About DCGU
What We Do For You
As the Men's Governing Body for Amateur Golf in County Durham, the DCGU is affiliated to England Golf and the Men's National Governing Body. We work on their behalf, alongside the R&A and the European Golf Association, to support the clubs, golfers and talent of Durham across all areas of the game.
Handicaps
The transition to the new WHS authority for the CDH/iGolf handicap system, managed behind the scenes that allows us to report handicaps, answering handicap queries and advising clubs, to handling disciplinary and appeals cases. We support clubs with operating the System under the WHS World Handicap System.
Course Rating
The Course and Slope rating for each set of tees is a fundamental part of the new WHS handicap system and allows golfers to compete on different courses using a fair and equitable system. We have a team of trained course assessors who undertake this work on behalf of England Golf at no cost to the clubs.
Increasing Participation
As part of the County Golf Development Group, we work to bring new players into the sport and new members into clubs. Working closely with England Golf, the Golf Foundation and local authorities, clubs with development ideas and Sport England funding applications to help develop facilities and recruit new golfers.
Rules, Governance & Disciplinary
The Union is your first port of call for answering Rules queries, advising persons to answer them. We ensure courses are set up correctly for competitions and assist clubs to implement R&A club changes. We support clubs with Governance, Safeguarding and Disciplinary issues, handling all matters professionally and in confidence.
Talent Development
Durham's talent development programme supports young talent from under 18 to the transition to senior golf through first-class coaching, support and competition opportunities. Enabling Durham's local talent fulfil their potential while supporting club home and County and League fixtures, ensuring Durham continues to produce quality players.
County Teams
For a small County Durham regularly punches above its weight on the golf and home at all levels from Under 14 to Senior. Competing regularly at over 25 Inter-County competitions we represent Durham with pride and consistently achieve results that exceed expectations for a county of our size.
Championships & Competitions
Durham Union runs nine Championships and individual Competitions for all divisions of handicap open only to affiliated members and our competitions run to County Seniors (over 55's), over 2,000 club members compete in DCGU events each year, with team experts including the Clubs' Championship, Team Handicap Competition and Mixed Foursomes.
County Membership Scheme
Club members who sign up to the County Membership Scheme gain access to exclusive County Members' only competitions each year, the 18 Club Challenge plus. This scheme offers additional competitive opportunities beyond your club fixtures and a chance to compete against the best players from across Durham.
County Card Scheme
Durham County Card enables Durham club members to explore over 1,200 courses in the country and England at discounted green fee rates. Plus valuable benefit of the Worldwide Handicap Certificate golfing experiences and helps you discover courses you might not otherwise have played.
