The creator of the Rainbow Golf Course concept, which has taken the country by storm, is urging all golf clubs to create their own 'Rainbow'. The Huddersfield Golf Blog have spoken in depth with Todmorden member Roger Wornell about his intriguing idea that has gained national exposure.
A 'Rainbow' is a golf course created especially for playing Mixed golf, when ladies and men play together - both with and against each other, from a common set of tees. The course is called Rainbow because the colour motif for the tee markers is red, yellow and blue stripes, the colours usually used to separate courses.
Wornell, who came up with the genius idea believes that there is a need for it and told us, "The R&A golf rules clearly state that golf competitions should be played from the same set of tees. The most commonly used method of playing Mixed golf is for the Ladies to play from their card (usually the red tees) and the Men to play from their own tees (usually white or yellow). This is hardly sociable with the players separating at every hole." He added, "CONGU, in their brochure on Mixed golf, stresses that it must be realised that this kind of competition is effectively being held on two separate courses which is not in line with the ideal of the R&A rules of golf."
"CONGU also state that making Ladies play on the Men’s course is usually unfair because there is too large a difference to find a fair handicap allowance."
The Rainbow solution 'creates' a new course for a golf club from their existing golf tees – nine from the Ladies Red tees, and nine from the Men’s Yellow tees. Wornell explained, "The ideal could be to take the nine hardest from the Ladies card and the nine easiest from the Men’s card, thus taking the most common denominator."
However, the selection is entirely for the choice of the Club’s management, but clearly the tees must be suitable for both genders. Choosing the Index 1 from the Men’s card, or with the hole with the longest and hardest drive, is hardly likely to be in the interest of the competition.
The Management of the Rainbow course find (or initially estimate) the SSS for standard scratch Ladies, and also for the Men’s SSS, in order to calculate handicaps and the relevant allowance. In their document about Mixed golf, CONGU say that the difference usually required is at least around 4-6 strokes for courses from 5600 yards to 6100 yards.
There are several advantages of the Rainbow course. Golf goes back to the traditional basic rule of golf – the competition is held under a common set of tees. It is more sociably as intended – playing together throughout the course without having to separate after every green. Both players, Ladies & Men, play on at least nine holes on which they regularly play, and only have to adjust to nine different tees. It doesn’t alter or change any existing courses, competitions or structures. It needs no capital costs and zero additional running costs. A golf club can literally have a new course for free.
Wornell who has received feedback from players who have participated on the first ever rainbow course at Todmorden Golf Club said, "Both Ladies and Men like and enjoy playing together, and like playing on the new tees and holes, they are asking for playing these competitions more often."
He offered the following advice for any clubs looking to embrace the concept, "Make certain that any of the Men’s holes chosen are not beyond the average Ladies drive – i.e. not requiring 150 yards to clear any penal rough. Regarding handicapping, our experience suggests that you should take the higher of the CONGU guide lines – if in doubt, take the bigger increase for the Ladies handicap. Gentlemen will probably be disappointed! This is because the male players will not smash the card because they are playing on some 'ladies' holes! The majority of the Men will not beat the par from the nine ladies holes!"
Following the column penned by Bill Elliott in the February edition of Golf Monthly about the Rainbow Course and good coverage from the Golf Club Managers Association Wornell is hoping to 'sell' the general idea of the Rainbow Concept to all golf clubs. "If every club in the country creates a Rainbow I am not looking for any money, royalties or fees for me or the Club, as there is no copyright. I just think that it would be good for the game of golf if every club has its own Rainbow."
Let us have your thoughts on the rainbow concept by emailing or posting a comment.
A 'Rainbow' is a golf course created especially for playing Mixed golf, when ladies and men play together - both with and against each other, from a common set of tees. The course is called Rainbow because the colour motif for the tee markers is red, yellow and blue stripes, the colours usually used to separate courses.
Wornell, who came up with the genius idea believes that there is a need for it and told us, "The R&A golf rules clearly state that golf competitions should be played from the same set of tees. The most commonly used method of playing Mixed golf is for the Ladies to play from their card (usually the red tees) and the Men to play from their own tees (usually white or yellow). This is hardly sociable with the players separating at every hole." He added, "CONGU, in their brochure on Mixed golf, stresses that it must be realised that this kind of competition is effectively being held on two separate courses which is not in line with the ideal of the R&A rules of golf."
"CONGU also state that making Ladies play on the Men’s course is usually unfair because there is too large a difference to find a fair handicap allowance."
The Rainbow solution 'creates' a new course for a golf club from their existing golf tees – nine from the Ladies Red tees, and nine from the Men’s Yellow tees. Wornell explained, "The ideal could be to take the nine hardest from the Ladies card and the nine easiest from the Men’s card, thus taking the most common denominator."
However, the selection is entirely for the choice of the Club’s management, but clearly the tees must be suitable for both genders. Choosing the Index 1 from the Men’s card, or with the hole with the longest and hardest drive, is hardly likely to be in the interest of the competition.
The Management of the Rainbow course find (or initially estimate) the SSS for standard scratch Ladies, and also for the Men’s SSS, in order to calculate handicaps and the relevant allowance. In their document about Mixed golf, CONGU say that the difference usually required is at least around 4-6 strokes for courses from 5600 yards to 6100 yards.
There are several advantages of the Rainbow course. Golf goes back to the traditional basic rule of golf – the competition is held under a common set of tees. It is more sociably as intended – playing together throughout the course without having to separate after every green. Both players, Ladies & Men, play on at least nine holes on which they regularly play, and only have to adjust to nine different tees. It doesn’t alter or change any existing courses, competitions or structures. It needs no capital costs and zero additional running costs. A golf club can literally have a new course for free.
Wornell who has received feedback from players who have participated on the first ever rainbow course at Todmorden Golf Club said, "Both Ladies and Men like and enjoy playing together, and like playing on the new tees and holes, they are asking for playing these competitions more often."
He offered the following advice for any clubs looking to embrace the concept, "Make certain that any of the Men’s holes chosen are not beyond the average Ladies drive – i.e. not requiring 150 yards to clear any penal rough. Regarding handicapping, our experience suggests that you should take the higher of the CONGU guide lines – if in doubt, take the bigger increase for the Ladies handicap. Gentlemen will probably be disappointed! This is because the male players will not smash the card because they are playing on some 'ladies' holes! The majority of the Men will not beat the par from the nine ladies holes!"
Following the column penned by Bill Elliott in the February edition of Golf Monthly about the Rainbow Course and good coverage from the Golf Club Managers Association Wornell is hoping to 'sell' the general idea of the Rainbow Concept to all golf clubs. "If every club in the country creates a Rainbow I am not looking for any money, royalties or fees for me or the Club, as there is no copyright. I just think that it would be good for the game of golf if every club has its own Rainbow."
Let us have your thoughts on the rainbow concept by emailing or posting a comment.
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