The New EGA Slope System

Golf is one of the very few games where a player of modest ability can play against a more competent player, even a professional player, and still win. This is achieved by a simple handicapping system; the current CONGU (The Council of National Golf Unions) system having been in place since 1983, with revisions in 1997. All golfers who belong to an Affiliated Golf Club are familiar with this system and experience adjustments to their handicap as their game improves or deteriorates. Inevitably, as with any system, there are weaknesses. The main complaint of the existing CONGU system has always been that a player with a handicap gained over one golf course does not always equate to the handicap of another player from a different golf course simply because each course differs in degree of difficulty. In Portugal this has now changed. As from 4th December 2000 the Federação Portuguesa de Golfe (FPG) have introduced a new handicapping system for all Affiliated Golf Clubs in Portugal. This is based on the Slope System as adopted by the European Golf Association (EGA). This system originated from that implemented by the United States Golf Association (USGA) though the USGA have a different handicapping system. All Golf Clubs within Europe, with the exception of the UK at the moment, have adopted the new EGA Slope and Handicapping system. As there are many significant changes it is important that all golfers familiarise themselves with the details. Whether you like it or not, this system is the one that now exists and under which your golf handicap will now be administered in Portugal.

Rod and Judy Stocker pictured in front of their Portuguese home in Carvoeiro

The basis of the new Slope System relies on two parameters. The first is the Course Rating (CR) which is the number of strokes that a "scratch golfer" (one playing to a handicap of zero) would be expected to take on the golf course. The second is the Slope Rating (SR) which is a numerical rating to signify the degree of difficulty of the golf course taking into account the characteristics of the course such as it's length, width of fairways, size and speed of greens, number and position of bunkers, water hazards, trees and various other significant factors. The average golf course has a rating of 113. A more difficult one has a higher value, up to a maximum of 155.

All golfers in Portugal will be given a new EGA exact handicap (to one decimal place with a maximum of 28.0 for men and 36.0 for Ladies) by the Handicap Secretary of their home Golf Club. This is based on their existing CONGU or FPG handicap that will be converted using a defined formulaæ that takes into account the Course Rating and Slope Rating of their home Golf Club. At each golf course a Handicap Allowance Table will be displayed. There should be one on the Notice Board, the first tee and the tenth tee at each golf course in Portugal. Wherever you play golf, including your home Golf Club, you should use this Handicap Allowance Table to convert your exact EGA handicap to a playing handicap for the appropriate tees from which you are playing. A player with a handicap of, say, 15, could find that on one golf course he is playing to 14 and another it is 18. Even on the same golf course, the player will find that his playing handicap from one tee position differs from that applicable should he play from a different tee position. This compensates for the flaws in the existing CONGU system.

All players must enter both their exact EGA handicap and their playing handicap on their Score Cards. As a result of playing in a qualifying competition a player's EGA exact handicap will be assessed. However, all players should note that the handicap categories, buffer zones and adjustments to handicap have changed from the existing CONGU system. Similarly, as with the Competition Standard Scratch (CSS) that is used with the existing CONGU system, there is the facility with the EGA system to make small adjustments to reflect the differing playing conditions of the day. This is referred to as the Competition Stableford Adjustment (CSA). Using a computer system provided by the FPG, this will be administered by your Handicap Secretary. In due course it is proposed that all handicaps will be held at a European Centre accessible over the internet, so that golfers, visiting overseas, can have their handicaps validated wherever they play in Europe. Hopefully, this will help to resolve the current allegations of dubious handicaps from players winning competitions when visiting Portugal from overseas Golf Clubs.

Provision has been made under the new EGA system for Extra Day Score Cards (EDS) and for General Play adjustments.

When playing a match all golfers need to understand that, under the EGA Slope System, the stroke allowances differ from those used under the CONGU system. No longer can you claim ¾ difference in a four ball better ball match; it is now 90% of the difference for stroke play, stableford and match play. The allowance is made on the Playing Handicap for the tees and course being played and not your EGA exact handicap. Full details of all allowances can be obtained from your Golf Club or the FPG pamphlet.

This article can only outline the principles of the new EGA System. Full details will be held by your Golf Club or can be obtained from the FPG. Take care not to confuse the USGA handicapping system with that adopted by the EGA. Whatever your views, this new system is here, in Portugal, for the foreseeable future. It is already in use in other European countries. There will, inevitably, be teething problems here in Portugal and a number of heated debates and discussions. It will take time to settle. In the meantime make yourselves familiar with this system and continue to enjoy your golf.

Rod Stocker

(Rod Stocker wurde 1944 in England geboren. Er studierte Statistik an der Universität London und war zunächst als Computerfachmann tätig. Im Laufe der Jahre spezialisierte er sich auf Projektmanagement und Troubleshooting. Er gründete sein eigenes Unternehmen und führte bedeutende Vorhaben im Auftrag der Britischen Regierung durch. 1975 kam er zum ersten Mal nach Portugal. Land und Leute gefielen ihm so gut, daß es beschloß, gemeinsam mit seiner Frau Judy, an den Algarve zu ziehen. Seit Mitte 1999 genießen beide ihren vorzeitigen Ruhestand als Residenten in Portugal.

Rod und Judy Stocker waren immer schon an Sport interessiert. Golf spielen sie nunmehr seit 17 Jahren. Rod ist Mitglied in 4 Golfclubs, aber sein Heimatclub, Carvoeiro Golfe und Country Clube, ist natürlich sein Favorit.)