EGU TO HOLD REFERENDUM ON NATIONAL HANDICAPPING SYSTEM
The English Golf Union is holding a referendum among its
affiliated clubs over the introduction of a mandated National
Computerised Handicapping System.
All 1,906 clubs have been sent a form seeking support for
the system and for approval to increase the golf club member’s
subscription, currently paid to the Union, to fund it. This
increase would not be greater than £1.
Clubs, and in particular Golf Club Secretaries and Chairmen
of SSS & Handicapping Committees, will be aware this topic
has been the subject of much debate throughout each of the
Home Unions and CONGU over a number of years.
However, the EGU’s Executive Committee feel the time
is right for action if the governing body for men’s
amateur golf in England is to take handicapping and competition
golf forward into the 21st century.
The Golfing Union of Ireland has already implemented such
a system and the feedback from clubs and golfers there is
overwhelmingly in favour.
The GUI was invited by the Association of Golf Club Secretaries
to make a presentation of their system at the Association’s
recent conference and fears and suspicions surrounding the
introduction of a centralised system were allayed. Indeed,
the concept received total support and praise from those present.
Delegates then challenged the EGU to produce a scheme for
its members based on the GUI system or at least compatible
to it, and the conference supported the principle of mandating
a scheme funded through an increase in subscriptions purely
for such a purpose.
The EGU SSS and Handicapping and Executive Committees, having
received the report from the conference, are heartened by
the warmth and intensity of the support for the proposal and
wish to show a positive lead. The Executive Committee therefore
unanimously agreed the Union should proceed with the introduction
of a National Computerised Handicapping System, subject to
the support of clubs.
“This is a very important and historic decision for
the future of our game and will only succeed should it receive
the full support from our affiliated clubs,” says the
EGU’s Chief Executive Paul Baxter. “For this reason
it is vital that every club casts its vote”.
“Failure to vote or a non-vote can always be taken
either way; therefore to ensure there are no misunderstandings,
clubs who fail to reply will be taken as supportive of the
proposal.”
The deadline for receiving votes will be Friday 8 August
at EGU headquarters, Woodhall Spa. The results of this survey
and the number of votes cast will be presented to the EGU
Executive Committee at their meeting on Wednesday 20 August
for ratification, following which all clubs and county unions
will be advised of the decision and the way forward.
|