The scene from my window, at about the highest point in the Altrincham area, is deep and crisp and even. And with a forecast of freezing temperatures for the next few days, the prospects of playing any golf this week are looking very slim.

Let’s hope that the forecasters have got it wrong, and things do thaw out by Friday, in which case we will be playing Round 1 of 10 of the Winter League.

Paul Foster has drawn up the rules for the league, and the handicapping system we will be using for each division.

Winter League 2025 – Handicap Rules

Reporter: Paul Foster

The winter league 2025 will be played over 12 holes

1st Division

Handicaps reset to the WHS 95% playing handicap.

After a score above 24pts: 0.5 a shot reduction for every two shots under par.

25pts – no change

26 or 27pts – 0.5 shot reduction

28pts – 1 shot reduction etc.

After a score of 20 to 24pts: No handicap adjustment.

After a score of 19pts or less, a single addition of 0.5 of a shot to be added to the handicap.

Handicaps that include 0.5 are rounded up to the next whole number

2nd Division

Handicaps to continue from as they were at the end of the Autumn league 2024.

After a score above 24pts: 0.5 shot reduction for every shot under par.

After a score of 20 to 24pts: No handicap adjustment.

After a score of 15 to 19pts: A single addition of 0.5 of a stroke to be added to the handicap

After a score under 15pts:
0.5 of a stroke added to the handicap for each point less than 15pts

Handicaps that include 0.5 are rounded up to the next whole number

The Divisions

Paul has also worked on resetting the divisions. The Div 2 list is slightly longer; this is because fewer people in Div 2 play in the winter league than in Div 1.

Handicaps

Go to the Handicaps page to see your handicap for Week 1 of the Winter League.

Tee-booking schedule for tomorrow (Thursday 9 January)

Happy Mondays tee-booking schedule for Sunday 12 January

Newsletter Editor: Mark Pickles