Golf Ireland to scrutinise eye-catching General Play scores to vet Championship entries
Golf Ireland. Picture: Golffile
Golf Ireland has announced changes to qualification criteria for this year's Bridgestone Men's and Women's Tours that ask serious questions about the use of General Play scores in the World Handicap System.
Entrants must ensure their Handicap Index is proportionately based on scores achieved in competition and not overly reliant on General Play Scores.
If an entrant has more than four General Play Scores on their record and those scores are "more than two shots better on average" than those achieved in competition, their entry will be reviewed by the Championship Committee and they may be relegated to the waiting list or have their entry withdrawn.
Naturally, the Golf Ireland press release was fully supportive of the new WHS but this action is clearly saying entries by players with eye-catching General Play scores do not pass the smell test.
“The World Handicap System facilitates and encourages the return of General Play Scores as a way of ensuring players’ Handicap Indexes are as current and responsive to their ability as possible,” Golf Ireland said in a press release.
“This is a facility that is available to all golfers worldwide and without restriction, irrespective of their ability – and this will continue to be the case. However, where Handicap Index is used to determine the ballot for a Championship field, it is important that these Handicap Indexes reflect players’ demonstrated ability in Competition Play – as well as General Play.”
Clearly, Golf Ireland is saying that it will be keeping a close eye on those General Play scores that bear little relation to scores posted in competition and taking action to ensure we have “the best fields possible”.
“Just as is the case with the other criteria for balloting these Championships – such as World Amateur Golf Rankings and previous championship performances – the aim of these changes to handicapping ballots is to ensure the events on the Bridgestone Men’s and Women’s Tours (Orders of Merit) have the best fields possible.”
It’s significant the changes made to Golf Ireland Championships entry criteria are based on recommendations from the World Handicap System’s Handicap Operations Committee and are in line with competition regulations from nations around the CONGU region.
The full process that will be employed to assess any variances in General Play and Competition Scores can be found in Appendix 2 to the Summary of Key Changes for 2023. To view these changes please click here. (File also stored here)
The changes include a limitation on shots that can be “given/received will be further limited in the AIG Intermediate, Minor and Challenge Cups as well as the Revive Active Women’s Four-Ball and the Fred Perry Trophy”; the widening of handicap bands in the AIG Jimmy Bruen (3.5-12.5) and Pierce Purcell Shields (12.5-21.5) and the merging of Men’s Four-Ball and AIG Pierce Purcell Shield.
Addressing the action on General Play scores, Golf Ireland Director of Championships Mark Wehrly commented: “As with the many other changes we are introducing to our Championships programme in 2023, the provision regarding General Play scores is being introduced after much thought and consultation, and is aimed to ensure fairness in the qualification process.”
Entries for all 2023 Golf Ireland Championships will open on Wednesday 1st February here.
Registration for player profiles is open.
The launch of player profiles is an enhancement for 2023 based on player feedback to improve the efficiency of the entry process.
Once a profile is registered, players will be able to enter Championships with one click.
To register a player profile, please click here
