The R&A has done some splendid work over the years and coin an enormous amount of money from hosting the Open Championship each summer. For most of us this is the premium individual tournament in the world and it is beautifully run by the R&A. They have used much of this income over the past decade or so to generate a very real and growing interest in golf around the world. They had rather left the domestic scene to the various golf unions on the presumption that they were doing a reasonable job. Nothing could have been further from the truth.
When a body has the opportunity to improve a sport, it should take that opportunity and do the very best that it can. In writing this column, I am grieved to say that in creating the new World Handicapping System, both the R&A and England Golf have contrived to create the most ludicrous carve up of golf. England Golf will no doubt deny this, as it is their lifeline to a future of funding. But the R&A should know better, this below is from their website:
Martin Slumbers, Chief Executive of The R&A, said:
“We are working with our partners and National Associations to make golf more modern, more accessible and more enjoyable as a sport and the new World Handicap System represents a huge opportunity in this regard.
“We want to make it more attractive to golfers to obtain a handicap and strip away some of the complexity and variation which can be off-putting for newcomers. Having a handicap, which is easier to understand and is truly portable around the world, can make golf much more enjoyable and is one of the unique selling points of our sport.”
Utter rubbish I’m afraid.
There are two major problems that I have with the R&A on their proposed new World Handicapping System. First, it is far, far too complex and the opposite of what is needed. Secondly, they seem to have given England Golf (and the other unions) the sole right to operate the new system. This will ensure that we are stuck with the same dim-witted people at Woodhall Spa for many more years to come.
Commercial operators have to offer handicaps to their customers and England Golf (together with their county colleagues) blackmail and coerce us into being affiliated and paying thousands of pounds each year to an organisation which continues to set golf back. If we do not comply with the threats to pay affiliation fees on time, we then face being de-affiliated and no longer being able to offer handicaps to any of our members.
Golf centres and golf ranges are responsible for the majority of new golfers taking up the sport. Those facilities responsible for the growing the game should not be threatened by the alleged governing body and their county cohorts.
The previous Chief Executive of England Golf, David Joy, announced his great plan for turning golf around based on increasing membership, NOT participation. This was the clearest example of not understanding the industry. Membership of golf clubs is in decline because many do not have the time to play as much as in the past, and the costs of membership are still high. Most clubs are more inclusive than they were, but many clubs are still snobby to their core and are not really welcoming of women, racial minorities, children and beginners.
In fact, participation in golf is thriving at many facilities. The flexible attitude of golf businesses ensures that well run clubs have busy tee sheets (full of members and green fee payers) and clubhouses are made available to all parts of the local community, to ensure that the business can trade profitably. There is a natural, welcoming atmosphere at most proprietary owned clubs, because happy golfers spend more, return frequently, and recommend the clubs to their friends.
Participation is the key to growth and for more people to participate there must be a clear pathway through the sport.
A fair and simple handicap system must be a key element to this and be available to everyone. England Golf needs a complete overhaul before it is fit to be considered for this task.
Please Martin Slumbers – have a rethink and invest the future of the game with more hope than the current proposal.
Best wishes, Colin Jenkins
For those wishing to see the briefing notes from England Golf on the World Handicapping System 2020, please click here
