Guiding Principles: Fairness and Participation.
The Society’s mission is to “….promote golfing goodwill…..” and the Handicap Rules aim to encourage members to play and to enjoy every event in the confidence that everyone has a chance to win.
Your RSGS Playing Handicap is based on your handicap index. The Society expects and trusts every member to maintain their handicap index according to the rules of their national golf association.
Adjustments for players in form: Players with multiple wins will have their RSGS handicaps adjusted immediately.
Rules:
Playing Handicap. If RSGS members have handicaps in more than one country they must use their lowest handicap index in RSGS competitions. The playing handicap is based on the player’s index according to England Golf rules. Playing handicaps are 100% of course handicap for 18 hole stableford and stableford competitions. Note that the maximum playing handicap in competitions are 36 for ladies and 30 for men. Playing handicaps to be used in knockouts are described in the separate Knockouts rules document.
Adjustments. Any player with 2 or more wins in a rolling 12-month period will receive a playing handicap reduction of 1 or 2 shots (dependent on handicap, see below) until the same competition the following year. Each win drops off after 12 months. A third win in a 12-month period will result in a further playing handicap reduction. The adjustments will be applied to all competitions, including knock-outs.
Low handicappers (Index <=15.0 for men and <=20 for ladies) – 1 shot adjustment.
High handicappers (Index >15.0 for men and >20.0 for ladies) – 2 shot adjustment.
The maximum adjustment is 3 for Low handicappers and 6 for High handicappers.
Example: The player wins a second time in a year at Swinley Forest. Their playing handicap is reduced for each subsequent competition up to and including Swinley Forest the year after.
RSGS Handicap. This is the member’s Playing Handicap less the total of Adjustments.
Adjustments: Qualifying Competitions. Wins in individual competitions of all formats and wins in finals of singles knockouts are eligible for handicap Adjustments. Team competitions do not count. Where there are multiple qualifying competitions based on the same round and a member wins more than one competition, then any Adjustment arising is limited to the Adjustment for one win. However, for the Kroon and Centenary Trophy the following adjustments shall apply:
| Spring Meeting Winner | Autumn Meeting Winner | Kroon/Centenary Trophy Winner | Adjustment |
| Yes | No | Yes | 1 win |
| No | Yes | Yes | 1 win |
| No | No | Yes | 1 win |
| Yes | Yes | Yes | 2 wins |
Adjustment at the Captain’s Discretion. The Captain may, in exceptional circumstances, adjust a member’s RSGS Handicap. Examples of factors considered include:
multiple scores in the Handicap Year greater than 38 stableford points
multiple net medal scores in the Handicap Year more than 2 strokes below par
Notification of Handicap Adjustments. Members will be notified of their total Adjustments by the Captain. The Captain is responsible for maintaining a record of current handicap adjustments and informing the members affected. Members are responsible for applying the correct RSGS Handicap in knock-out competitions.
Members without a WHS Handicap Index. The Society will allocate a handicap according to paragraph 5.2 of the Society’s By-laws, quoted below:
A member lacking an official WHS handicap index cannot enter the Society’s competitions unless a handicap has been allocated by the Committee. Application shall be made annually to the Secretary and the Society handicap must be issued before the member enters their first competition in the year. To enable the Committee to allocate a fair handicap the application must be supported by at least 3 score cards marked by a player who has an official WHS handicap.