As we welcome everyone back for the 2026 season at Sleepy Hollow, the Handicap Committee – Judy McDougall, Anthony Squarciotta, Mel Reingold, Andrew Trotman, and Deb Stevenson, would like to take a moment to outline our role and share our focus for the season ahead.

The mandate of the Handicap Committee is to ensure the accuracy and integrity of all member handicaps, while ensuring that Sleepy Hollow complies with the requirements of Golf Canada and the World Handicap System (WHS). At its core, this is about supporting fair play and maintaining the integrity of competition across all levels of play at the club.

To achieve this, there are two key expectations of all members:

• Players must strive to make the best possible score on every hole played

• Players must post all acceptable scores from rounds played under the Rules of Golf

Maintaining a complete and up-to-date scoring record is essential to ensuring that handicaps accurately reflect playing ability. This is not only a requirement under the WHS, but also a responsibility to fellow members.

To be eligible for Club Tournament Play, members must have a current Golf Canada Handicap Index. Members entering any competitive events may have their scoring records reviewed. Where a handicap index is not current due to incomplete posting, the Committee may take appropriate action, which could include requiring a player to compete with a modified or zero handicap, or restricting eligibility until the record is brought up to date.

As part of our ongoing efforts this season, the Handicap Committee will:

Conduct periodic Score Posting and Integrity Audits to ensure compliance and consistency

Continue to support and promote handicap integrity and fair competition

Provide education and communication to members on the Rules of Golf and the World Handicap System

We hope those who attended the recent Rules of Golf Session with Ian Nordheimer found it informative and helpful.  Educational opportunities like this are an important part of improving our collective understanding of the game and reinforcing the principles of fair play and integrity.

We will continue to share “Did You Know” updates throughout the season, offering practical insights into the rules and handicap system.

Our approach will always be guided by fairness, consistency, and respectful communication. Our goal is not only to uphold standards, but also to support members in understanding and meeting them.

We welcome any questions, feedback, or suggestions, and encourage you to reach out to any member of the committee at any time.

We wish everyone an enjoyable and successful season.

Sleepy Hollow Handicap Committee