Why are handicap rounds restricted to competitions?

Aussie Golfer has previously discussed the new handicap system rolling out across Australia on April 9, 2010 (see new handicapping changes). But one aspect of the new system is puzzling.

Why will all rounds of golf entered for handicapping purposes be restricted to competition rounds?

The new handicapping system abolishes the daily course rating (i.e. CCR) and is compared to the official course rating only. No longer is your golf round evaluated with respect to other scores but to the course difficulty, which will not change from one day to the next.

A minimum number of golfers playing the course on a given day is no longer needed to calculate a course rating and therefore the idea of playing competition golf in order to contribute a score to your handicap is made redundant.

I have always resented the idea that I cannot play a round of golf when I choose (say late afternoon) and hand the card in to contribute to my handicap.

A simple sign-in system to register the round and a partner with an official Australian handicap to sign your card should be suffice to hand in your card without being in the midst of a club competition.

Aussie Golfer posed the question to Golf Australia recently. The response indicated it will not be implemented until 2012.

Initially there will be no change to the existing regulations re this however by the time the full USGA Handicap System is implemented in 2012, we will be using social rounds for handicapping in addition to competition rounds. GA is yet to make a determination re the precise schedule for the implementation of this change.

Why do we have to wait two years? Is there a fear of a backlash from club professionals who make money from competition rounds? I don't believe competition rounds will be greatly affected by the change.

Any thoughts on this? Or answers?!

Fake golf magazine

I was forwarded this obviously fake magazine cover made up by a clever (and somewhat mischievous) golfer from out Gosford way.

Apparently the joke didn't go down too well when his club and greenkeepers found out about it.

It is all in jest of course but as we all agree, they could work on their on-course demeanour. :-)

Click image to enlarge

Recalling Eldrick 'Tiger' Woods

Rumours of Tiger Woods' return to golf are rampant as the 2010 PGA Tour is now well underway. His usual opening tournament has come and gone, but the biggest event for the year is just a few weeks away, the Accenture World Matchplay Championship.

Accenture was one of Tiger's big sponsors and they were one of the first to drop him in favour of an elephant on a surfboard. It would be somewhat ironic and unlikely, if he made his return for this tournament.

Like all massive sports stars or celebrities who slip up or "transgress", open season is quickly declared on them. No one has been light on Woods and I've been amazed just how many non-golf followers have joined in.

It has surprised me just how famous he was outside of golf circles as a name as much as anything. Most people would struggle to tell you how many majors he won an very few know his real name.

Some ardent golf fans have fervently claimed Tiger is not taking a break from golf. Many are adamant this is NOT a break and he's just going through a rough patch. He will be back playing as usual.

In truth, it doesn't matter. When he comes back it is going to be massive and all focus (once he steps on the fairway) will be on his golf game and whether he can play as magically as he always did.

The three most interesting comments from fellow professional golfers during his "break from golf" have come from Jesper Parnevik, Geoff Ogilvy and Tom Watson.

Jesper Parnevik gave Woods a right royal flogging over his "transgressions" and given his proximity to Tiger and his wife (he introduced them), then it is probably fair enough.

Geoff Ogilvy has been as candid as anyone when asked about the situation. He suggested he should emerge and speak to the media well before he steps out on to the golf course. This way the rest of the golfers on the PGA Tour can be spared the chaos that will ensue at the tournament if he doesn't. Nicely put and again hard to fault despite the fact that I think chaos will ensue anyway.

Tom Watson has suggested that when Tiger returns, he not only cleans up his private life but his on-course attitude. He admitted to sending Tiger Woods a private letter well before the affairs were made public, encouraging him to stop the tantrums and club throwing. Tiger is supposedly the most fined player on tour, so once more this advice is hard to fault too.

The Herald-Sun's Mark Hayes hinted that Woods will be teeing it up again in two weeks at the Accenture Matchplay Championship. It is hard to believe this coming from anyone let alone an article in the Herald-Sun but I, like Padraig Harrington found the whole transgression story hard to believe from day one.

But when he does return, maybe Tiger's given name is more appropriate. Eldrick. It is rather plain, less feisty than Tiger and more like a player on tour trying to prove himself once again.

Think of it like when Prince changed his name to the symbol. Once he shows the world just how good he is at his chosen profession, he can reclaim the "Tiger" moniker.

Related Stories

How the Tiger Woods story has affected me
This murky Tiger affair
Tiger admits to "transgressions"

A tip from Seve Ballesteros

Here's one for those suffering on the golf course at the moment.

Seve Ballesteros was asked during his prime about how he manages to subdue his anger hitting after a bad shot.

"Instant Amnesia".

Image Source

Aussie Golf Players Facebook Group

Just a quick note to say a Facebook group has been added for Australian Golfers.

The group description is:

For Aussie Golf Players who play Golf at least once a year!

Get the Latest Offers, Freebies & Discounts from some of the top Golfing Businesses Australia-wide. Invites to Industry Events & Expos. Beginners & Professionals welcome. Save thousands of Dollars!!!

If you're on Facebook, what have you got to lose?! Join up to Aussie Golf Players here.

Related Post

Create your own live leaderboard using Twitter

Funky new PGA Tour Website

Skim it across the water - for a hole-in-one.

This golf shot video has had a resurgence of late going around on email once again but many people are questioning its legitimacy. As it hadn't been posted on Aussie Golfer before I figured now was a good time.

This is completely real. It is more real than Phil Mickelson's man-boobs.

The hole-in-one was made by Vijay Singh during his practice round at the US Masters at Augusta National last year. It is a bit of a tradition for the golfers to try it during their practice rounds but this was the first that actually went in the hole.

Here is the infamous shot, taken by members of the gallery that day from two different angles.

Other great hole-in-one videos

Million dollar hole-in-one

Amazing hole-in-one

A search for the most comfortable golf shoe

Aussie Golfer has been on a bit of a mission over the past few months to find the most comfortable golf shoes available.

Many golf shoes look great, some feel pretty good in that golf shoe kinda way but very few give that feel like wearing runners.

I've been eyeing off all golf shoes that walk past like some sort of golf shoes fetish freak, assuming (incorrectly) that I can glean some idea of comfort with an owl like stare.

This unblinking gaze was squarely aimed at Fred Couples' golf shoes during last weekend's Champions Tour tournament. What are they? Sneakers?! They look like a pair of Tom Boyle's that I used to have. The comfiest shoes I've ever worn I might add. Ask any skater if you don't believe me.

They turned out to be Ecco's new range of golf "street" shoes. I never knew Ecco made golf shoes and Fred Couples could probably make clogs look comfortable but they look fantastic except for one thing.

They have no spikes in the bottom of them. They can't of course as they couldn't be worn "on the street" if they did but will all golf courses allow them? Can you really see members of Pennant Hills, Royal Adelaide or Kingston Heath letting these through the door?

I still want a pair. They'll look good when I hit my ball over the fence onto Links Street.

Photo courtesy of Getty Images. Source

Handicapping changes set for April 9, 2010

Stay up to date with the latest on any handicapping changes by signing up to Aussie Golfer with your email address on the right hand side of the page!

Golf Australia have announced that new handicapping changes will come into effect on April 9, 2010 at 9am.

What does this mean?
The new handicapping changes are the biggest shake-up of amateur golf in Australia for a very long time. It will provide a better representation of your handicap and eliminate the problem with transferring a handicap to a different course that arose with the previous system.

The Golf Australia website has a number of different information sheets but if you have a short attention span and like your information fast and 21st century style, here it is in a nutshell.

In a nutshell

• The changes on April 9, 2010 are the first in a three part package to be rolled out.
• It will introduce the rolling sample method and remove the daily course rating component (i.e. CCR) from calculations. (For more info, New Handicap System: Hoes does it work?)
• The second and third packages will not be implemented for some time.
• These later packages will include converting all scores to stableford scores for handicapping and a roll out of the Slope system for course ratings and comparisons.

What will happen?
So as of April 9, 2010 all handicaps will be recalculated. All previous scores posted prior to this date will be incorporated into the new system and the CCR will no longer be used to calculate handicaps.

What do you need to do?
Nothing. This is a big change to Australian golf but you won't have to do anything. Everything will be automated. The only thing you should do is just double check your handicap after this time.

Related articles
New handicapping set for Australian golf
Australian handicapping changes
Australia adopts US course rating system
Reasons for Australia's new course ratings
Golf handicapping: What's with the 0.96?
New handicap system: how does it work?

Allenby swinging well, on and off the course

Anthony Kim may not like it but you have to hand it to Robert Allenby, he keeps us all entertained on and off the course.

This week's PGA Tour event, the superbly named Farmers Insurance Open is played at both Torrey Pines North and South. The South course was host to the 2008 US Open and considered the harder of the two.

Allenby shot a bogey-free 67 today and although sitting three shots behind the leaders, he was the only player in the top 15 to have played the South course so far. Here's what he said after his round:

"I gauge myself off this golf course," Allenby said. "This is a real golf course. If it wasn't, they wouldn't have had a U.S. Open here. I don't want to say the other course is Mickey Mouse because that would be rude. But it's Mickey Mouse-ish."

It is not like Robert to be rude.

Image courtesy of AP Photo. Source

Karrie Webb awarded Order of Australia

It would be remiss of me not to point out the award given to Karrie Webb this week. She was appointed as a member of the Order of Australia as part of the Australia Day celebrations.

The award came as a complete shock to Webb who was awarded the honour for her services to golf and numerous charities including the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation.

The awards are given to Australians who have served the country in their field. This is a timely reminder to all Australian golf fans just how good Karrie Webb has been. She is Australia's most successful golfer of all time with arguably the best golf swing.

Read more Karrie Webb realises 'wild dream' from SMH or head over to Karrie Webb's official website.

Image courtesy of LPGA.com