CATRIONA MATTHEW TO MENTOR NEXT GENERATION

Paul Lawrie and Catriona Matthew are to mentor the next generation of Scottish Golfers.

Paul Lawrie and Catriona Matthew, two of Scotland’s most successful golfers, are to help deliver the next generation of golf champions as they begin a mentoring programme with the country’s top young talent.

Paul and Catriona will also contribute to a broad review into the structure of Scottish Golf’s performance programmes and player pathway. The review, which will be conducted over the winter and in collaboration with a range of other key external stakeholders, will aim to further develop and improve the output of Scottish Golf’s performance programmes and ensure resources are being allocated in the most appropriate and effective manner.

Karin Sharp, Chief Operating Officer at Scottish Golf said:

"It is very exciting to have Catriona and Paul on board and we are very much looking forward to working with them in a number of different capcities in the coming weeks and months. I can’t think of anyone more appropriate to help us further develop our performance programmes than two of Scotland’s most successful golfers. I have no doubt that the expertise and experience Catriona and Paul will bring to the table will be enormously valuable."

"Moving forward, it is vital that we are getting the right support to the right players at the right time and I’m certain that this new partnership will help us do just that."

Paul Lawrie was the last Scottish golfer to win The Open, triumphing at Carnoustie in 1999 with a memorable victory. Catriona Matthew was the last Scot to win the Ricoh Women’s British Open, when she claimed success at Royal Lytham & St Annes in 2009. She famously secured the title just 11 weeks after giving birth to her second daughter.

Catriona Matthew said:

"I can’t wait to get started in this role and I’m incredibly excited about the challenges and opportunites that lie ahead. The game has given me so much over the years and I hope that by sharing my experience, and mentoring the next generation, I can give something back."

"I look forward to contributing to the review in any way that I can. There is a wealth of potential golf talent in Scotland and anything we can do to help identify and nurture that talent will hopefully help more Scottish golfers find success at the elite level."

Paul Lawrie said:

"Over the years I have been very proud of the work my foundation has done in Scotland, helping players like David Law come through and win on Tour. I am now looking forward to working with Scottish Golf to help mentor and develop some of the country’s top up and coming players."

"By working together and utilising all of the golfing experience we have in this country, we can help our talented young golfers achieve their goals. However, it is equally important to look to the longer term and ensure our best golfers continue to get the support that they need as the sport itself changes and develops."

WHAT IS A SOFT & HARD CAP AND HOW DO THEY WORK?

The Soft & Hard Cap limits the amount by which a player’s Handicap Index can increase when measured against the player's Low Handicap Index.

A player’s Low Handicap Index is the lowest Handicap Index they have held within the last 12 months. 

If a player’s new Handicap Index is more than a certain number of strokes above the Low Handicap Index, a cap is triggered. This is to help ensure that the player’s current Handicap Index cannot stray too far away from their demonstrated ability, in too short a space of time.

The soft cap is triggered when the difference between a player’s newly calculated Handicap Index and their Low Handicap Index is greater than 3.0 strokes.

When a calculated Handicap Index increase is greater than 3.0 strokes, the value above 3.0 strokes is restricted to 50% of the increase.

The hard cap triggers to restrict the amount by which a player’s Handicap Index can increase, after application of the soft cap, to no more than 5.0 strokes above their Low Handicap Index.

The soft cap and hard cap procedures can only take effect once a player has at least 20 acceptable scores in their scoring record.

There is no limit on the amount by which a player’s Handicap Index can decrease.

GLENEAGLES IS SET TO HOST THE SENIOR OPEN IN 2022

Gleneagles will host The Senior Open for the first time when the iconic Scottish venue welcomes Europe’s only Senior Men's Major in 2022.

The 35th Senior Open, sponsored by Rolex, will be hosted on the historic King’s Course, which is the oldest and most celebrated of the four courses at Gleneagles. It will be held from 21-24 July in 2022, a week after The 150th Open Championship is hosted at the Old Course, St Andrews.

Gleneagles is no stranger to elite golf events, having hosted The Ryder Cup in 2014 and The Solheim Cup last year, with Europe winning on both occasions.

It has also hosted 26 European Tour events including the popular Scottish Open on the King's Course from 1982 to 1993 and more recently the European Tour’s Johnnie Walker Championship on the PGA Centenary Course.

The last time the Senior Open visited Scotland was in 2018, when Miguel Ángel Jiménez secured a one-stroke victory over Bernhard Langer on the Old Course at St Andrews.

By 2022, a host of golfing stars will be eligible to compete in their first Senior Open, including European Ryder Cup captains Thomas Bjørn and Padraig Harrington.

Johnnie Cole-Hamilton, Executive Director of Championships at The R&A, said:

"This is another great ‘first’ in the history of The Senior Open and we could not be more thrilled to be staging the championship on The King’s Course at Gleneagles. With such a strong pedigree in hosting championships, The King’s is a fine test of golf and we know the players will relish the opportunity to play there."

"Adding another renowned venue to the roster is a clear indication of the continuing development of The Senior Open and I’m sure there will be a real sense of anticipation among the players and fans for our first visit to Gleneagles in two years’ time."

Paul Bush, Director of Events at VisitScotland, said:

"I’m delighted that The Senior Open Championship will be returning to Scotland at Gleneagles in 2022, continuing the long and successful association between Scotland, the Home of Golf, and the Championship and supporting the recovery of our golf tourism and events sector."

"Gleneagles has hosted some of the sport’s biggest events and will provide a superb venue for such a prestigious Championship. Alongside The Open and the AIG Women’s Open, The Senior Open Championship will form part of an unrivalled summer of golf in Scotland in 2022, with three Major Championships alongside our regular events proving that Scotland is the perfect stage for major events."

WHAT IS AN EXCEPTIONAL SCORE REDUCTION?

An Exceptional Score Reduction ensures that a golfer’s Handicap Index reflects their demonstrated ability.

An Exceptional Score Reduction is applied when a player submits a score which is at least 7.0 strokes better than their Handicap Index at the time the round was played.

The score can be from either competition or general play providing it is an authorised format for handicap purposes.

When a player submits an exceptional score, the reduction is automatically applied within the calculation of the player's updated Handicap Index.

This adjustment will be either -1.0 or -2.0, depending on the score, and is in addition to any adjustment made as a result of the 8/20 calculation. 

The Handicap Committee can override the adjustment if they deem necessary.

JUNIOR WINTER SERIES GIRLS & BOYS ORDER OF MERIT

The Junior Winter Series Order of Merit tables for both girls and boys have been published after event 2 at Blairgowrie (see below).

Entries for the event at Fortrose & Rosemarkie on Sunday 15 November 2020 are still open. The closing date is noon this Friday, 30 October 2020.

You can find out more about the Junior Tour Winter Series &/or enter the third event at Fortrose & Rosemarkie at: @juniortourscotland

WHAT IS A PLAYING CONDITIONS CALCULATION?

Course Ratings are based on normal playing conditions, but the difficulty of a golf course can vary daily due to course conditions, set-up and weather.

A Playing Conditions Calculation (PCC) takes place automatically at the end of each day, to determine if scores made at the course were significantly higher or lower than expected.

If scores were unusually low or high, a PCC adjustment of between –1 and +3 will be applied to your score differential calculation to reflect the playing conditions on the day.

When abnormal playing conditions cause scores to be higher or lower than expected on a given day, a Playing Conditions Calculation will adjust score differentials to better reflect the player’s actual performance.

This means that a higher score on a tough day may still be a good score and one of your best 8, used to calculate your updated Handicap Index.

The PCC considers all acceptable scores submitted on a golf course on a given day (all formats, competitive & recreational, 9 & 18 holes).

For a PCC to be calculated. at least eight acceptable scores must be submitted by players with a Handicap Index of 36.0 or below. The PCC is automatically applied within the calculation of score differentials for all players.

UNDERSTANDING COURSE & SLOPE RATINGS

The Course Rating system is the foundation of the Rules of Handicapping. It has three key features; Course rating, Bogey rating and Slope rating.

The Course Rating system enables handicaps to be portable by adjusting a player’s handicap according to the relative difficulty of the golf course being played.

A Slope Rating is the evaluation of the playing difficulty of the course for the scratch player compared to the bogey player under normal playing conditions. A bogey player is a golfer with a Handicap Index of approximately 20.0 for men and approximately 24.0 for women.

It is the combination of the Course rating and the Bogey rating that allows a Slope rating to be calculated for a set of tees.

Details of Course and Slope ratings for Scottish courses will be available on the Scottish Golf Website & App from 2nd November 2020.

NEW WORLD HANDICAP SYSTEM IS ONLY A WEEK AWAY

The new World Handicap System (WHS) will come into effect in GB&I on Monday 2 November 2020.

It will replace the 6 different handicap systems currently in use by over 15m golfers, in more than 80 countries, and unify golfers across the world.

To find out more about how the new World Handicap System works, visit The R&A YouTube channel to view the other videos in its WHS playlist: bit.ly/WorldHandicapSystemPlaylist

JUNIOR WINTER TOUR BLAIRGOWRIE EVENT - RESULTS

Congratulations to Carmen Griffiths and Gregor Graham who won the Junior Winter Tour girls & boys' events at Blairgowrie yesterday.

Junior Winter Tour Girls' Event:

Carmen Griffiths (Aboyne) shot a two-under-par gross score of 71 to to win by one shot from Grace Crawford (North Berwick). Meggan Docherty (Bishopbriggs) was third on 74.

Perth & Kinross County Squad member Kirsten miller (Strathmore) won the girls' handicap event with a cracking three-under-par score of 70.

Junior Winter Tour Boys' Event:

Gregor Graham (Blairgowrie) shot a fantastic eight-under-par score of 64 to win by three shots from Cameron Adam (Royal Burgess) on 67. Calum D Scott (Nairn) third on 70.

Connor Wills (Royal Troon) won the Boys' U-16 event with a level-par 70.

You can see the full results at: @juniortourscotland

Entries for the event at Fortrose & Rosemarkie on Sunday 15 November 2020 are still open. The closing date is Friday 30 October.

You can find out more about the Junior Tour Winter Series &/or enter the third event at Fortrose & Rosemarkie at: @juniortourscotland

ALLY McDONALD WINS LPGA DRIVE ON CHAMPIONSHIP

Solheim Cup Star Ally McDonald (USA) gave herself a big birthday present Sunday, winning the LPGA Drive On Championship for her first tour title.

The 28-year-old from Mississippi held off Danielle Kang (USA) by a stroke on the Great Waters Course, at Lake Reynolds Oconee, finishing with a three-under 69 for a -16 total of 272. Kang birdied the par-5 18th for a 68.

After her win, Ally McDonald said:

"I've never doubted my ability, but I've definitely questioned whether I would be able to win out here," McDonald said. "It's really hard to win out here. So, I've just really hung in there and tried to stick to my process since Day 1. That was able to get me in the winner's circle today. I'm really thankful."

2020 Tour rookie Bianca Pagdanganan (PHL) finished two strokes back after a round of 70.

Mina Harigae (USA) and Carlota Ciganda (SPA) finished tied on -13, a stroke ahead of Ariya Jutanugarn (THA) and Katherine Kirk (AUS).

ACTION FROM DAY 4 AT LPGA DRIVE ON CHAMPIONSHIP

Catch-up on the Final Day action at the LPGA Drive On Championship, on the Sky Sports YouTube channel.

Solheim Cup star Ally McDonald (USA) goes into the final round with a one shot lead in the LPGA Drive On Championship at Reynolds Lake Oconee in Greensboro, Georgia.

2020 Tour rookie Bianca Pagdanganan (PHL) starts the final day in 2nd place on -12, one shot ahead of World No 5 and five-time LPGA Tour winner Danielle Kang (USA) on -11. 

Carlota Ciganda (SPA) is in fourth place on -10.

WELSH CLUBS TOLD TO CLOSE FOR TWO & A HALF WEEKS

Welsh Golf Clubs have been told they must close for two and a half weeks from 6pm tonight as the country enters a 'circuit-breaker lockdown'.

The statement issued by Wales Golf reads as follows:

"The First Minister has announced a fire break to take place between Friday 23rd October at 6 pm until Monday 9th November. It will apply to everyone living in Wales and will supersede all local restrictions currently in place."

"The Welsh Government has stated ‘Golf and tennis clubs will be required to close during the period of the lockdown, as will golf courses and tennis courts.' "

"We have since clarified the point with the Welsh Government, and the whole facility will be required to close for the duration of the lockdown. This includes the course, clubhouse, professional shop and surrounding facilities."

The move to close clubs is part of 'firebreak' measures announced by the Welsh Government in a bid to bring COVID-19 until control.

The First Minister, Mark Drakeford, said that he hoped the measures, which come into effect from Friday, will deliver a "short, sharp shock" in an attempt to halt coronavirus cases.

FIND OUT ABOUT ACCEPTABLE SCORES UNDER THE WHS

One of the key aims of the World Handicap System is to provide golfers with more opportunities to submit counting scores.

The WHS will allow golfers the freedom to submit a score for handicapping purposes at anytime and anywhere in the world. This can be done in either competition or general play.

Some of the factors that will allow a score to be acceptable for handicapping purposes, as outlined in the new Rules of Handicapping, include:

• An authorised format of play; Strokeplay, Stableford & Par/Bogey.
• Over a minimum number of holes; 9 for 9 holes and 10 for 18 holes (all scores will be scaled up into an 18-hole differential).
• By the Rules of Golf.
• With at least one other person.
• On a course with a current Course Rating and Slope Rating.
• During an active season.
• Certified in accordance with Rules of Handicapping

General play scores can be submitted direct from the Scottish Golf App.

Players must pre-register their intent to submit a score for handicap purposes in general play before they start their round, and in the manner prescribed by the Handicap Committee or Scottish Golf.

To find out more about Acceptable Scores:
https://scottishgolf.org/find-out-about-acceptable-scores-under-whs/

GRACE CRAWFORD WINS ProDreamUSA UK JUNIOR OPEN

Congratulations to Grace Crawford and Ruben Lindsay who finished T1 at the ProDreamUSA UK Junior Open at Longniddry yesterday.

In the Girls' category, Grace Crawford (North Berwick) came from behind on the final day to win by 7 shots with a two-under total of 217 after rounds of 72, 78 and 67. Freya Russell (Royal Troon) finished second on +5 one shot ahead of Megan Docherty (Bishopbriggs) on +6.

Madelaine Smith (Notts) won the U-16 Girls' title on +11.

In the Boys' Category, Ruben Lindsay (Aye Belleisle) won by two shots with a two-under-par total of 202 after rounds of 70, 66 and 66. Cormac Sharpe (Blairgowrie) was second with rounds of 70, 66 and 68.

Calum Daun (Nairn) won the U-16 Boys' title on +5.

HOW & WHEN YOUR HANDICAP INDEX WILL BE UPDATED

By submitting your score in a timely manner after your round, you will ensure your Handicap Index is reflective of your demonstrated ability.

The handicap calculation will take place every night at a specific time and a golfer’s new Handicap Index will be calculated ready for the following day.

It is important that a player submits their score as soon as possible on the day of play, after completion of their round and before midnight (local time).

A golfer will be able to view their new Handicap Index on the Scottish Golf Platform (via the website or App) or through their own golf club.

To find out more about the Scottish Golf App and how to download it:
https://scottishgolf.org/scottish-golf-app/

IRISH GOLF COURSES TOLD TO CLOSE FOR SIX WEEKS

Golf clubs in Ireland have been told they must close their golf courses from midnight tonight, as part of level 5 COVID-19 restrictions.

A joint statement was issued by the Golfing Union of Ireland and the Irish Ladies Golf Union, which reads as follows:

"Following intensive engagement over the past 48 hours, we have been informed this afternoon by Sport Ireland that, very regrettably golf clubs must close under the new level 5 restrictions."

"Essential course maintenance is permitted to continue under level 5. We have sought clarity on the issue as to whether ranges/practice facilities can remain open for exempted activities. We will update clubs on this as soon as possible."

There has been widespread criticism of the decision, both from golfers and mental health campaigners.

This latest development comes just days after it was declared that golf courses in Wales must close from Friday, October 23 for two and a half weeks.

NEW R&A CAMPAIGN TO GET WOMEN & GIRLS INTO GOLF

The R&A has launched a new #FOREeveryone campaign, which is aimed at attracting more women and girls into golf.

 

Launched by The R&A in connection with the Women in Golf Charter, #FOREeveryone is the start of a long-term programme of support for the industry and will begin with the distribution of a toolkit resource, designed to provide guidance on operational and marketing improvement to help attract more women and girls to the sport.

The campaign is supported by England Golf, Golf Ireland, Scottish Golf and Wales Golf, as well as The PGA and Golf Club Managers Association, and represents a cohesive drive by the national associations to create a more inclusive culture, nurturing greater female participation and encouraging more women into roles within the golf industry.

The Chief Executive of The R&A, Martin Slumbers, said:

"We believe that golf has to do more to speak to a female audience and ensure that we have better levels of participation and employment in the golf industry. There are some good examples of best practice but, if we are to adequately address these issues, it will require a shift in culture among many more golf facilities to become more accessible, appealing and inclusive."

"The #FOREeveryone campaign and the toolkit and assets, which have been distributed to golf clubs across Great Britain and Ireland today, seek to address that issue head-on by ensuring clubs have the knowledge and materials to help them to evolve."

"Launched as part of the Women in Golf Charter, we hope that #FOREeveryone can inspire tangible change and provide a supporting mechanism for clubs well into the future."

"The more women and girls we can get playing the game, the more diverse we can make the game, the more family orientated we can make the game, the greater success the game will have."

The new initiative has been welcomed by The R&A Golf Ambassador and 2018 Women's British Open champion, Georgia Hall, who said:

"I try my utmost to be the best role model I can be for young juniors and I think it is extremely important to get more women, girls and boys into golf."

"I think #FOREeveryone is a great initiative and, if we can increase participation within the game, that would be amazing."

Further initiatives, including a drive to encourage lapsed and non-golfers to give the sport a try, will be unveiled in the coming months.

To find out more click on the link: https://www.randa.org/FOREeveryone

WHAT ARE YOUR COURSE & PLAYING HANDICAPS?

Under the WHS, golfers will have both Course & Playing Handicaps, which may change depending on the difficulty of course they play.

The Course Handicap is the number of strokes that a player receives from a specific set of tees as determined by the Slope Rating.

This is the handicap you will put on your card and use when submitting a score.

The Playing Handicap is the Course Handicap adjusted for any handicap allowances or Terms of the Competition. It represents the actual number of strokes the player gives or receives for the format of golf being played.

This handicap is solely used for the purpose of calculating competition results or when working out allowances for a specific format of play.

To find out more about how Course & Playing Handicaps are calculated:
https://scottishgolf.org/course-handicap-playing-handicap-calculations/

SOLHEIM CUP & RYDER CUP BACK-TO-BACK IN 2023

For the first time in 2023, The Solheim Cup and The Ryder Cup, the two most important team events in professional golf, will be played back-to-back.

Usually scheduled in alternate years, global sports fans will now be treated to a two-week festival of match play golf between Europe and the United States as a result of the 2020 Ryder Cup postponement due to the  COVID-19 pandemic.

On Monday, the LET announced that The 2023 Solheim Cup, which is to be held at Finca Cortesin in the heart of Spain’s Costa del Sol, will take place from 22-24 September 2023.

The 2023 Ryder Cup will be played the following week, from 29 September to 1 October 2023, at Italy’s Marco Simone Golf & Country Club.

Ladies European Tour CEO, Alexandra Armas, said:

"We are extremely pleased to announce the dates for the upcoming 2023 Solheim Cup and we are excited to have the opportunity to be part of a two-week festival of golf. The Solheim Cup is truly one of the most dramatic and interesting golf events on the global sporting calendar and it has the ability to transcend golf to new audiences and, if the 2023 edition is anything like 2019, fans will be left wanting more and they will be lucky enough go straight onto The Ryder Cup in Italy where the men’s version of Team Europe and Team USA will go head-to-head."

The 2021 Solheim Cup will be played at the Inverness Golf Club in Toledo, Ohio, from 4-6 September. The Ryder Cup, originally scheduled for 2020, has been pushed back a year and will now be played at Whistling Straits in Haven, Wisconsin, from 24-26 September 2021.

CALCULATING YOUR HANDICAP INDEX UNDER WHS

Under the new WHS the way in which a handicap is calculated will change slightly, and golfers will receive a Handicap Index.

A Handicap Index is designed to represent your demonstrated ability. It is calculated by averaging the best 8 score differentials out of the most recent 20 within your scoring record. It can be made up of both competition and general play scores.

To find out more about the Handicap Index Calculations:
https://scottishgolf.org/calculating-your-handicap-index-under-whs/