This month we look at the final changes that will be implemented on the 1st January 2020 with the introduction of the World Handicap System in South Africa.
We are pleased to advise that none of these changes will require golfers to do anything, as they are all system driven.
1. The introduction of the Playing Conditions Calculation (PCC)
Course Ratings are based on normal playing conditions, yet the difficulty of a golf course can vary substantially from day to day, due to course conditions, weather conditions and course set-up.
The playing conditions calculation (PCC) determines whether playing conditions, or course set up, on the day, are easier or more difficult than normal – and whether an adjustment to the Course Rating is needed to compensate. The PCC adjustment to the Course Rating can be -1, 0, 1, 2 or 3.
The PCC will be calculated overnight on the HNA system and will automatically adjust your handicap differential for the round played, and reflect on your scoring records.
It is important that players enter their scores on the system immediately after playing, so that as many scores as possible are taken into consideration by the PCC calculation, which will improve its accuracy.
2. Low Handicap Index and a cap on the movement of an Index over a 12-month period
The Low Handicap Index represents the demonstrated ability of a player over the preceding 365-day period and provides a reference point against which the current Handicap Index can be compared.
Limits on Upward Movement of a Handicap Index
Limits (or caps) on upward movement of a Handicap Index ensure that a player’s HI does not increase too quickly.
To ensure this, there are two triggers within the cap procedure:
(i) The soft cap. This is triggered when the difference between a player’s newly calculated Handicap Index and their Low Handicap Index is greater than 3.0 strokes.
When a calculated Handicap Index increase is greater than 3.0 strokes, the value above 3.0 strokes is restricted to 50% of the increase.
(ii) The hard cap. The hard cap triggers to restrict the amount by which a player’s Handicap Index can increase, after application of the soft cap, to no more than 5.0 strokes above their Low Handicap Index.
There is no limit on the amount by which a player’s Handicap Index can decrease.
3. Playing Handicap Calculation
The Technical Committee of the World Handicap System has analysed millions of scoring records and it has arrived at a recommended set of allowances that may be applied to competitors’ Course Handicaps by competition organisers and clubs. The application of a Handicap Allowance is intended to give all participants a fair chance of winning.
These are only recommendations, and it is up to each competition organiser to decide whether to implement the recommended allowance or any other allowance.
It is important to note that the Playing Handicap is only used in determining competition scores and golfers must always use their Course Handicap when entering Adjusted Gross or Hole-by-Hole scores into the system.
The Playing Handicap is calculated as follows:
Playing Handicap = Course Handicap x Handicap Allowance
The calculated Playing Handicap is rounded to the nearest whole number, with .5 rounded upwards.
Below is a table of recommended allowances. Note: some of these competition formats, where players don’t play their own ball for the whole round, like Foursomes, Greensomes Pinehurst/Chapman and Scramble, are not valid handicap scores, and are not acceptable for handicap score entry purposes.
We will be sending out more information on the World Handicap System as well as the WHS Rules of Handicapping in the next few weeks. We would also like to thank all of you for the positive manner in which you have embraced all the changes we have had to make.
We hope that you will be pleased when these final changes are implemented and the process has been completed. We will be one of the first countries in the world to fully adopt the World Handicap System on the 1st January 2020.
Regarding PCC what about other variables such as walking or driving a cart, this could also have an impact on a player’s scores, depending on weather conditions. Especially in competitions where
the playing ground should be equal.
A social golfer…
I see that the calculation for incomplete rounds will change on 1 Jan. We are 14 holes and above for 18 hole calculation. In 2020 10 – 17 holes completed will count for 18 hole calculation with 10 -13 being handled slightly differently from 14 – 17 ??
Hi John, yes, from now on, only 10 holes need to be played to submit an 18-hole score. Scores for unplayed holes must be recorded as par plus any handicap strokes the player is entitled to on the hole.
I think that the keeping the handicap index to a minimum of 5 is unreasonable now, considering the changes made to the system on 1st October. Anyone who prior to 01/10/19 who had more than 2 Exceptional scores is penalised, as their index could be quite low before 01/10/19, but after new rules as to maximum scores allowed, their index could have moved substantially higher than the Low H.I. It seems very unreasonable to penalise a high handicap golfer, in this manner. having to take 3 over, even 4 over now, reflects their ability , but is not reflected if H.I. remains restricted to only increase of 5, since new rules implemented.
Alliance Competitions are commonly used in RSA eg on Corporate days.
In a Alliance Competition what playing handicap calculation. should be applied
If 1 of 4, 2 of 4, 3 of 4 or 4 of 4 scores are to count?
In an Alliance should a different handicap calculation be applied for for different scoring eg stableford vs strokeplay
Hi David, for 1 of 4, it’s 75%, for 2 of 4, it’s 85%, and for the other two it’s 100%.
Afternoon,
Just a question, who dtermines the PCC of an individual course on a specific day?
Hi Gerhard, the PCC is calculated automatically by the handicap server. To learn more about how this is done, I suggest you have a look at section 1.5.9 of our FAQ page: https://www.handicaps.co.za/handicaps-info/faqs/
Hi,
I’ve heard that the PCC in SA is subject to a minimum of 50 rounds entered on the day.
The USGA stats that only 8 acceptable scores are needed.
Please clarify.
I feel players at the coast playing smaller courses get a raw deal playing in 30-40 km/h wind with no adjustment in PCC, because minimum rounds are not met.
Hi Dr Blignaut. The rumour about 50 rounds is incorrect. A minimum of eight scores is needed to trigger a calculation.