As we head towards the start of April, many golfers will be welcoming the harder ground – and the return of counting competitions.  Winter golf in almost all courses has been non-counting for handicap purposes and golfer may see a change in their playing handicap once counting competitions return next month.

While a golfer’s handicap index is tied to their playing record, the playing handicap is determined by the difficulty of the course and the allowance provided in the competition.  For the past four years, the allowance for a singles competition was set at 95%, but clubs will now have the option to change the allowance.  In singles counting competitions, the current 95% allowance for Playing Handicaps can be increased to 100%, or it can be decreased to as low as 85%.

The measure, which gives clubs options to increase or decrease the Playing Handicap allowance in their competitions, is being rolled out following feedback from club officials and golfers, including through a tracking survey conducted by Golf Ireland in 2024.

In a number of cases clubs have found that lower handicappers are struggling to compete in club competitions – and in some cases playing less competitive golf at club level as a result.

Lowering the allowance to 85% may be appropriate if there is a lower distribution of low handicappers, allowing them to be more competitive where they may currently experience a lack of equity.  Similarly, if there is a small number of high handicap golfers, then moving the allowance to 100% may benefit them.

In fourball competitions the allowance is 85% and this can also be reduced to 80% or 75%, or increased to 90%.  Many handicap secretaries will have been keeping track of the handicaps of winners in club competitions over the past four years, and this will help inform the handicap and competition committees when reviewing their plans for the year ahead.

This is probably the biggest change since Golf Ireland moved from the old CONGU system to the World Handicap System.  The WHS system came into being in 2021.  Although officially launched in November 2020, it would have been the following April before most golfers would have seen the effect of the new system.  In the majority of cases the new system make little difference to the lower handicap gofers, but high handicappers would have seen a shot or two added when they switched to the new handicap index.

In the early days the new system came in for much criticism as golfers were not used to their handicaps moving by more than one of two shots in a full year.  But the new system used an average where the best eight scores from your most recent 20 qualifying rounds were averaged to provide a handicap index.  Golfers who played a lot, or had a wide variance in their results could see their handicaps move by a few shots depending on their most recent results.

The current change for qualifying competitions is being rolled out in Ireland with the agreement of the other Home Nations, England, Scotland and Wales.  A decision to follow ahead of the 2026 season on whether to roll it out across GB&I fully in 2026, potentially with additional options depending on feedback received.  Golf Ireland will launch a new campaign in the coming weeks, aimed at helping golfers and clubs fully understand the WHS.

Applications have opened for the Golf Ireland 2025 Pathway Coaching Programme. This programme is for golfers born in 2013 or later who are members of a golf club.  The aim of the Pathway Coaching Programme is to bridge the gap between participation and performance, by providing young golfers with a structured coaching programme in preparation for assessment and entry to the HP Pathway.

To qualify for the programme young golfers must have turned 8 years old by the date of the first coaching session but not older than 12.  They must have have received PGA coaching previously, have golf clubs and have played on a golf course in junior competition.

Golfers on the Pathway Programme will receive four two-hour coaching sessions during July and August 2025 with a Golf Ireland coach.  There is a €60 fee for the programme and details are available on the Golf Ireland website.