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New handicap system delayed

CLUB golfers around Australia will have to wait until February 1 until the new USGA handicap system takes effect.

In a letter to the state golf associations and golf clubs, Golf Australia said it had extended the timeframe by a month to ensure logistical challenges would be removed for golf clubs when the new calculating method is rolled out.

Ensuring a smooth transition into the GolfLink computerised handicap system, particularly tier 3 golf clubs, has been blamed for the delay.

Golf Australia manager rules and handicapping Simon Magdulski told Inside Golf the new date would ensure the first package of changes would go through without any issues. He said an early release would have added additional work and caused added confusion.

“The first package of changes has been designed to allow all GolfLink clubs (tier 1 and tier 3) to continue to operate all their computerised handicap operations exactly as they currently do,” he said.

“This includes the processing of competitions and the processing of new handicaps.”

Magdulski said the only difference for clubs will be how the handicap alterations are made by GolfLink. He said an information pack would be rolled out on January 29 to ensure clubs understand how the changes are calculated.

Magdulski is unapologetic about the delay and believes it’s in the best interests of every male club golfer. He said timing concerns should not compromise the aim of providing a simple and easy to understand process for clubs.

Golf clubs should await the detailed information from Golf Australia and subsequently seek advice from their respective state association.

Clubs must do more for junior golf: report

A report commissions by the Australian Sports Commission (ASC) has highlighted a lack of practice facilities as a major impediment for the growth of junior golf.

The report says clubs and courses need to invest more in practice nets so children under 18 can learn the game. The ASC believes golf must adopt a similar approach to cricket where children often spend hours in nets refining their skills.

The idea of improved practice facilities has been addressed previously by Golf Australia. But the peak amateur body can only make recommendations.

The onus rests with course operators and member clubs to build such facilities, often at their expense. Practice nets are considered especially important at courses where the membership is at capacity or where there are limited tee times.

The report also highlights the need to push golf in schools. In its submission to the ASC, Golf Australia noted that 3000 participants had gone through its program between 2005 and 2007.

But still more needs to be done to make golf and part of the school curriculum where possible. That said, most golf clubs across Australia work hard to promote junior golf.

In Melbourne, a number of courses are offering free junior membership when a parent joins. That concept is getting plenty of interest and looks certain to become a discussion point at committee meetings around the country.

Elite pathways under spotlight

The Australian Sports Commission has issued a blunt assessment of Australia’s elite amateur programs.It has accused the state golf associations and the peak amateur body of not working together.

The ASC believes there needs to be much greater cooperation to ensure the best outcomes are achieved.

“The current structure is second best because collaboration is voluntary and never guaranteed,” the report says.

“Even with reasonable collaboration, when agreeing on their high performance plans, the NSO still have to deal with each of the AIS and the various SIS as separate entities with different objectives, which can be time consuming, expensive and frustrating.”

Score: Husband: 1 Wife: 1

The Queensland Times reported that a husband and wife have pulled off an amazing feat: they each recorded an ace while playing together in the same round.

Last month, Mat and Maria Schlotterbach, of Minyama, were having “a very ordinary game” leading up to the 4th hole at Club Pelican. But that was all set to change when Mr Schlotterbach's tee shot flew directly at the green, landed and then disappeared into the hole.

Seven holes later Maria hit her shot on the 11th hole, watching it land on the green and then “mosey in.”

While the feat is certainly impressive on its own, consider that the course was in the midst of preparing for a championship. Thus the holes were playing a bit harder than normal.

“We just couldn't believe that we did it on the same day, in the same group. The smile still hasn't left our faces,” they said.