Month: April 2019

World Handicap System Set for Debut in 2020

iowagolfApril 30, 20190 commentsNews

Golf’s new World Handicap System, which is designed to bring the game of golf under a single set of Rules for handicapping and provide a more consistent measure of players’ ability between different regions of the world, remains on track for implementation starting in 2020.

Education has begun with events being held in Singapore, South Africa, Great Britain and Ireland, Japan, Argentina, Brazil, Continental Europe, Canada, the Caribbean and the USA.

A secure resource portal, accessible via whs.com, has also been launched to provide national associations with a library of materials that they can use to help support their own education efforts.

Coinciding with this release, the USGA and The R&A are launching a social media video campaign today to remind golfers of the eight key features of the new Rules of Handicapping and to reveal more details. These features include:

Minimum number of scores to establish a Handicap Index and maximum Handicap Index of 54.0
Basis of calculation of Handicap Index
Acceptability of scores for handicap purposes
Course Rating and Slope Rating
Calculation of a Playing Handicap
Maximum hole score for handicap purposes
Adjustments for abnormal playing conditions
Frequency of updating a Handicap Index

Significant progress has been made in preparation for the rollout of the new system, which includes building a library of education materials, finalizing the new Rules of Handicapping, release of the technical specifications and the continuation of testing. Many national associations around the world are busy ensuring that their golf courses are rated in accordance with the Course Rating System and working to update local software platforms so that they are ready to apply the new Rules of Handicapping.

While many countries will be ready to transition to the WHS early in 2020, given both the magnitude of the change for some jurisdictions and varying seasonality throughout the world, it is anticipated that some will need more time.

“The World Handicap System is the latest example of our work to make the game more welcoming,” said Mike Davis, CEO of the USGA. “Golfers throughout the world will be able to play equitably, measure their success and more fully enjoy and engage with the game. After working with national associations across the world on Course Rating throughout the past 30 years and now the World Handicap System, this monumental collaborative effort will benefit everyone in golf.”

Martin Slumbers, chief executive of The R&A, said, “There are many ways in which it is important for golf to modernize and become more appealing for people thinking of taking up the sport and handicapping is clearly one of them. The World Handicap System is a major new initiative for the sport which will establish a clearer and more consistent handicapping process for golfers throughout the world.

“We are working closely with national associations, as we do across all our core activities, to ensure they are fully prepared for the introduction of the new system as soon as possible after it becomes available for implementation.”

Since its conception, the development of the WHS has focused on three key goals: to encourage as many golfers as possible to obtain and maintain a Handicap Index; to enable golfers of differing abilities, genders and nationalities to transport their Handicap Index to any course around the world and compete on a fair basis; and to indicate with sufficient accuracy the score a golfer is reasonably capable of achieving on any course around the world, playing under normal conditions.

The system has been devised following extensive consultation with the six existing handicapping authorities: Golf Australia, the Council of National Golf Unions (CONGU) in Great Britain and Ireland, the European Golf Association (EGA), the South African Golf Association (SAGA), the Argentine Golf Association (AAG) and the USGA. The Japan Golf Association and Golf Canada have also been closely involved in developing the new system.

Widespread support for the WHS was expressed in an international survey of 52,000 golfers with 76% in favor of the new system and a further 22% saying they were willing to consider its benefits. Focus groups were also held in different regions of the world to elicit detailed feedback on the features of the new system, which have contributed to the finalized Rules of Handicapping.

The World Handicap System will unite the golf world under one single set of handicapping rules and will be governed by the USGA and The R&A, with support from the existing six handicap authorities.

As an extension of their support of the Rules of Golf worldwide, Rolex has made a commitment to support The R&A’s and the USGA’s efforts to implement the World Handicap System.

IGA adds Putt-Putt Tournament to Father/Son, Parent/Child Championship

iowagolfApril 29, 20190 commentsChampionships, Father-Son / Parent-Child, News

NEW in 2019 – PUTT-PUTT TOURNAMENT

In 2019, the IGA and our hosts at Jester Park GC will be holding an optional Putt-Putt Tournament on Sunday, June 16th during the IGA Father/Son-Parent/Child Championship.

The tournament costs $10 per team to play and all players will receive free ice cream. Players of all ages are encouraged and welcomed. The only requirement is that the team must be a parent and a child, in any combination (Father-Son, Mother-Son, Mother-Daughter or Father-Daughter).

Jester Park GC installed an 18-hole miniature golf course at the practice range facility in 2018. Teams can play anytime between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Sunday (June 16th) and are NOT required to play in the regular Father/Son-Parent/Child Championship. So if you have a young one who isn’t quite ready for the big course, this is a way you can bring them into the fold!

You can sign up in one of three ways:

NOTE: when signing up online, both players must have a Player Profile created with the IGA’s online signup program – click here for more info on creating those profiles

When signing up online, you will have the option of adding the $10 entry fee for the Putt-Putt Tournament to your transaction. Signup online
If not playing in the regular championship, you can sign up only for the Putt-Putt tournament during the registration process. You will see an option to pay for the “Putt Putt Tournament Only”. Signup online
You can sign up at the IGA registration table that will be set up at the clubhouse at Jester Park on Sunday, June 16.

The format will be alternate shot. One player tees off first on the even numbered holes and the other player tees off first on the odd numbered holes, then you alternate strokes during the hole. Teams will choose which person tees off on the even and odd holes before starting their round.

Once all play is finished, we will divide the field into flights based on their score. The overall winners will receive trophies and flight winners will receive various prizes.

If you have any questions about the Putt-Putt Tournament, or have any troubles signing up, please give us a call at (515) 207-1062.

Register now to volunteer at the 2019 U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur

iowagolfApril 24, 20190 commentsUSGA

U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur Championship | August 24-29, 2019

There are many volunteer options during the 2019 USGA Senior Women’s Amateur tournament at Cedar Rapids Country Club (CRCC). All volunteers are encouraged to register for 2-3 shifts plus one training session. The cost to volunteer is $50 and each volunteer will receive a golf shirt, golf hat, meal voucher, and one (1) free round of golf at CRCC (dates TBD by Head Golf Pro).

The USGA holds the U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur Championship annually in August, September or October. Approximately 500 of the best female golfers in the world, age 50 and above, seek to qualify for the Championship at sites across the United States in the late summer. From these regional qualifiers, 132 women will come to CRCC for two practice rounds on August 22 and 23, followed by two qualifying stroke play rounds on August 24 and 25. The top 64 finishers from the qualifying rounds will compete in a series of single elimination, match play rounds from August 26-29.

Click here to register today

Iowa Cup Matches move to fall dates

iowagolfApril 10, 20190 commentsUncategorized

The 14th hole at Crow Valley Golf Club, site of the 2019 Iowa Cup Matches.

The 2019 Iowa Cup Matches are moving to the fall.

The Iowa Golf Association and Iowa PGA approved a plan over the offseason to move the date of the traditional matches between the state’s top amateurs and professionals to late in the season. 2019 will mark the 52nd playing of the matches and will be staged at Crow Valley Golf Club in Davenport on September 26 & 27.

The Iowa Cup began in 1967 and, for quite some time, the matches were always played in the fall. It is unknown when they were moved to the spring. The most notable driving forces for moving the event back to the fall were the weather and golf course availability.

“Three of the last six Iowa Cup Matches have had sessions wiped out due to weather while another one – Geneva G&CC in Muscatine – was very cold, windy and miserable.” stated IGA Executive Director Chad Pitts. “So moving to the fall dates should help with that. Not to mention that golf courses are looking for business much more in the early fall than in spring, which makes securing top venues a bit easier.”

The format of the event remains the same. Four-Ball and Foursome (alternate shot) matches will take place in the morning and afternoon, respectively, of day one while Singles matches will be held on day two.

PICKING THE TEAM

In 2019, the IGA will use a point structure that mimics the Ryder Cup system. 50% of the points earned toward the 2018 IGA Player of the Year race will be added to 100% of the points earned in the 2019 race through July 28th (final day of the Iowa Amateur). The top 14 players in the Open division and the top 4 players in the Senior division will be invited to play. Reigning IGA Player of the Year J.D. Anderson will receive two captains picks to round out the 20 person squad.

You can view the standings for making the team here