handicaps" it may not be practicable to play off a measured course in which case those with CONGU handicaps may only be adjusted under the terms of Clause 19. Alternatively, if mixed handicaps, ie. CONGU and Club are competing, separate divisions may be run, CONGU handicap Juniors playing off a measured course, Club handicap Juniors playing off tees deemed by the Club Organiser to be appropriate to their age and standard.