The Royal Spanish Golf Federation has noted that, due to the increase in competitions for professional golf players held by private circuits, players with handicaps (amateurs and professionals) who wish their rounds to be considered valid for handicap purposes are participating more and more frequently.

Thus, we find circuits, such as the European Tour, the Ladies European Tour, the PGA Spain, the Gecko Tour, and others, that ensure tournaments meet their own quality standards, set by the professional players themselves. Unfortunately, these standards do not always align with those established by the World Handicap System for rounds to be considered valid for handicap purposes. This is because, for example, to improve the pace of play or the playability of the course, tee boxes are sometimes moved forward on certain holes, which prevents the round from being considered valid for handicap purposes according to the System's own rules.

Let us remember that the current World Handicap System establishes that for a round to be valid for handicap purposes (Rule 2.1), it must be played “on a golf course with an updated Course Rating and Slope Rating, where the length and difficulty of the course have been maintained in accordance with that rating.”

Therefore, in order for the aforementioned rounds to be valid for handicap purposes in this type of competition, either the Club where the round is played, its Regional Federation, or the Royal Spanish Golf Federation will: (i) correctly process the competition using the corresponding software, (ii) upload the complete results to the Royal Spanish Golf Federation's Central Handicap Server under the club's code, and (iii) ensure that the results of all players, with or without handicaps, are included. This will certify compliance with Rule 2.1, and the administrator will be responsible for verifying such compliance beforehand. If Rule 2.1 is not met, the round must not be processed under any circumstances.

This Circular cancels Circular 69/2019.

Download Circular 62/2024 below, in Related Content.