[<<] [>>] by Alison Maugham
4th March (CqE Official News)

The following guidance and set of questions and answers have been prepared by Croquet England, the Handicap committee and the Golf Croquet Tournaments Committee to help players and officials for the forthcoming season.

Questions and Answers

1. Will old handicaps that have recently been changed under new method of alignment with DGrade be reinstated?
   1. Yes, if a handicap has been changed following the recently adopted guidance of the Handicap Committee, a players' previous handicap should be reinstated.
   2. However, if a handicapper believes the new handicap to be correct, this new assigned handicap can be retained.
2. Will A and B series tournaments be allocated by DGrade?
   1. Yes, all series tournaments will be allocated by DGrade.
3. Will entry to C and D series tournaments be restricted by handicap?
   1. Yes, the tournaments entry will be restricted to the stated handicap range but will still be allocated on DGrade.
4. Will there be further advice to align player handicap and DGrades in the future?
   1. Yes, the relevant committees will continue their work to find appropriate methods to ensure players' handicaps are as accurate as possible, but no further changes will be introduced for the 2026 season.
5. What will happen to places in tournaments that have already been allocated?
   1. No changes will be made, the places already allocated will stand.

Background

Prior to the 2026 playing season the Handicap Committee updated the guidance for Golf Croquet handicappers to align players' handicap with their DGrade. This was to address many occurrences where the two were significantly different. Methods to address this situation were then researched and approved by the committee.

At the start of February 2026, some of our managers and handicappers started the process of adjusting player handicaps based upon the published guidance. During this process, it was realised that amending all player handicaps to be in-line with their DGrade was not achieving the desired outcome. Unfortunately the results of this would likely have a detrimental effect on some players' season and the events they would be able to enter.

Advice for Handicappers

Whilst we have discovered that the original method of aligning handicap and DGrade would not be appropriate for all players, it is important to remember that there are significant differences for many players. And, in some cases, these differences do still need to be addressed. Handicappers are urged to be vigilant when assessing player handicaps and to seek guidance from the handicap committee for special cases. Although it is important we have standard practice, there will always be cases which need special attention.

Advice for Players

If you believe your handicap to be incorrect or would like to be assessed, please contact your club handicapper who will discuss the process of an assessment. When entering tournaments, please read the entry restrictions carefully to ensure that the tournament is appropriate for your handicap or DGrade, the tournament information will clearly state whether handicap or DGrade is used to determine entry and allocation.

Additional Information

The Handicap Committee maintain a section on the Croquet England website to provide useful guidance for players and officials. This can be accessed at the following link - https://www.croquet.org.uk/?p=games/golf/handicapping.

If you have any questions or require any support with this matter, please don't hesitate to contact Croquet England by email (communications#croquetengland.org.uk).

This communication has been emailed to all Croquet England subscribers unless they have opted out of our email communication service.