UK Golf Federation news

Thank you to those golf clubs that have already uploaded their course information onto the new England Golf WHS platform and if you have not yet done so, please get in contact with the WHS team at WHS2020@englandgolf.org. England Golf, as the national governing body, has the responsibility of administering the WHS system, moving to a higher integrity level of handicapping for and on behalf of its members. In terms of handicap and competition software that is currently provided to clubs by Independent Software Vendors (ISVs), both existing and new ISVs will be able to continue to work with clubs to provide relevant products and services as they do under the existing CONGU handicap system. 

This will include the ability to display a member’s WHS Handicap Index and playing record through the ISV software. 

The two main changes under WHS are: • The England Golf WHS platform will be the unique calculation hub for all member’s handicaps, as opposed to previously the ISV software calculating at golf clubs • (Scores will continue to be inputted through ISV software, which will then link to the EG WHS platform) • The England Golf WHS platform will be the originating depository of all member’s playing records Golf clubs and golfers will have direct access to the EG WHS platform to be able to view their latest handicap information through the EG website and EG app (to be launched in November and provided FOC to all affiliated golf club members). As part of the licence agreement with ISVs, there will be an initial data transfer to the EG WHS platform that will include: • First name • Surname • Gender • Date of birth • E-mail address • Home club • Membership category The transfer of information, which will be fully compliant with GDPR is required to ensure player identification, communication and to eliminate the duplication of handicap records. If a club or individual refuses England Golf access to the required information, then a WHS Handicap Index will not be issued. England Golf will be working with the following ISVs who have signed up to the terms and conditions of our CONGU licence to deliver the WHS system: • Club Systems International • DotGolf • Golf Autoscore Ltd (Book & Play) • GOLFBOX • Golf Genius Software • HandicapMaster(TM) Limited. • IntelligentGolf Limited • Nexxchange Services As part of the terms and conditions, ISVs will display a privacy notice relating to England Golf being a data controller in respect of its members’ data. 

England Golf has a contract with its members, namely individuals who are members of affiliated golf clubs. The details requested in the licence, including e-mail address, are necessary for the performance of that contract in accordance with the terms of Article 6 of the GDPR. Full details of the lawful basis or bases for England Golf’s processing of its members data will be set out in the required privacy notice as required by the GDPR, which ISVs are required, under the terms of the licence, to include in their end user agreements. A per club licence fee of £74.50 (plus VAT) will be charged to the ISVs on a half yearly basis, which covers implementation and ongoing maintenance costs of the WHS in England. (This represents a £10.25 per month increase on the current per club fee). England Golf looks forward to continuing to support golf clubs on the implementation of the WHS and further information is available at www.englandgolf.org/whs or please e-mail WHS2020@englandgolf.org if you have a specific query.