Handicapping changes set for April 9, 2010

Stay up to date with the latest on any handicapping changes by signing up to Aussie Golfer with your email address on the right hand side of the page!

Golf Australia have announced that new handicapping changes will come into effect on April 9, 2010 at 9am.

What does this mean?
The new handicapping changes are the biggest shake-up of amateur golf in Australia for a very long time. It will provide a better representation of your handicap and eliminate the problem with transferring a handicap to a different course that arose with the previous system.

The Golf Australia website has a number of different information sheets but if you have a short attention span and like your information fast and 21st century style, here it is in a nutshell.

In a nutshell

• The changes on April 9, 2010 are the first in a three part package to be rolled out.
• It will introduce the rolling sample method and remove the daily course rating component (i.e. CCR) from calculations. (For more info, New Handicap System: Hoes does it work?)
• The second and third packages will not be implemented for some time.
• These later packages will include converting all scores to stableford scores for handicapping and a roll out of the Slope system for course ratings and comparisons.

What will happen?
So as of April 9, 2010 all handicaps will be recalculated. All previous scores posted prior to this date will be incorporated into the new system and the CCR will no longer be used to calculate handicaps.

What do you need to do?
Nothing. This is a big change to Australian golf but you won't have to do anything. Everything will be automated. The only thing you should do is just double check your handicap after this time.

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Allenby swinging well, on and off the course

Anthony Kim may not like it but you have to hand it to Robert Allenby, he keeps us all entertained on and off the course.

This week's PGA Tour event, the superbly named Farmers Insurance Open is played at both Torrey Pines North and South. The South course was host to the 2008 US Open and considered the harder of the two.

Allenby shot a bogey-free 67 today and although sitting three shots behind the leaders, he was the only player in the top 15 to have played the South course so far. Here's what he said after his round:

"I gauge myself off this golf course," Allenby said. "This is a real golf course. If it wasn't, they wouldn't have had a U.S. Open here. I don't want to say the other course is Mickey Mouse because that would be rude. But it's Mickey Mouse-ish."

It is not like Robert to be rude.

Image courtesy of AP Photo. Source

Karrie Webb awarded Order of Australia

It would be remiss of me not to point out the award given to Karrie Webb this week. She was appointed as a member of the Order of Australia as part of the Australia Day celebrations.

The award came as a complete shock to Webb who was awarded the honour for her services to golf and numerous charities including the Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation.

The awards are given to Australians who have served the country in their field. This is a timely reminder to all Australian golf fans just how good Karrie Webb has been. She is Australia's most successful golfer of all time with arguably the best golf swing.

Read more Karrie Webb realises 'wild dream' from SMH or head over to Karrie Webb's official website.

Image courtesy of LPGA.com

Australian handicapping changes: Q&A

Stay up to date with the latest on any handicapping changes by signing up to Aussie Golfer with your email address on the right hand side of the page!

Today we address some of the questions Aussie Golfer has been asked concerning the new handicapping system. The system will be introduced across Australia over the next few months.

More handicapping changes Q&A

1. When the new system is introduced, will a person's handicap be assessed on his/her previous 20 games from date of introduction or will it be based on his/her next 20 games from date of introduction?

Upon introduction your new handicap will be based on your previous 20 rounds already in the system. Of these 20, your 10 best rounds will be used to calculate your new handicap based on the method outlined here.

2. I am interested in your thoughts if you think peoples handicap's will go up with this new system, go down or do you will stay about the same?

Golf Australia have said that they would not introduce the new system if all handicaps will stay the same. Some will change significantly when introduced but it will be a far better representation of their golfing ability as a trend over the past 20 rounds. In general, there will be some go up, some go down and some that stay the same!

3. Why do you multiply by .96? Is this number the course rating?

This mysterious 0.96 multiplication is a little complicated but it essentially negates a small advantage a golfer with a high handicap has over a golfer with a low handicap under the new system. All the mathematical details are outlined further here if you are that way inclined. The course rating is an altogether different fish. All course ratings will be changed in a few years but for the time being, your current Australian Course Rating (ACR) will be used.

4. How often does your handicap update? Every 20 rounds?

No. For the moment your handicap will be recalculated immediately after every round. When a new round is entered, the previous 21st round will be excluded from the new handicap calculation. This will change in the future with updates becoming less frequent to enable the handicap to be adjusted according to your score trend rather than "one-off" good or bad rounds.

5. Has that April date (first or thirtieth) been confirmed as yet or are we still in the dark?

We're still in the dark.

For more information click on the other links below or see Golf Australia Handicapping.

More handicapping changes Q&A

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New handicap system: how does it work?

Great golf wallpapers

Looking for some cool golf wallpaper?

Gary Lisbon is Australia's premier golf photographers and has travelled the world documenting the greatest golf courses and via GolfSelect.com.au there's a whole bunch of his photos laid out in different sizes to add as an image to your computer desktop.

There are some truly stunning images with the Narooma par-3 third hole a personal favourite.

Check out much more on Gary Lisbon's photography if you want to see and find out more.

Happy Australia Day!

Happy Australia Day from Aussie Golfer and a few friends from Riverside Oaks Golf Course.

(I've just noticed an Australia Day sale on over at Lind Golf. 15% off site wide until Jan 31st. I reviewed these clubs last year. Very good gear.)

Rules of Golf: Unplayable Lie

A golfer drives his ball into the trees and decides to hit a provisional ball in case the first cannot be found. The first ball is eventually found within the five minutes allowed for searching but it is in such a bad lie that it is deemed unplayable by our now, slightly annoyed golfer.

If the golfer chooses to go back to the tee and rehit, can the provisional ball be used instead?

I assumed the answer, but decided to turn to the guru and get the facts straight.

Barry Rhodes at the Rules of Golf, the first person to achieve 100% on the public Advanced Rules of Golf exam informed me the provisional ball originally played cannot be used. There are only these three options available to a player who deems the ball unplayable according to Rule 28. Under the penalty of one stroke:

a. Play a ball as nearly as possible at the spot from which the original ball was last played; or

b. Drop a ball behind the point where the ball lay, keeping that point directly between the hole and the spot on which the ball is dropped, with no limit to how far behind that point the ball may be dropped; or

c. Drop a ball within two club-lengths of the spot where the ball lay, but not nearer the hole.

The provisional ball was played from the tee in case of a lost ball. As the ball was found, if the player wishes to play a ball as near as possible to where the original ball was played - another must be hit.

Of course, all of this mayhem can be avoided by hitting it straight in the first place.

Golf Sale Item

Look what was on sale...and this was just before Christmas.

Australians on the PGA Tour

Tuesday we had a look at the prospects for the Australian golfers on this year's European Tour. Let's now take a look at the PGA Tour.

Once again, green means they will win and make a big impact. Amber means it's possible with some reservations and red....no chance.

Michael Sim, Robert Allenby, Adam Scott, Marc Leishman, John Senden, Geoff Ogilvy

Geoff Ogilvy is already off to a magic start. I can't wait to see how Michael Sim goes on tour this year. Only he and Tiger averaged under 70 on tour last year and only Sim is still playing golf. Adam Scott is going to be exciting to see. His genuine hard work and want for success was compelling at the Australian Open. Robert Allenby has been winning everywhere but on the home of target golf. He almost pulled off his first win since 2001 on the PGA Tour last week. He will get that elusive win this year.

Mat Goggin, Nathan Green, Nick O'Hern, Jason Day, James Nitties, Aaron Baddeley, David Lutterus

All these guys have the game to win but question marks remain. James Nitties and Jason Day have the game to win but question marks hang over their consistency and someone recently mentioned that perhaps Goggin doesn't have the mental strength. Say it ain't so Mat!? Show it ain't so!

Stuart Appleby, Cameron Percy, Greg Chalmers, Rod Pampling, Matt Jones, Jarrod Lyle, Aron Price, Greg Norman

I would love every guy on this list to win this year including these guys but they'll struggle. Cameron Percy had a great Nationwide Tour 2009 but may find the going tough and I fear Apples, despite some good form in Australia, may have done his dash. I hope I'm wrong - and will proudly admit to it if it happens.

Australian prospects on the 2010 Euro Tour

A golf ball made to find water

Occasionally there comes a piece of golf writing that is impossible to put down and I just have to share.

The "I wish I wrote that" golf article for this month is last weekend's piece by Simon Webster, Putt out and plate up.

It concerns a new biodegradable golf ball produced in Barcelona called the Ecobioball. The golf ball is aimed at anyone who is fond of launching the white pills into the ocean. The ball's out layers biodegrade in less than 48 hours releasing fish food from the ball's core.

The invention is only one step from real progress – a biodegradable golf ball containing human food, which could be a lifesaver in emergencies, such as when golfers reach the halfway point in a round only to find the sausage sanger cart is closed.

For more info on the ball itself: Ecobioball website.

Image courtesy of albusgolf.com

Australians on the Euro Tour

In the tradition of the new referral system, let's take a look at the Australian golfers on the European Tour this year with some traffic signals.

Green means they will win and make a big impact. Amber means it's possible with some reservations and red....no chance.

Scott Strange, Brett Rumford

These two guys are underrated. Scott Strange battles away and has two wins on the tour with four top-10s last year. Brett Rumford has three European Tour wins and may be slightly disturbed by his time in Australia, notably at the gusty Australian Open but he'll come back strong. Both these guys are very strong mentally and will win again.

Richard Green, Scott Hend,

Rick Kulacz

We've all seen the sort of golf Richard Green is capable off with some great victories over the years. He's very consistent but had an ordinary 2009 by his standards. Scott Hend has played all over the world and never quite pushed to the next level. Some Australian form shows he's on the right track but only time will tell.

Marcus Fraser, Peter O'Malley, Andrew Tampion, Matthew Zions

Marcus Fraser and Peter O'Malley have been true "journeymen" in Australian golf. Fraser's form is inconsistent and its no secret that Captain Caveman putts better than O'Malley. All these guys will struggle on tour this year.

Australian prospects on the 2010 PGA Tour

Caddy for a pro on the Nationwide Tour

Have you ever thought you would like to try your hand at golf caddying? Now is your chance with Moonah Classic organisers looking for keen golfers to caddy for the professionals.

The Moonah Classic is a Nationwide Tour event and takes place at Moonah Links on the Mornington Peninsula (just outside of Melbourne) from February 4 - 7, 2010.

Tournament organisers giving keen golfers the opportunity to caddy for the professionals at the event. You just need to be available for all four days of the tournament and can show your passion for the game!

This would be a great way to see how things are done on the other side of the rope. Usually caddies receive a small payment for their services. Who knows? You may be the next Steve Williams.

To find out more read details from PGA of Australia and phone the tournament office on (03) 5988 5260.

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Williams should caddy for Michael Campbell

Ogilvy's win good for golf in Australia

The whirlwind that was the short and crazy summer of Australian golf is now firmly in the past. The dust that swirled around Tiger's group as he stalked the fairways of Kingston Heath now firmly settled, unlike his private life.

Most people agree that the money paid to get the world number one in Australia was well spent with the Victorian government estimating $34 million was poured into the local economy, well above the pre-tournament expectations of $19 million.

The question over whether this will stimulate the Australian golf tournaments remains. What are the incentives for more of the world's top golfers to play golf in Australia?

The OneAsia Tour, if run correctly will help greatly and it appears tour organisers are on the right track but Geoff Ogilvy's win in Kapalua last weekend may have done more for Australian golf in the short term.

It has taken a while but many golf experts from across the US were asking why the Australians do so well at Kapalua and at the early season tournaments.

Australia golfers don't really get an off season as most come back to play in our national tournaments. Combined with the fact that the weather in Australia is very Hawaii then things start to make sense.

Nick Faldo mentioned these factors during the telecast last weekend and the Larry Dorman at the NY Times also reported similar observations along with further comments from Geoff Ogilvy highlighting the differences in the general PGA Tour courses:

With wind, climate and sloping terrain similar to Australia, Kapalua may become the same kind of annuity for Ogilvy that it was for his fellow Australian Stuart Appleby, who won three straight here from 2004 to 2006. Ogilvy was a combined seven over par in his first two appearances here in 2006 and 2007. After shooting 46 under in his two victories, Ogilvy said he was beginning to feel at home.

“You rarely shoot straight at the pins in Australia, much the same as here,” Ogilvy said. “Much of the time you use the slopes to work the ball toward the hole. I feel like now I may have figured it out.

Maybe the idea of playing in Australia to fine tune the game during the "off-season" may become more appealing to PGA Tour professionals who are looking to get the next year off to a good start.

Winning early in the season must surely take the pressure off for the rest of the year. Besides, who would want to spend Christmas in the cold anyway?

Related Story

Ogilvy wins in Hawaii, again

Kiwi's troubled by Tiger

It was mentioned during the week that the world would be a much more interesting place if the only nuclear power in the world was New Zealand. It is true that it is a most beautiful country full of the friendliest people on the planet and the world would be in good hands but even the Kiwi's get troubled by world affairs.

New Zealand's highest paid sportsperson is Tiger Woods' caddie Steve Williams, so perhaps they have as much right as anybody to be troubled by the Tiger affair.

The Junior Tiger tournament was created last November to promote junior golf in New Zealand with the winner representing New Zealand in this years World Junior golf Championships in San Diego. It is a junior "golfing pop idol" of sports according to the Sunday News and organisers are reconsidering their association with Woods. Animated Tiger's litter the Junior Tiger website and a re-branding would time consuming and costly.

It is the biggest news to hit New Zealand golf since Michael Campbell's US Open victory in 2005. To say Michael Campbell has struggled since that victory would be like saying Tiger Woods slept with a few women. According to the Sunday Star Times even Campbell is perplexed by it all:

"I've been out with Tiger socially on a few occasions and there's no way I picked it up," Campbell said.

Asked if he had been following the saga with interest, Campbell, who famously beat Woods to win the 2005 US Open, said: "Interest? Not really. But I feel for both sides."A lot of guys are surprised by what's unfolded over the last couple of months – he just didn't seem that way."He had this secret life that no-one knew about, people say they did [know] but I didn't."

Can anyone else see the opportunity for New Zealand golf right here? One time Kiwi hero and former US Open champion in the golfing wilderness and the country's highest paid sportsperson out of work. It is not hard to put two and two together or in this case, one and one.

Nevermind Steve Williams saying he won't caddie for anyone else again, for the right money perhaps some incentives from New Zealand golf and the two of them can pair up. After all, it may have been Williams that led Tiger down the wrong path in the first place.

Reportedly after Woods won at Valhalla at the PGA championship in 2000, he was over the moon and very excited about the real prospect of beating Jack Nicklaus' record of 18 major wins. "I've just won five Stevie! Only 14 more and I've beaten Jack!".

Ever the professional caddie and the responsible New Zealander, Williams replied "Tiger, just keep calm. You need to get back out there tomorrow and focus on six."

The rest is now history.*

Cambo and Stevie together would give junior golfers across New Zealand and new golfing pair to idolise. I think all golfers across the world would be interested in this pairing and Cambo needs all the help he can get.

Michael Campbell's website

*Not true. An exclusive Aussie Golfer joke. My apologies to all my great New Zealand friends.

Image source: Reuters

Related Stories

How the Tiger Woods story has affected me

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Geoff Ogilvy wins at Kapalua, again

Geoff Ogilvy has been billed as the next face of the PGA Tour. During the absence of Tiger Woods,Ogilvy has claimed the number one spot is up for grabs. He's made a great start to track down that spot by winning the SBS Championship at Kapalua by one shot.

See below video interview with Geoff Ogilvy after his win.

It is the second year running Ogilvy has won this event, the first person to do so since Stuart Appleby won three years in a row from 2004 - 2006. His win this year was a lot more difficult than in 2009 having to come from behind after Rory Sabbatini went on a birdie-fest and fired a 10-under 63.

Ogilvy is no longer is sponsored by Puma and has changed clubs from Cobra for Titleist. His golf in Australia wasn't great by his standards but he has hit the ground running once again.

Australians never really get that much time away from golf as the home circuit begins after the PGA Tour ends. In combination with the sort of weather conditions Hawaii gets most of the year, it plays into Australian hands. Expect more good performances over the coming weeks.

We will now see if Geoff Ogilvy has what it takes to be one of the greats. His 2009 season trailed off considerably after his roaring start. Maybe come 2011 we will see Ogilvy as the face of the PGA Tour and as the world's number one golfer.

Any thoughts on this?

Image source: Getty Images

Further reading
The recession is over

Coober Pedy has playing rights at St.Andrew's

Last week Aussie Golfer alluded to the fact that Coober Pedy Golf Course is the only golf course in the world that has reciprocal playing rights with St.Andrew's. I mentioned it briefly in golf trivia too but one look at the golf course and you may doubt the story. It does has a "divot" associated with it but we won't let the truth get in the way of a good story.

Back in 2002, the Coober Pedy Golf Course clubhouse was destroyed by fire. After the new clubhouse was built, the club president sent St.Andrew's a photo of the course and told them it was about time they got their course in good shape and asked if they would like reciprocal membership.

Much to the his surprise a letter arrived from St.Andrew's Links Trust granting reciprocal rights on the provision they grant St.Andrew's an opal mine. The opal mine and reciprocal rights were given making Cooper Pedy Golf Course the only course in the world with reciprocal rights with St.Andrew's.

The "divot" in this story is that the reciprocal rights granted to the Coober Pedy Golf Club members is for the Balgove Course, the 9-hole and perhaps worst course in the St.Andrew's Links Trust portfolio. All the same, it is a good story.

President Obama greets locals during golf game

The Waggle Room reported this week on some guy taking time out during his game of golf in Hawaii this week to say hi to the locals.

It is pretty cool. The woman at the end reminds me a little of a scene from Seinfeld.

I can't imagine Kevin doing this though. I can't imagine Kevin playing golf!

Australia’s best public access golf courses

Barnbougle Dunes rated #1 public access course in Australia Image source

AusGolf has released its list of the top 100 public access golf courses in Australia for 2010.

The great Tassie links course Barnbougle Dunes once again maintains its top spot followed by the Moonah Links Legends course.

There will always be debate with these lists. It is interesting to see WA's Kennedy Bay jump up into the Top 10 after reopening last year and personally I'm not sure The Coast deserves a spot despite its sweeping ocean vistas.

Any comments of your own? It is hard to comment unless you've played the golf courses but pick a couple you've played and tell me if you think they have them in the correct order.

Here's the Top 50 and the full list is here at the AusGolf website.

2010 COURSE 2009 1 BARNBOUGLE DUNES 1 2 MOONAH LINKS - LEGENDS 2 3 JOONDALUP - QUARRY/DUNES 4 4 KENNEDY BAY nr 5 THE DUNES 3 6 MAGENTA SHORES 5 7 MOONAH LINKS - OPEN 7 8 BARWON HEADS 8 9 THIRTEENTH BEACH - BEACH 10 10 PACIFIC HARBOUR 9 11 THE CUT 6 12 PORTSEA 12 13 BONVILLE 15 14 BROOKWATER 11 15 HOPE ISLAND 14 16 CAPRICORN - CHAMPIONSHIP 20 17 GLADES 17 18 CLUB PELICAN 16 19 COOLUM 18 20 LAKELANDS 21 21 VINES - LAKES 22 22 VINTAGE 23 23 HERITAGE - ST JOHNS 19 24 THIRTEENTH BEACH - CREEK 33 25 MEADOW SPRINGS 25

26 PORT FAIRY 30 27 EYNESBURY 34 28 ST MICHAEL'S 32 29 RANFURLIE 50 30 SANCTUARY COVE - PINES 24 31 PACIFIC DUNES 27 32 HORSHAM 28 33 ROBINA WOODS 26 34 CAPE SCHANCK 35 35 PARADISE PALMS Top 100 36 SORRENTO 31 37 LAGUNA - TURTLE POINT 13 38 LINKS LADY BAY 29 39 MURRAY DOWNS 40 40 NOOSA SPRINGS 41 41 TWIN WATERS 43 42 SANDS TORQUAY 39 43 LONG REEF 46 44 KOOINDAH WATERS 42 45 ROYAL HOBART 37 46 ALICE SPRINGS 36 47 BONNIE DOON 38 48 HERITAGE - HENLEY 47 49 NAROOMA 48 50 CRANBOURNE 49

Vanity Fair: Tiger in the Rough

I've tried but I just can't help drawing attention to this.

Tiger In The Rough with accompanying portrait by Annie Leibovitz is part of Vanity Fair's February 2010 issue and is possibly the best analysis of the Tiger Woods affair yet.

The steely golf performances, the lying, the cheating and speculation of what happens next is all there.

"The swirling question is if, and when, he will return to golf...he would simply be a golfer trying to win a tournament."

I'm keen to hear what everyone thinks of it.

Related stories

Tiger's a loser

How the Tiger Woods story has affected me

Tiger admits to transgressions

This murky Tiger affair

Horses for courses

As 2010 really starts to pick up steam I thought this was a nice reminder of the sort of contrasts across world golf.

Shane Bacon at Dogs That Chase Cars posted this image below of St.Andrew's under a little snow just before Christmas. I've never seen the hallowed grounds like this before.

Then there is this image from the Coober Pedy Golf Course via Deck Chair. In truth, the course looks like this all the time and you may laugh. But does your course have reciprocal rights to St.Andrew's?

Image source

A short golf resolution for 2010

Aussie Golfer has never been one for New Years Resolutions. If you want to resolve something, do it now. Don't wait until the rounding off of a particular date in the calendar.

Having said that, it does no harm to set your own personal golfing goals. Challenge yourself but do not forget your short game.

Over and over the short game rears its head. A good short game can turn an average round into a very good one or a good round into something special. A bad short game does nothing but clock up strokes.

It is no secret half the game of golf is made up of shots constituting a short game so spend half of your time practising it.

2010 is the year of the short game. Happy New Year.