Women face handicap shake-up

Amateur Scene News round-up: In a week which saw Annika Sorenstam take on the men in the Colonial Tournament, two other decisions - one by the Royal and Ancient Golf Club (R&A) and the other by the LGU - are sure to see golf worldwide take giant strides.

From February 1st next, the same handicapping rules will apply to men and women, with the result that some women will have their handicaps slashed by up to nine strokes because they will now return to a maximum allowance of 36.

The change has been agreed by the two relevant bodies, the Ladies Golf Union (LGU), which will be giving up responsibility for women's handicaps, and the Council of National Golfing Unions (CONGU), which currently administers men's handicapping, and will now take on the same role for women.

The change also means women will be subject to Clause 19, which means that, where appropriate, they can have their handicaps increased or reduced on the basis of "general play" over a period of time, rather than solely on specific competition returns or on application to their local branches.

And in order to reflect the wider scope of the Unified Handicapping System (UHS), CONGU will be reconstituted with a revised council consisting of an equal number of representatives from each of the men's and women's unions and associations.

When the UHS is in place the LGU will cease to be the handicapping authority for its member clubs. Instead, CONGU will be the policy-making body, and the overall jurisdiction for the administration of the system will be the responsibility of the men's and women's unions and associations in each of the four home countries.

The Standard Scratch Score and handicapping scheme that operates for men's handicaps in Ireland and Britain was introduced in 1983 and is the basis for the new UHS. Now, for the first time, men's and women's handicaps will be subject to the same rules.

"This change to our system of handicapping has been overdue for some time," said Andy Salmon, secretary/CEO of the LGU. "Now there will be only one system that applies to both men and women and, for the long-term good and harmony of the game, that can only be seen as a move in the right direction."

Meanwhile, the R&A is to set up a charitable foundation to distribute some €50 million to assist in the development of golf worldwide by 2010. The proposed overhaul has been approved by the R&A membership following a three-year consultation process, and will be rubber-stamped at a meeting in September, so that the changes can be implemented in time for the R&A's 250th anniversary next year.

One result is that the governing body part of the organisation will now be open to women, and potentially have greater representation from young people and those around the world.

The new corporate wing of the R&A will be established under Scottish law and will have responsibility for the rules of golf worldwide, except in the US and Mexico, and staging the British Open and other championships.

The R&A has come under increasing scrutiny in recent years for its single-sex membership policy - considered by some to be an anachronism for an organisation with such a high-profile role as a governing body.

Back on the playing front, Martina Gillen, in her first tournament since returning from Kent State University, finished joint second in the St Rule Trophy at St Andrews over the weekend.

Gillen finished just two shots off the winner, Karin Borjeskog of Sweden, after rounds of 70, 78 and 71, with Shannon's Trish Mangan third on 224 after rounds of 78, 69 and 77.

Borjeskog made all the running. The Swede started with a record, seven-under-par 68 on the New Course, and followed with rounds of 74 and 75 (par 76) on the Old Course for a total of 10-under-par 217 and a two-stroke winning margin from Gillen and Scottish champion Anne Laing.

Monkstown's Ada O'Sullivan, the captain of this year's Vagliano Trophy team, was next best of the Irish on 239, with Susie Hayes (Hermitage) on 246, Emma Dickson (Royal Co Down) on 246 and Mary Sheehy (Tralee) on 256.