EGA (European Golf Association) HANDICAP SYSTEM

The EGA have published a new booklet outlining the revised system for handicapping effective from 1.1.12. At this stage we are not sure that it has been totally embraced by the Spanish Golf Federation, who have used the previous EGA system with one or two tweaks! The EGA have said about the new system that it is mandatory but we wait to see-the main difference that Spain adopted was a greater adjustment of handicap when a player scored 41 points or more.

The main change to the new system is the abolition of the Competion Stableford Adjustment(CSA) and the introduction of the Computed Buffer Adjustment (CBA). The old CSA, in simple terms, adjusted scores based on the number of scores of 34 points and above and the categories these were scored by, trying to evaluate the difficulty of the course on the day of the competition. The CBA is not that different really except that it uses the performance of the field relative to the "buffer zone" rather than increasing or decreasing individual scores. This new system has now been written into our handicap program and will be used effective from our next competition. If you wish to look at the EGA booklet, click on the picture on the right  hand panel of the website.

COSTA BLANCA LEAGUE                                                                                        

Our league team take on Marina Alta Golf Society in the next round of the Costa Blanca League. The game is being played at Bonalba on Friday 27th January and the team to represent the Society is Ed Wallace & Geoff Willcock, Neil Carter & Roy Jones, Simon Sprosen & Richard Morris, Tony Carroll & Ros Fletcher and John Day & Paul Edwards. The first tee is at 10.40 and the team are asked to be at Bonalba by 10.00.

SIMON OUTFOXES THE FIELD AT OLIVA NOVA                                                        

It was a chilly start to our game at Oliva Nova on Friday 20th January but as the morning progressed, the sun shone and most of us were down to shirt sleeves by the time we completed our rounds. Considering the amount of rain that fell on the course in the early part of the week, it was in remarkably good condition with only a few areas still on the soggy side! Today's game was kindly sponsored by Trevor Colgate and we had a very different outlook to the second shot nearest the pin holes with Trevor selecting 7 & 13. Our runaway winner of the Stableford was recently joined member, Simon Fox, with a great 41 points from a 20 handicap which will now receive the appropriate cut! Second & third places were decided on handicap with three members all scoring 35 points. Norman Howell took the higher position from his 15.7 handicap with third place going to Mike Saull by dint of a better back nine than Peter Twine, both of them playing off 18.5.

The two nearest the pins on the par 3 third and sixteenth were won by Ian Wiffen and Geoff Willcock respectively and the two second shots were both taken by our overall winner, Simon Fox. There were two 2's today for coveted Montgo balls with Sally Burrowes and Geoff Willcock the lucky recipients.

FOR FULL RESULT AND REPORT, CLICK ON PICTURE

CHANGES TO RULES 2012-15                                                                                      

The R and A and the USGA have made some changes to both The Rules and Amateur Status for 2012-15. What is also quite unique is that both bodies have now unified their rules and the only difference in the two rules books is the cover!

The principal change to the 2012 code for the Rules is the definition of "addressing the ball" and the these changes can be viewed by clicking here.

As regards the Amatuer Status, the updated changes can be viewed by clicking here.

An updated rule book has been published and the book contains the Rules of Golf, which will be effective worldwide from 1st January 2012. It represents the culmination of four years work by R&A Rules Limited and the United States Golf Association (USGA), following consultation with other golfing bodies throughout the world. While it is considered important that the Rules be faithful to their historical principles, they must be clear, comprehensive and relevant to today’s game, and the penalties must be appropriate. The Rules need regular review to ensure these goals are met. This set of Rules is the latest stage of this evolution. The principal changes are summarised on pages 6 and 7.Both R&A Rules Limited and the USGA wish to preserve the integrity ofgolf at all levels and to stress the importance of respect for and adherenceto the Rules.

To view The Rules of Golf click on the picture.

BONALBA WINTER CHALLENGE                                                                                     

The second round of the Bonalba Winter Challenge was played on Tuesday17th January. In the first round of the competition played in December, which was a fourball better ball pairs stableford format, we were placed third. Our team for that round was John Day, Ed Wallace, Ron Steele and Richard Morris. The second round was  Greensome Chapman medal competition and our team of Ed Wallace, John Day, Neil Carter and Mick Farmer finished in second place. The final round takes place on Tuesday14th February when we will be fielding the same team as for the second. Format for the final competition is Copa Canada with combined stableford scores for each pairing and team. In the overall placings we are lying third with 18 points behind Levante who have 20 points and El Patio 1 on top with 22 points.

IT'S JOHN'S DAY AT OLIVA NOVA                                                                          

Our first game at Oliva Nova of 2012 proved to be a tough test of golf with the course playing very long making high scores very difficult. The prize winners were very close indeed with John Day coming out on top with 34 points from his 11.6 handicap. There were four players on 33 points with the positions decided on handicap-second was Neil Carter (9.2) with Geoff Willcock (12.1) in third place and Richard Morris(18.0), the player to miss out. Today there were four nearest the pins with Geoff taking the honours on the 3rd and John on the 16th. John also took the prize for the nearest 2nd shot on 18th (Securicor were notified of the need to provide an armed van to take all his spoils home!) with Brian Redfearn having the nearest second shot on hole 18. There were no twos today so Norman was able to preserve our stock for another day.

This was also the first round of the Eclectic competition and also the Player of the Year but obviously it is too early to give any details of the meaningful scores although of course John Day sits at the top of the latter competition!.

CLICK ON PICTURE TO SEE REPORT AND FULL RESULT

COLIN MAKES LIGHT OF THE WINDY CONDITIONS AT PONIENTE                              

We played our first game of 2012 at the testing Par 62 Poniente course at Villaitana. It was a Stableford competition sponsored by Ian Phillips. This course in benign conditions is never easy calling for accuracy off the tee and good reading of putts. Today therefore any score approaching par would be good in view of the extremely strong winds that were blowing as we started our rounds and whilst these were to subside somewhat later as the morning went on, it was nevertheless a good test of golf. Our winner playing the tight fairways with great accuracy and showing his usual high standard of putting was Colin Foster with an even par 36 points from his 7.9 handicap. Two players were only one shot behind and both played the course very well with Geoff Willcock (12.1) taking second place on handicap ahead of Peter Twine (18.5). Nearest the pin on hole 4 was Alan Skinner with Colin Cooper taking the honours on Hole 11. Colin and Mark & Karen Reynolds both had two's to secure coveted Montgo balls.

CLICK ON PICTURE TO SEE FULL REPORT AND RESULTS

COMPETITIONS 2012                                                                                               

Details of the competitions for 2012 are now on the web -please go to the appropriate page.

To enter the singles competition, you need to complete the entry form on the competitions page with the closing date for entries being 27th January unless 32 entries are received before that date. Please ensure that you only enter this competition if you are able to meet the round completion requirements as detailed.