Universal Handicaps on the way...

PA-PLAYA

Said as much a few years back. And I'm guessing that when the USGA instituted the rule last fall that all rounds applied toward handicap posting were required to be witnessed by a fellow player as of 2017 - they were basically laying the groundwork for compliance with the way the R&A operates.

This will be incredibly difficult to manage. Not saying it can't be done, but there's an enormous difference between the golf culture in Europe and the US, particularly as it relates to establishing and maintaining an official handicap index.

http://www.golfchannel.com/news/golf-central-blog/usga-ra-developing-world-handicap-system/?cid=facebook-gc-a-usga-ra-developing-world-handicap-system-041917

mikeintopeka

This looks like a major project to create a solution to a problem that doesn't exist. If the majority (i.e. greater than 50%) of golfers were participating in some international competition with handicaps then go ahead and set standards.

Simple fix? I'd propose that the tournament committee of ANY competition played under the rules of golf enter the players' scores using the ESC. These scores are weighted more heavily for your index or you are given a 'competition index' whichever is generally easy to administer/calculate. Those that maintain a casual handicap for weekend nassaus aren't affected and the sandbaggers entering tournaments to try to win the spoils of victory will be handicapped (pun intended).

SVonhof

I am rarely on the course alone, except when playing a second 9 holes after my normal twilight 9 and my partners don't want to continue. I always post as normal though, since the first 9 was with others, the second 9 should count.

sdandrea1

How on earth is a guy going to be able to sandbag with all this honest rules bullshit happening?

rsvman

sdandrea1 LOL.

Guess you'll have to find another way to cheat!

PA-PLAYA

I personally don't have an issue with a universal handicap. It was definitely a pain in the ass to establish a new handicap at my club in London back in 2012, because they don't recognize the USGA handicap over there at the club level.

I just don't see it being remotely practical in theory. There's just too much of a difference in golf culture between here and there, particularly as it relates to competition play.