Peter Austerberry passes away
One of the biggest contributors to handicapping and course rating in Wales, Great Britain and Ireland and the world of golf has passed away.
Peter Austerberry is someone who played a huge role behind the scenes in golf, and whose contribution will leave a lasting impression worldwide after he served on the global handicap research committee for the World Handicap System (WHS). development.
He was involved in the course rating calibration seminars hosted by the USGA, EGA and R&A over a number of years, served on the Wales Golf Executive Committee for many years as League Secretary and latterly as Honorary President of Glamorganshire Men’s County.
Peter devoted a wealth of knowledge, expertise and commitment to golf in general and handicapping in particular. He moved from Wales to Scotland in 2019.
He served as Vice Chairman of the Handicapping and Course Rating Committee for the Golf Union of Wales and Wales Golf.
He was involved in the merger of the men’s and ladies’ systems in 2004 with the formation of the United Handicapping System, as part of the merger between the men’s and ladies golfing governing bodies in Wales.
He served on the CONGU (Council of National Golf Unions) Board up until 2015 and on various CONGU committees over many years, latterly as an expert on technical matters, and was part of the World Handicap Research Team during the development of WHS.
In 1924 the British Golf Unions Joint Advisory Committee for the men’s game fully coordinated to create an equitable handicap system, that included a uniform course rating, throughout Great Britain and Ireland. The Committee duly prepared The Standard Scratch Score and Handicapping Scheme in 1925 and it became operational in Great Britain and Ireland from 1st March 1926 for male golfers.
The Ladies’ Golf Union (LGU) was formed in 1893 with one of its major objectives being to provide a national system of handicapping for ladies.
Its handicapping system operated from then until 2004 and during that period the Ladies’ Golf Union was the Handicapping Authority for ladies in Great Britain and Ireland and for affiliated Overseas Unions and Associations.
Wales Golf President and CONGU colleague Dr Val Franklin paid tribute, saying, “He was tireless in his work on handicapping and course rating both for us in Wales and GB&I, but also for the EGA and for WHS.
“On top of that he made a huge contribution to Radyr Golf Club and Glamorgan over the years. It didn’t surprise me to learn that he was still busy with handicapping until so very recently.
“Everyone at Wales Golf would like to pass on our deepest condolences to Peter’s family and friends.”