The European Golf Association on:

Cultural Differences

World Handicap Meeting Far Hills, USA

23 May, 2013

Defining “culture”

• The ideas, customs, and social behavior of a particular country or group of countries

Inter-cultural perspective

• The attitudes and behavior characteristic of a particular group of people

Intra-cultural perspective

Inter-cultural perspectives (examples)

Sweden• EDS part of playing

“tradition”• High number of EDS• EDS unlimited (only

disallowed in Cat 1)

Italy• EDS frowned upon (“questionable

quality”)• Very low number of EDS• EDS maximally limited (only

4/year allowed, at home club, and only in Cat 4 and 5)

Sweden• Fourball scores not

qualifying

Spain• Fourball scores qualifying

(as pilot after request)

Inter-cultural perspective (example)

EGA• More than 95 % of all

golfers have an EGA Handicap

• Handicap is a necessity• Many private and few public

golf clubs• NB: 70+% of EGA golfers

have an “inactive” EGA Handicap (still need handicap)

USGA• Less than 25 % of all golfers

have a USGA Handicap• No experienced “need” for

handicap• Many public and few(er)

private golf clubs

Intra-cultural perspective (example)

• Our principal challenge:competitive vs. recreational golfers

1980: 90 % of German golfers = competitive10 % of German golfers = recreational

2010: 30 % of German golfers = competitive70 % of German golfers = recreational

• Change of motivation visible across EGA territory

• Responsibility: design a system that serves the majority without sacrificing accuracy for competitive golfers

• Handicap as commodity: make it attractive (generate revenues?)

Conclusions about culture

• Players’ conceptions of “handicap” differs greatly: rigid vs. flexible structures

• Modern golf = less homogeneity

• Our response: System based on core features as well as system options, designed so that appropriate precision can be maintained for those who need it (essentially competitive golfers), while more flexible (and much less rigidly managed) system structures are available for golfers who play golf as a recreational rather than competitive sport

maximally inclusive system

Discussion