This month we reveal the results of our recent survey, where we asked you whether you would like to see more controls in the HNA Handicap system.
We also take a closer look at the small symbols that you might have noticed on the HNA Handicap System, indicating the activation of the World Handicap System’s Soft Cap, Hard Cap, Exceptional Score Adjustment or the Playing Conditions Calculation.
Survey result
In the May 2020 newsletter, we asked you whether you would like to see HNA increase the controls in the Handicap System. The results indicated that the majority of respondents (55%) would prefer not to add further controls to the system. However, since a sizeable percentage of respondents (45%) do want more control, GolfRSA, HNA and the Clubs are working together to assist the Club Handicap Committees with reports that they can use to review the Handicap Indexes of their members and make informed decisions based on data supplied by HNA.
This will ensure that golfers who are suspected of manipulating their handicaps will be more closely scrutinised by their clubs in future and, where necessary, have their Handicap Indexes adjusted accordingly.
HNA Handicap System symbols
In the left-hand corner of the landing page of the HNA Handicap System App or website, you will note your Low Handicap Index. The Low HI is the lowest HI you have achieved in a 365-day rolling period. The Low HI is only determined after a player has submitted 20 scores and is used as the basis for determining the maximum that your HI can increase over a period of 365 days (this maximum is 5).
In order to slow down the rate of an HI increase, or to put a cap on the increase, there are two mechanisms used in the WHS system:
Soft Cap (S)
The Soft Cap is a mechanism that has been introduced to prevent a player’s Handicap Index from increasing too rapidly. Should the player submit a score that would see the his/her Handicap Index increase by more than three strokes above their Low HI, the Soft Cap will kick in – limiting the increase above 3 by 50%.
Hard Cap (H)
The Hard Cap is another mechanism that will limit by how much a player’s Handicap Index can increase. Kicking in after the application of the Soft Cap, the Hard Cap is an upper limit that prevents a player’s Handicap Index from increasing to more than five strokes greater than their Low Handicap Index.
It is important to note that there is no limit on the amount by which a player’s Handicap Index can decrease.
Exceptional Score (e)
When an exceptional score is posted to a player’s scoring record, the Handicap Index will be reduced in accordance with the following adjustment table:
Playing Conditions Calculation (PCC)
Course Ratings are based on normal playing conditions, but the difficulty of a golf course can vary substantially from day to day, due to:
- Course conditions
- Weather conditions and/or
- Course set-up
The Playing Conditions Calculation (PCC) determines whether playing conditions on the day differed from normal conditions to the extent that an adjustment is needed to compensate. It is a daily statistical procedure that compares the scores submitted by players on the day against expected scoring patterns.
The purpose of this feature within the handicap calculation is to recognise that an average score submitted in harder playing conditions may be better than a good score submitted in easier playing conditions. Unadjusted, such a score may either be omitted from the Handicap Index calculation or trigger an Exceptional Score or Soft/Hard Cap. The PCC will adjust the players’ score differential between -1, 0, 1, 2 and 3.
If the PCC determines that acceptable scores submitted are in line with expected scoring patterns, then no adjustment is made.
Summary of symbols on HNA Handicap System
Quote of the Month
“I learned one thing from jumping motorcycles that was of great value on the golf course, particularly on the putting green: Whatever you do, don’t come up short.” – Evel Knievel
Good morning.
I am almost 63 years old and member number 2700008973 at Wellington Golf Club and a 7 handicap.Most likely a 6 after my round yesterday 1/08/2020.
The clubs themselves and members are the only reason why we have this issue with handicaps. Large sponsored days / corporate days/ overseas finals and all types of bull. You can have all the controls in the world, and believe me you have more than enough but you cannot stop the hunters of prizes. If I need to be a 17 handicap by July next year for some world amateur golf tourney I can manipulate my handicap slowly for the next year. Nothing you can do about it. Here is what we need to do – Play competitions where it is impossible to manipulate your scores to win – Play single medal rounds 4 times a month for A,B & C divisions. You only want to award the best players in each division on gross scores. Play B/Ball competitions where the worst score counts 3 times a month. It is possible to play this option in most formats. You want to win something both partners better play the best they can. Make it almost impossible for high handicappers to win anything. Nobody cares if you are a 22 year old 23 Plus handicapper hitting the ball further than Bruce Koepka. It is just nonsense.
Clubs should stop all sponsored days – we are playing with our friends to enjoy this game – we try and shoot the best possible rounds of our lives and that should be the only reason to play the game. You need anything try MAKRO, not your golf course.
The club/members should be the only body to ensure that the correct scores are loaded on a given day. It is in fact the club’s highest responsibility – Not yours. Your HNA system should only assist with the actual handicap calculation and the correct ratings of all our golf courses. I make it my business to check every person I play with as well anybody I see on the day on the course scores are entered.
The SPIRIT of the game should be respected – We cannot do this with controls from HNA – we need to once again teach our young golfers something about this side of our sport. If you are there as a golfer only to win sponsored days we need to make it impossible for you to do so. Go and play something else – this sport is not for you. And if you want to play this game, clubs need to teach their young members about sportsmanship, how to prepare themselves for on course behavior, not the prize function later.
You cannot possibly as an organization police all of the above – and please do not try and do so – stay with the stats only and let the clubs take control of their golf courses. We are after all the paying members – it is our right to take control.
Golf is the greatest individual sport of them all but I am afraid it has been soured because of sponsored days – stop these and most of your issues will be gone. If you cannot trust your golfers anymore then we make it impossible for them to walk away with there little prize they so dearly wanted to win. We only reward really good golf on a specific day – based on your gross play, not on the number of strokes you have.
Greetings.
Deon Barnard
Firstly you comments are about a maximum of 2% of golfers, as I have found that the majority of club members play for the enjoyment and winning a prize is an added bonus-much better to take R50 off your mates and then have the bragging rights afterwards at 19th hole.
Unfortunately, as in all walks of life you will always find the “cheats” and no matter how many changes you try they will find a way around–our jails are full of cheats-and most clubs need the sponsor days for the extra revenue.
Golf is a wonderful game and I enjoy the banter on the course and in 19th hole, so why get your nickers in a knot about the few cheats, they have to sleep with their guilt, and if you cannot do anything about it don`t sweat it as it only affects you, while I sleep peacefully ,knowing that when I do manager to win the odd prize on a Wednesday or Saturday there will be a lot of heckling, as with most other winners.
I think that sponsored days serve a wonderful cause in raising money for charity and I very seldom get an invite as not in business any more, but even then did not play in more than 4 a year at most.
My lowest handicap index was on 8/2/2020. It is now 11/2/2021. But my lowest handicap index is still unchanged on my profile. It is niw mire than 365 days. So my lowest handicap index need to change. How do I fix this?
Hi Ronelle. Your Low HI will update with your next Index calculation.
What can be done? Nothing! Competitions should be Gross and Net….PERIOD! There are a couple of players that I know of that have a dozen of their scores capped. One of which is a club champion. Clearly plays on a handicap that’s been manipulated. I imagine it takes a lot of effort in doing this, what a horrid way to play this game. When a club member spends time finding out who’s entering the club championship, finds out the good players won’t be able too, then ups the anti by paying for a seven day membership the last minute but just intime, then beats the only 3 entrants/competitors. Do we try and join these bandits, just to have our names on the board, which by the way is never a true indication apart from who can and can’t afford. I’m getting closer to deciding not to enter the weekly comp apart from the odd one for handicapping perhaps and just choose to play with golf partners who relish those great golf swings that ‘do’ appear throughout the 18 holes and the wonderful banter that follows at the 19th. I choose the later.