The article below was written by Steve Carroll of National Club Golfer.
A golf federation which stopped players from putting in general play scores if they didn’t add up to par or better has reversed the ban.
The Mauritius Golf Federation (MGF) said it had decided to “temporarily revert to the original method of submitting General Play (social) scores” pending revised rules from the World Handicap System.
At the end of last year, the MGF told golfers on the African island only cards with a net score of Par or better – or 36 points or more in Stableford – would be “considered for handicap calculation”.
The federation, which is home to a host of top class golf courses including La Reserve Links, said it had taken the action to counter players who it claimed were abusing the WHS.
What was the Mauritius Golf Federation’s policy?
In a letter to ‘license holders’ on December 31, the MGF revealed that: “Following an analysis of scores being submitted, the Mauritius Golf Federation Handicap and Rules Committee have observed that some players are submitting large numbers of General Play scores in order to increase their handicaps prior to a competition in which there are significant prizes.
“This is clearly an abuse of the system and contrary to the spirit of the game of golf which requires all players to act with honesty and integrity (Rule 1.2 – standards of player conduct).
“In order to prevent continuation of this abuse, as from 1st January 2025, only General Play scores with net score of Par or better (or 36 points or more in Stableford) will be considered for handicap calculation.
“Players are then not allowed to submit any General Play Scores if their score is less than 36 points (in Stableford). The marker who approves the scores on the app need to ensure that this new guideline is applied.
“However, an exception will be made in the case of any player who has not submitted any qualifying score in the previous 3 months. In such cases, the player will be permitted to submit 1 General Play Score within a period of three months.
“Players should be aware that the software can identify those who abuse the system to increase their handicaps, and the MGF reserves the right to impose further sanction.”
What has happened now?
In a new letter on their website, the MGF said they had written to the R&A’s Handicapping and Course Rating Manager to “share our concerns regarding the submission of General Play (Social) Scores and the observed misuse of the World Handicap System (WHS) by some players in Mauritius artificially manipulating their Handicap Index”.
The letter said the WHS representative acknowledged concerns “surrounding the abuse of General Play (Social) Scores and the challenges it poses to maintain a fair handicap system”.
The federation revealed they have been told a review of WHS rules is under way with updates expected by the end of next month or in early April.
The letter added: “WHS will also be looking into how the above issues could be addressed in the next revision of Rules”.
“Following the abovementioned feedback from WHS, the MGF has, during its last Managing Committee meeting, taken the decision to temporarily revert to the original method of submitting General Play (social) scores until we receive the revised RULES from WHS.”
The letter continued: “Once these revised RULES are released, the MGF will communicate any necessary changes to ensure future compliance”, adding the handicap and rules committee will “closely monitor” handicap indexes and “ensure adherence to the rules”.
It finished: “We appreciate your understanding and cooperation as we strive to uphold a fair and transparent handicap system for all golfers in Mauritius.”
