A proportion of the country's male golfers would appear to be unwilling to accept the concept of a game of honour, with regard to handicapping. So, the GUI decided at their annual general meeting in Malahide yesterday to embark on a programme of persuasion.

As indicated in these columns last Tuesday, golf classics are to be strictly monitored, with a view to identifying regular prize-winners. Crucially, the host club are being directed that the names of players filling first, second and third places must be returned to their home club.

In this way, it is hoped to establish a "form guide" so that the home club can take appropriate action on handicaps, under the "general play" rule. "We are not condemning these competitions which often do tremendous fundraising for charity," said union honorary secretary Gerry O'Brien. "But the events are being exploited by certain players whom we want identified."

Technically, team events of this nature don't come under the rules of golf, as there is no way of having scores properly authenticated. But in the interest of equity, the GUI takes the view that greater control must be exercised.

To this end, they have decided that players consistently returning good scores or above average results in golf classics, team events, fourballs, foursomes and matchplay competitions, should have their performances noted. Then, every time a player has two such performances in a calendar year, his handicap shall be reduced as follows: Category 1 - 0.3 strokes; Category 2 - 1.0 strokes; Category 3 - 1.5 strokes; Category 4 - 2.0 strokes.

Handicap-abuse is also being targeted through the adoption of a CONGU recommendation which already applies in the other home countries. It will result in all qualifying competitions being converted to Stableford scores - with the exception of Category 1 players (handicap plus to 5.4).

In this way, if a player were to produce impressive medal scores for, say 15 holes, and then run up figures like eight, nine or 10 for the other three holes, a more accurate reflection of his overall performance would be achieved. Or it could mean that with a high score at one hole, a player might have a moderate medal score of 74, yet return 40 Stableford points.