© Mark Grygiel 2004
As part of the BWGC Constitution, every BWGC member is encouraged/required to establish and maintain a handicap within the BWGC system. The BWGC has adopted and operates the CONGU system of handicap establishment and maintenance. CONGU (Council of National Golf Unions) is a body established by the English Golf Union, Golfing Union of Ireland, Scottish Golf Union, Welsh Golfing Union, English Ladies Golf Association, Irish Ladies Golf Union, Scottish Ladies Golfing Association, Welsh Ladies Golf Union, Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews and the Ladies' Golf Union. The Unified Handicapping System has been developed to achieve a uniformity and equity in handicapping throughout Great Britain and Ireland and other countries adopting the same system. The nature of the game of golf, with its varying playing conditions (drunk and sober being a consideration in the case of the BWGC - and other societies), makes handicapping a relatively inexact operation. Nevertheless, if the same principles are sensibly and universally applied by handicap committees, then a high degree of uniformity in handicapping can be achieved; this is the purpose behind our adoption of the CONGU system. For any 'technical' questions you may have regarding this handicap system, please log on to www.congu.com, where you will find a wealth of information on such things as:
CONGU in Thailand
Because of the growing number of serious, but fun-focused, golfing groups in Thailand there are, equally, a growing number of inter-society games and competitions occurring each year. In the past, the BWGC, together with our fellow significant expat golf club, "The Londoners" essentially 'pioneered' adoption of the CONGU system, whilst the majority of the other societies adopted the USGA handicapping system, a well established system in its own right. However, the presence of two systems within the same competitive groups has led to some minor issues arising on occasion. In recent times, the CONGU system has now become, and is continuing to become, much more widely adopted; therefore, giving greater and greater consistency of comparison of abilities.
BWGC Handicap Certificates
If any members require a handicap certificate for playing courses outside Thailand, or if any member has questions regarding handicaps in general, or their own in particular, these can be addressed to the current Handicap Secretary.