when can you hit a provisional?

[Halebopp]

Under the EGA system you have an active handicap if you've returned three scores that season or returned four scores the previous season. I can't recall the exact numbers but last year about 46% of all golfers in Finland had an active handicap. This year our golf union had a campaign to get people returning more scores in preparation for the WHS and the move to an averaging system and the number of active handicaps jumped to 57% or so. And that means all the people who are members of a club, and not all members are actually golfers (but you need to be a member somewhere if you want to play).

 

But it's important to keep in mind those who don't return scores at all, or return less than four scores rarely play in any competitions anyway, so the whole handicap doesn't really matter to them. They likely return the scores and activate their handicap because of the one or two scrambles per season.

[Newby]

"But it's important to keep in mind those who don't return scores at all, or return less than four scores rarely play in any competitions anyway, so the whole handicap doesn't really matter to them. They likely return the scores and activate their handicap because of the one or two scrambles per season."

 

Ditto that.

[Newby]

But it's important to keep in mind those who don't return scores at all, or return less than four scores rarely play in any competitions anyway, so the whole handicap doesn't really matter to them. They likely return the scores and activate their handicap because of the one or two scrambles per season.Ditto that

 

[antip]

In our system, that card is simply a non-counter - there is no 9 hole competition in effect.

[Augster]

In the US there isn’t any “declare it a recreational round” BS. It’s either a postable round or it isn’t. Are you playing solo? Don’t post. Are you playing with someone? Possibly postable. Are you playing by the ROG? Postable Did you play at least 7 holes or 14 holes by the ROG and cheat the rules on the others? Postable 9 or 18.

 

[Colin L]

Over a 2 year period (2016 and 2017), 28% of the 178 members identified as being underhandicapped had returned only 6 scores. Three rounds a year in my view and experience cannot usuallly represent a player's ability. A declining player who cannot play sufficiently close to handicap and who returns only 3 cards year will take three years to add one stroke to his or her playing handicap. In the meantime their golf is slip sliding away at rather more than a third of a stroke per annum. It's a systemic problem.

I'll email you more about what we did about the underhandicapping that had built up over some years.

[Mr. Bean]

This is what we in Europe have been doing for as long as we have been playing golf. Welcome to the club!