Handicap Index How to safeguard a Handicap Index? A Soft Cap and Hard Cap will be implemented to limit any extreme upward movement of a player’s Handicap Index within a 365 – day period. This has been introduced to act as a safeguard to prevent any handicap manipulation. The Soft Cap will suppress movement by 50% after a 3.0 stroke increase over a player’s Low Handicap Index. For clarity in this instance, a Low Handicap Index is the lowest Handicap Index a player has had during the previous 12 - month period. The Hard Cap will restrict upward movement on 5.0 strokes over the Low Handicap Index. Restricting the extreme upward movement of a Handicap Index will ensure that a player’s temporary loss of form does not cause the Handicap Index to move too far away from their actual ability.
IMPORTANT Caps only start to take effect once a player has at least 20 acceptable scores in their record. Course Handicap What is Course Handicap? Before any player starts their round they must convert their Handicap Index into a Course Handicap. The Course Handicap will determine the number of strokes a player will receive for any set of tees on a course. An easy way for a player to remember the WHS, is to think HCP! H – Handicap Index C = Course Handicap P – Play
How to work out a Course Handicap? England Golf will provide Course & Slope Rating Tables to all golf clubs. Tables will be placed adjacent to the Pro’s Shop for golfers to access prior to their round. Golfers simply have to choose the tees they are playing off that day and cross-reference their Handicap Index on the Course & Slope Rating table to ascertain their Course Handicap. Then they are ready to get out on the course and play In time, Course Handicap Tables will be available via an App and club handicap software so golfers can view their Course Handicap remotely prior to a round. Should any golfer wish to calculate their Course Handicap manually the formula is as follows: Handicap Index x Slope Rating/113 = Course Handicap (rounded) Playing Handicap
What is Playing Handicap? Playing Handicap is a stoke allowance that is implemented in order to maintain the integrity of the WHS when used in competition. It allows golfers to compete on a level playing field, regardless of their Handicap Index. The Course Handicap converts to a Playing Handicap for competition purposes and changes depending on the format of play. The four most important aspects of Playing Handicap to remember are: * It is only used for competition purposes * It ensures equity to calculate competition results (via Handicap Allowances) * Golfers do not need to calculate it (it is generated before their round) * Golfers should continue to play in the mindset of their Course Handicap in competition rounds. The WHS has been designed with the enjoyment of recreational golf at the forefront. The WHS will allow golfers to play with freedom, therefore changing the nature in which they play the game. The focus for golfers should not be on their Playing Handicap. Noel Mack, Handicap Committee. |