GENERAL PLAY SCORES FOR WHS HANDICAP PURPOSES

General Play is when an organised competition is not being contested and golfers are playing:

• A casual round of golf; or
• Competitively but not in an event organised by the Competition Committee.

For your handicap to be a fair reflection of your playing ability you should return as many acceptable scores in competition as possible. It is not always easy to play in as many competitions as you may like so you are able to submit scores from General Play. This may be due to:

• Work or family commitments
• Difficulty obtaining an acceptable starting time on competition days.
• A declining desire to play competitive golf.

How to pre-register a General Play score

The Golf Ireland App provides for pre-registration and return of general play scores. The App can be used at players’ Home or Away Clubs.

To pre-register your intent to play a General Play score you should note the following:

• A course must be in Acceptable Score condition and playing to its full length. Check with the proshop prior to starting your round.
• If you do not use the Golf Ireland App and the computer terminal is not available, you must record your intention to submit a General Play Score on a general play registration form in Kilcock Golf Club or the Away club.
• If you have registered your intention to return a general play score on-line but not submitted your score, you must return a properly completed scorecard to Kilcock Golf Club with the name and membership number (CDH) of the marker.
• If you have registered your intention to return a general play score off-line you must return the properly completed scorecard to the Handicap Secretary, Kilcock Golf Club with name and membership number (CDH) of marker, together with evidence of off-line pre-registration if round played at an Away Club.

Alternatively, you can email the Handicap Secretary, Kilcock Golf Club registering your intent to submit a General Play score at [email protected]. You must return the properly completed scorecard to this email address or drop the actual card into the Pro Shop for the Handicap Secretary’s attention.

• The Handicap Committee may consider a player to have pre-registered their intent to submit an acceptable score for handicap purposes when playing in an authorised format of play in a regular, organised event with other players.

If a player fails to return a General Play Score on the Golf Ireland App then Golf Ireland will automatically apply a penalty score to the player’s record. Players and attestors will get a series of emails before the automated penalty score (APS) is applied.

If a player persistently fails to return General Play scores the Handicap Committee may apply disciplinary action such as suspension of the handicap index for a period of time.

If you have any queries relating to the Golf Ireland App or the World Handicap System you can contact the Handicap Secretary at [email protected]

Men’s Handicap and Competition Committees – March 2022