Can anyone become a Flying Club Swinger?

To register as a Flying Club Swinger, you must first become a Flying Club member. To do this please visit https://www.virgin-atlantic.com/en/gb/frequentflyer/index.jsp if you currently reside in the UK and http://www.virgin-atlantic.com/en/us/frequentflyer/index.jsp if you currently reside in the US. 

Shouldn’t my choice of continent depend on my nationality?

Strictly speaking, no! If you are American by birth but live in Europe, you will need to register for Europe. Likewise, if you are European but are spending the majority of time in the States, you will need to register for the US.

I’ve selected the US as my continent, why do I not get the choice of being a Club Swinger or a Fun Swinger?

At the qualifying stages, the Flying Club Golf League runs slightly differently for the US. Instead of having a separate Club and Fun Swingers as in Europe, all US Swingers play in the same league and are able to enter the same scores – casual and competition stroke play rounds from your local club, limited Corporate/Society Golf Days and Match Plays against other Flying Club Swingers.

In turn, all handicaps are controlled by the golf league organisers. If we feel the handicap you have selected does not reflect the scores you have submitted, you will be allocated a ‘fun’ handicap. This ‘fun’ handicap is based on the scores you submit to Flying Club Swingers and is continually updated throughout the Season and will be used at the Final should you qualify.

I’m playing in the US Swingers league, why can I not enter Stableford scores?

To enable us to monitor your handicap effectively and due to the differences between the UK and US handicapping systems, we ask that all scores submitted (apart from Match Play and Corporate/Society rounds) detail the total number of gross strokes played.

This enables us to easily adjust your handicap and therefore total golf league points using the United Kingdom’s CONGU Unified Handicapping System (www.congu.com)

If you’ve played a Stableford round, you can still enter that round if you work out the gross strokes played for each hole. If you have a ‘No Score’ for any one hole, we ask that you record this as a 9. 

I'm a US Swinger, and hand all my competition cards over to my club. How can I get my scores verified?

If you are a US Swinger and are entering your club competition scores into Swingers, you will have probably given your cards to your club, and are therefore not able to send them to us for verification. If this is the case, don't worry. We will accept other forms of score verification such as golf association websites which list results, as well as golf club emails confirming your score. 

Of course, if you have played in a corporate event, or a match play against another Swinger, or even just a fun round with friends, you should still submit your card.

Why don’t you use the US Handicapping System for US Swingers?

Flying Club Swingers has run for the last four seasons using the United Kingdom’s CONGU Unified Handicapping System (www.congu.com). To ensure consistency throughout the Season and indeed at the Final, it has been decided to continue using this System for all Swingers both from the US and Europe.

I’m a US Swinger, won’t the UK Handicapping System favour the European Swingers?

Not at all! The system is fair to all US Swingers and will allow the 12 best US players of the Season to be chosen for the final to compete against the 12 best European players. Again, at the final, all players will have a handicap which will have been based on the same handicapping system.

I’m a European Swinger, won’t the US Swingers format favour the US at the Final?

Not at all! The system will ensure that the US team will be playing off fair handicaps which will have been constantly monitored by the organisers throughout the season just as the clubs monitor European Club Swingers handicaps. Remember also, that a proportion of your team will be European Fun Swingers who will all have had their handicaps monitored by the organisers in exactly the same way.

I’m a US Swinger, how does the UK Handicapping System work?

For each score you enter you will be asked to submit the gross score (number of total strokes taken), the par of the course and the handicap you played off. The following calculation is then made to work out your golf league points. Gross strokes minus handicap = net score. Par minus net score = golf league points.

For instance, if I score a 76 gross and my handicap is 8, my net score is 68. If the par of the course is 72, I have scored 4 golf league points (4 under par).

Given this, the following table will determine how your ‘fun’ handicap will be amended based on this score.

The maximum handicap for men is 28 and the maximum handicap for ladies is 45.

The table below shows the handicap ranges in each category and the deduction in handicap for each golf league point scored.

Category 1    Handicap range 0.1 – 5.4      Deduction for each point scored 0.1
Category 2    Handicap range 5.5 – 12.4    Deduction for each point scored 0.2
Category 3    Handicap range 12.5 – 20.4  Deduction for each point scored 0.3
Category 4    Handicap range 20.5 – 28.4  Deduction for each point scored 0.4
Category 5    Handicap range over 28.5     Deduction for each point scored 0.5

Therefore if my handicap is currently 8, and I score 4 league points, my new handicap will be 8 minus 4 x 0.2 equals 7.2 Please note for rounds played all handicaps are rounded up or down where appropriate. Therefore my new playing handicap is 7.

If I score negative points, a net score above par, my handicap is increased by point 0.1 per round no matter what the score is and no matter what my current handicap is. In this instance we choose not to use the buffer zone allowance provided bu CONGU.

For instance, if with my new handicap of 7.2, I then score a gross 83 my net score is 76. If the par of the course is still 72, I have scored – 4 golf league points, four over par.

Given this my new handicap would be 7.3 an increase of just 0.1.

I’ve selected Europe as my continent, should I become a Club Swinger or a Fun Swinger?

If you play in club competitions and therefore have an official handicap, it is advisable you register as a European Club Swinger. That way you can enter club competition scores – both Medal and Stableford as well as limited Corporate/Society Day scores and Match Play scores. All club competitions must be qualifying for handicapping purposes and therefore have a Competition Scratch Score (CSS).

If you only play for fun and don’t have an official handicap, you should register as a European Fun Swinger. That way you can enter Fun Rounds with mates, but also limited Corporate/Society Day scores and Match Play scores.

Can I register as a European Fun Swinger if I have an official handicap?

If you do not want to enter any Club Competition scores but do want to enter Fun Scores, then it may be advisable to register as a European Fun Swinger even with an official handicap. Please note however that as a European Fun Swinger, we may well provide you with a fun handicap based on the scores you enter, which will be updated throughout the Season using United Kingdom CONGU Unified Handicapping System. Therefore, it is possible that your European Fun Swingers handicap is different to your Official Handicap.

For further information on CONGU handicap rules please visit www.congu.com  

I have entered some scores as a European Fun Swinger and you have told me my handicap has been cut. How can that be possible?

As a European Club Swinger, handicapping is controlled by your Club as all competition scores are verified by them. To ensure that European Fun Swingers is also a credible competition and to ensure that it is fair for all players, we verify scores and in turn we control handicaps (see also US Swingers).

Therefore if you enter a fun round which we deem is better than your current handicap suggests, we will adjust your handicap using the same CONGU rules used by clubs (see www.congu.com). However once your handicap has been adjusted by us, we will then constantly monitor every score you enter to ensure your handicap remains fair (in other words it may go down further or it may go up again).

All European Fun Swingers who qualify for the final will play off a handicap based on all the scores entered throughout the Season.

Can I register as a European Club Swinger if I don’t have an official handicap?

Unfortunately not. The European Club Swingers League will be for players with official handicaps only.

If I register as a European Club Swinger, can I enter scores from a club outside of the UK?

As a European Club Swinger, you can enter club competition scores from clubs in the UK and Eire. You can only enter club competition scores from clubs outside of the UK which are affiliated to the EGU. We will require proof of any such affiliation.

I live in mainland Europe, should I register as a European Club Swinger or European Fun Swinger?

If you live in mainland Europe and your club is not affiliated to the EGU, we recommend that you register as a Fun Swinger. That way, you can still enter your scores from club competitions as long as you enter the gross strokes score. If the round was a stableford, you will need to work out the gross strokes for each hole. Where you had a ‘No Score’ on any particular hole, this should be recorded as a 9.

Please note that as a European Fun Swinger, your handicap will be controlled by the golf league organisers.

What is the maximum handicap I can play off?

For men, the maximum handicap is 28, for ladies it is 45.

Can I change which League I enter – US Swingers, European Club Swingers or European Fun Swingers during the course of the Season?

Unfortunately not. Once you have registered as either a US Swinger, European Club Swinger or European Fun Swinger, you will not be able to change your selection until the end of the Season.

Why do I have to complete a registration form and what is the information I provide used for?

Although you are already registered as a Flying Club member, we need you to provide us with information which is essential to the successful running of Flying Club Swingers. Your contact telephone number is only used should we need to get hold of you with any important queries. Your email address is used for sending out our monthly Flying Club Swingers newsletter and any other Flying Club Swingers news or communication.

We do not pass on any of your details on to third parties.

My friends would like to become Flying Club Swingers, what should I tell them?

Simply go to Recommend a Friend, submit their email address and we will send them details of Flying Club Swingers.

What's more, if they decide to join and enter a valid score, you will receive three bonus points.

I recommended a friend to Flying Club Swingers, they have joined and submitted a valid score, but I have not received any bonus points?

When you recommend a friend to Swingers through the ‘Recommend a Friend’ form, it is essential that that friend registers to Swingers using exactly the same email address as the email address you submitted on the form. If the email address differs at all, then the system will not recognise it and will not award you bonus points. In these circumstances, we are unable to manually provide bonus points.

Why when I enter a score do you ask for a copy of my scorecard?

To maintain the credibility of the competition, we have to ensure that all scores can be verified.

For European Club Swingers entering Club Competition scores, your club holds a record of every score which we can check (EGU affiliated clubs only). However, if you have entered a US Stroke play score, European Fun Round, Corporate/Society score or Match Play score, the only way we can verify the score is by checking your scorecard. It is your responsibility to remember to send that card to us within one calendar month. This can be emailed faxed or posted using the contact details on each score submission page.

Why does my score (with scorecard evidence if required) have to be entered within one month of my round?

By setting the submission date at one calendar month, it allows us to keep the leaderboards as up to date and as accurate as possible, and avoids Swingers stockpiling scores until the end of the Season.

Why does my score appear in italics on the screen?

If your score is worth 4 to 6 golf league points, we need to verify it with the club.

Likewise if you enter a US Stroke play round, European Fun Round, Corporate/Society Day or Match Play score, we require your scorecard to verify the score.

Until we receive verification from either the club or yourself, the score will stay in italics. It is your responsibility to remember to send that card to us within one calendar month.

My score was in italics but now it has disappeared?

If we find out that a score requiring verification is incorrect, or if you have failed to send in verification within one calendar month of the score having taking place, your score will be deleted. 

I have entered a score but it is not showing on the Leaderboard or in my golf league points total. Why?

If any score is worth 7 golf league points or more, it will not be shown until we have checked it is valid, which will be done via the club or where appropriate by checking the scorecard in question.

If you enter a score worth less than 7 golf league points and it is not showing, make sure you have entered all the mandatory fields correctly.

I have entered a new score, but my points total has not changed. Why?

If the score you have entered is not one of your top six best scores, it will not count towards your points total.

Three of my best scores are Corporate/Society Day scores but only two are showing? Why is this?

Swingers are limited to a maximum two Corporate/Society Day scores counting towards their best six scores total.

I have entered four scores but have been told I do not qualify for the final?

All Swingers must enter a minimum six valid scores to be eligible for final qualification. 

I have entered a club competition score but I have been told it is not valid, why is this?

If you enter a club competition score which is not from an official club competition - i.e. it doesn't qualify for handicapping purposes, it will not be accepted. In certain circumstances, we will allow you to re-enter this as a society score within the corporate/society submission page. Club competitions such as 'roll-ups', friendlies and pro-ams will fall into this category.

Is it worth me collecting bonus points?

Absolutely! If you are level on golf league points at the end of the season, your league position will be based on the number of bonus points obtained.

Why should I keep entering scores even if I can't better my best six scores?

If scores and bonus points are tied at the end of the Season, your league position will be based on the number of valid scores you have entered.

What happens if I am tied with another Swinger at the end of the Season on both points scored, bonus points and number of valid scored entered?

If you are tied at the end of the Season on points scored, bonus points and number of valid scores entered, your league position will be determined by the first valid score submitted. For example if Player A scored a 6 point round and Player B scored a 4 point round, Player A would be placed above Player B in the league table.

Why can I not enter Club Match Play competition scores?

Unfortunately we only allow Match Play scores against other Swingers to be entered into our League. This is to encourage Swingers to meet and play golf together therefore making Flying Club Swingers a true golfing community.

How can I find other Swingers to play against? 

Simply go to Arrange a Match Play, choose the area you want to search under and submit. You will be presented with a list of players in your area. By clicking on their names you can view their player profiles and assuming that they have selected to be contactable for Match Play, you can submit them a message.

Remember we even provide points for Match Play losses. This is to encourage Swingers to meet and play with other Swingers.

Can I play Swingers from other leagues and will my score count?

Absolutely! You can play Swingers from either continent or league and your match score will count towards your leaderboard position.

How is the Player of the Month chosen?

Each month the administrators will select two Players of the Month – one from the US and one from Europe. The chosen Swingers will be the players who we think have either improved most over the course of the month or who have entered the best score or the best selection of scores.

Why has my entry in the Shot in a Million competition been rejected?

We have to be able to verify that your hole-in-one is correct. We can only do this if the golf club at which the hole-in-one takes place sends confirmation on club headed paper and we also receive a copy of the signed card.  

How can I enter the golf photography or funny photo competitions?

Either enter the photo through Photo Competitions, or email your picture to golf@flyingclubevents.com

You will receive confirmation of whether you have been successful or not. Please note to be successful, you must have a picture of yourself on your Player Profile.

If I am lucky enough to qualify to represent my continent will there be any costs involved?

As a qualifier, you will be provided with a return flight to Los Angeles, transfers from Los Angeles to the hotel and return, 2 nights accommodation, breakfast, lunch and dinner, beverages during functions and two rounds of golf.

Any purchases from the resort’s shops, additional food or drink or any room incidentals (to include but not limited to mini bar, telephone calls, room service, pay per view movies) will be payable by the qualifier.

US qualifiers will have their flights provided from a suitable airport in the United States. Transfers to the airport and to the United States will be payable by the US qualifier.

All European qualifiers will have their flights provided from Heathrow. Transfer to Heathrow including any additional flights will be payable by the qualifier.

What sponsorship opportunities are there for next Season? 

To enquire about sponsorship for Season Six, please contact golf@flyingclubevents.com or call 0044 1252 720671.

None of these FAQs have answered my query?

Please feel free to drop us a line at golf@flyingclubevents.com  or call 0044 1252 720671.