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I am trying to find out about the Grafton Morrish Tournament and also the address and telephone number for the Public Schools Old Boys Golf Association. Can you please help. Margaret Costello Editor: The Grafton Morrish is run by the Public Schools Old Boys Golf Association (PSOBGA) whose chairman is Peter Grafton CBE. The format is:- * three pairs scratch foursomes stableford qualifying at a nominated venue during the early part of the year. I think there are around 7 venues scattered around the country. * top 48 teams qualify (typically about 100 - 110 try to qualify) Typically 80 from the 3 pairs points are needed to qualify * finals are scratch foursomes KO (teams of 3 pairs again) at Hunstanton and Brancaster usually around the 1st week in October. I think any school old boys association is eligible to enter (but you will have to check with the organisers) On the subject of organisers, my information is somewhat out of date but the following may be of use. Certainly, it is likely that if these names are not still involved, they will know to whom the mantle has been passed. The PSOBGA used to be run by one Stuart Watson at Crowtree Hall Thorne Doncaster DN8 5TF Peter Crowther is the convener for our group (S, S/W) and we play our qualifying round at Royal Ashdown Forest Golf Club in Sussex. The secretary of Royal Ashdown will certainly have a phone number for him. Other qualifying venues include (well, they used to!) Knowle Park (Sevenoaks) The Addington Royal Ashdown Forest Woodhall Spa Fixby Hall, Huddersfield Olton, Solihull Bruntsfield Links, Edinburgh and the secretaries of any of these clubs will certainly know who runs the competitions and who the local convener is. Hope that helps.

I'm forming a golf society at work but have never been on society day out 52 people have signed a notice to show their interest. Where do I start? All tips suggestions recieved with thanks. Billy Wright Editor: You can register a golf society through the English Golf Union which by making your members associate members of the EGU means that they can obtain handicaps which would be recognised by golf clubs. Anyone can form a golf society and this does not have to be registered with either the English Golf Union or any other official body for you to operate. You should play your golf at your meetings under the normal rules of golf as approved by the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews. You can obtain copies of the rules of golf from any golf club secretary. I would have thought the first thing you should do is to call a meeting of all those interested in forming the society - agree a name - appoint a captain, secretary, treasurer and committee to run the affairs of the society. You can then book to play at any golf club that will accept a society booking. Some may require you to have official golf club handicaps or handicaps recognised by the EGU, whence my opening remarks. Other, mainly pay and play courses may not require handicap certificates at all. You can create your own handicaps but these will only apply when you play as a society and will not be recognised as such by golf clubs. ie: it is something purely internal for your own members. Often, societies may adjust peoples handicaps, but these will only be applicable when you hold society meetings. Apart therefore from playing under the recognised rules of golf, and any conditions which the club where you want to play may impose, ie: dress, numbers, etc. you would operate exactly as any other club or society. Hope this gives you some ideas.

Where can one get hold of a copy of the rules / guidelines governing the adjustment of players handicaps and the calculation of a competitions SSS. I believe a little blue book exists: is it available on the net, and if not where do I get it from? Alan Rutherford Editor:I am fairly certain that the rules of golf are now published by the Sun Alliance Insurance Group. Your local golf club should have received copies, but you can find them on the web by going on to the Royal and Ancient Golf Clubs official site www.randa.org. This confirms that the booklet is produced by the Royal and Sun Alliance but you can actually access the complete rules of golf from the R&A website. The above may help but you really need the blue booklet entitled the Standard Scratch Score and Handicapping Scheme 1983 published and administered by the Council of National Golf Unions. I think this can be obtained directly from the English Golf Union whose website you can access through www.amateur-golf.com\union\ukireland\england.html.

A friend has a son that he would like to put in to some kind of coaching programme. he wondered if there is something similar to the PGA diploma that i am completing but for amatuer golfers. if there is could you give me details that i can pass on. Thanks. Kyle Elmer Editor: We are based in the UK and I can only give you information that relates to the UK. Pretty well every county and certainly every national union within the UK offer a training scheme for talented youngsters. Details of this can be found out through your local golf club who will be pleased to provide information on who to contact, where to go etc. If you are in the states, I'm sure the same thing must apply over there and I would think an approach to the USGA would give you the answer. Hope this helps.

Hi, I am 15 a overkeen golfer,please furnish me with info re golf academy's in SA,I started playing 6 months ago and have been rated a 9 handicap at the ERPM club in Boksburg, advise the route I should persue,I have emailed various sites with no response Dwain. Editor:Thanks for your email, it sounds as though you're making excellent progress. I'd suggest you either do this through your club's golf pro or contact the South African Golf Association PO Box 391994 Bramley, South Africa 2018.

Hi, I am 15 a overkeen golfer,please furnish me with info re: golf academy's in SA,I started playing 6 months ago and have been rated a 9 handicap at the ERPM club in boksburg, advise the route I should persue,I have E'mailed various sites with no response, looking forward to your response. regards Dwain Atterbury Editor: Thanks for your email, it sounds as though you're making excellent progress. I'd suggest you either do this through you club's golf pro or contact the South African Golf Association PO Box 391994 Bramley, South Africa 2018.

Who do I contact to find out who can bring pressure to bear on our local club to ensure that the handicapping scores are updated. Surely part of our yearly fees is that the handicaps are updated regularly? Every weekend cannot be a non-qualifier. We as a squad have appeared in singles opens elsewhere in the knowledge that the club passed on the scores. No changes to handicaps to some of us for three months. Durham is my area, I don't want to name my club at present, just need advice on the direction to take. Mick J. Editor: It is the duty of the golf clubs to maintain their members' handicaps and I don't know why a committee or handicap secreatry would not maintain them without good reason or why competitions should be non counting. Obviously its difficult for you, but I suppose you could obtain advice from the relevant governing golf union. Then I would approach your club captain and see what he has to say.

Where can I find order of merit or the winners of the amateur UK tournaments in each year from 1996 to date? David Rabinowitz Editor: This is not information we have available. I would suggest contacting the various golfing unions.

I would like some information on how to become a golf professional and to which tours I can join, I have not turned pro yet but I have a handicap of 3 and a sponsor. Ineed to know what steps I need to be taking if you can help it would be much appreciated if not, maybe you will have a number for me to call. Danny Deacon Editor: I assume that you're based in the UK from you email address. You would need to make contact with the PGA at the Belfry who look after club professionals throughout the UK. If you go to your local golf professional he'll be able to give you advice regarding that. However, from the tone of your email it seems you want to be a tour player. I have to say that a handicap of 3 would not get you very far on tour. At the final at last year's Nick Faldo junior series, Nick himself advised all the players that unless they had at least scratch and for preference plus 1 or plus 2 handicap by the time they're 18, don't even think of it. Your best course may be to get a job as an assistant in a local po shop which would give you time to practice and advice from the pro at the club. Get your handicap down and then try and get on one or the tours such as the Challenge or Master card before trying for a European Tour card. You can always try contacting the European Tour at www.europeantour.com or telephone Wentworth on 01344 840400 or fax 01344 840444.

I belong to a fairly new club in Sussex and I need to know more about the ladies handicap system - could you please send me some information or where I can get information from. Susan Bagnell Editor: Thank you for your email. If you have a lady captain or lady secretary at your golf club they should have all the information. Alternatively, the Ladies Golf Union can tell you the handicapping system for clubs which are affiliated to the LGU.There are six categories of ladies handicap, category 1, 5 or less, category 2, 6-12, category 3, 13-20, category 4, 21-28, category 5, 29-40, category 6, 41-45. The Ladies Golf Union are based at St Andrews, tel 01334 475811 or fax 01334 472818. I hope this is of help.

Any idea where I can pick up a copy of the EGU Golf Handicap Rules? Peter Poolan Editor: I thought that copies of the EGU handicap rules etc were supplied FOC to all golf clubs, so have a word with your Secretary who I'm sure will be able to help. If not I suggest you contact the EGU direct, www.amateur-golf.com/unions/ukireland/england.html

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