More About Handicaps

Adjustment

-As a Result of a Qualifying Competition:-

First a few facts-

A player’s EXACT handicap is calculated to one decimal place.

A player’s PLAYING handicap is the exact handicap to the nearest stroke (.5 is rounded upwards).  E.g. 12.5 becomes 13

A QUALIFYING COMPETITION is a competition organised by the authorised body (i.e. the Club) which complies with the conditions of medal play as defined by C.O.N.G.U.
For the purposes of handicapping only, a player’s score in a competition is calculated after a STABLEFORD REDUCTION. That is, all net scores on a hole worse than two over par are reduced to two over. This applies also to holes which have not been completed (NRs)

The STANDARD SCRATCH SCORE (SSS) is allocated by the EGU to a course as the score that a scratch golfer would be expected to achieve ideal under conditions.

The COMPETITION SCRATCH SCORE is an adjusted SSS for a competition, calculated from the results so as to reflect the weather and course conditions.

A player’s NET DIFFERENTIAL in strokeplay is the difference between a player’s score and the CSS for the day. (For Stableford or Bogey Competitions see below)

Net Differentials

Players’ handicaps are adjusted as a result of the Net Differential in accordance with the table below.

A Net Differential <0 results in a handicap reduction by an amount per stroke as indicated below.

Net Differentials that fall within the BUFFER ZONE result in no change to the handicap.

Net Differentials above the Buffer Zone result in an increase in exact handicap of 0.1

The width of the Buffer Zone depends on current handicap or category:-

Handicap     Category    Buffer Zone Reduction/stroke

          5 or Less             1             0 to +1              0.1

               6 to 12             2             0 to +2              0.2

          13 to 20              3             0 to +3             0.3

          20 to 28              4              0 to +4            0.4

          29 to 36     5(Ladies Only )  0 to +5            0.5

When a player’s handicap is reduced so that it goes from a higher Category to a lower one then it is reduced at the rate of the higher category until it is brought into the lower category and  then at the lower rate for the remainder. E.g. If a player with an exact handicap of 12.9 has a net differential of –3, Then reduction is calculated as

                 12.9 minus 0.3=12.6 cat 3

                 12.6 minus 0.3=12.3 cat 2

                 12.3 minus 0.2=12.1

Feeling confused?

The easy way is to use the look up table following!

But if you really, really get stuck then contact the Handicap Secretary

TABLE OF HANDICAP ADJUSTMENTS

                        Net Differential

                       -1   -2    -3    -4    -5    -6    -7   -8  >Buffer Zone

Exact Handicaps

    <5.5        -0.1 -0.2 -0.3 -0.4 -0.5 -0.6 -0.7 -0.8 +0.1

  5.5-5.6      -0.2 -0.3 -0.4 -0.5 -0.6 -0.7 -0.8 -0.9 +0.1

  5.7-5.8      -0.2 -0.4 -0.5 -0.6 -0.7 -0.8 -0.9 -1.0 +0.1

  5.9-6.0      -0.2 -0.4 -0.6 -0.7 -0.8 -0.9 -1.0 -1.1 +0.1

  6.1-6.2      -0.2 -0.4 -0.6 -0.8 -0.9 -1.0 -1.1 -1.2 +0.1

  6.3-6.4      -0.2 -0.4 -0.6 -0.8 -1.0 -1.1 -1.2 -1.3 +0.1

  6.5-6.6      -0.2 -0.4 -0.6 -0.8 -1.0 -1.2 -1.3 -1.4 +0.1

  6.7-6.8      -0.2 -0.4 -0.6 -0.8 -1.0 -1.2 -1.4 -1.5 +0.1

  6.9-12.4    -0.2 -0.4 -0.6 -0.8 -1.0 -1.2 -1.4 -1.6 +0.1

12.5-12.7    -0.3 -0.5 -0.7 -0.9 -1.1 -1.3 -1.5 -1.7 +0.1

12.8-13.0    -0.3 -0.6 -0.8 -1.0 -1.2 -1.4 -1.6 -1.8 +0.1

13.1-13.3    -0.3 -0.6 -0.9 -1.1 -1.3 -1.5 -1.7 -1.9 +0.1

13.4-13.6    -0.3 -0.6 -0.9 -1.2 -1.4 -1.6 -1.8 -2.0 +0.1

13.7-13.9    -0.3 -0.6 -0.9 -1.2 -1.5 -1.7 -1.9 -2.1 +0.1

14.0-14.1    -0.3 -0.6 -0.9 -1.2 -1.5 -1.8 -2.0 -2.2 +0.1

14.3-14.5    -0.3 -0.6 -0.9 -1.2 -1.5 -1.8 -2.1 -2.3 +0.1

14.6-20.4    -0.3 -0.6 -0.9 -1.2 -1.5 -1.8 -2.1 -2.4 +0.1

20.5-20.8    -0.4 -0.7 -1.0 -1.3 -1.6 -1.9 -2.2 -2.5 +0.1

20.9-21.2    -0.4 -0.8 -1.1 -1.4 -1.7 -2.0 -2.3 -2.6 +0.1

21.3-21.6    -0.4 -0.8 -1.1 -1.5 -1.8 -2.1 -2.4 -2.7 +0.1

21.7-22.0    -0.4 -0.8 -1.2 -1.6 -1.9 -2.1 -2.5 -2.8 +0.1

22.1-22.4    -0.4 -0.8 -1.2 -1.6 -2.0 -2.3 -2.6 -2.9 +0.1

22.5-22.8    -0.4 -0.8 -1.2 -1.6 -2.0 -2.4 -2.7 -3.0 +0.1

22.9-23.2    -0.4 -0.8 -1.2 -1.6 -2.0 -2.4 -2.8 -3.1 +0.1

23.3-28.0    -0.4 -0.8 -1.2 -1.6 -2.0 -2.4 -2.8 -3.2 +0.1

Ladies Only

28.1-28.4    -0.4 -0.8 -1.2 -1.6 -2.0 -2.4 -2.8 -3.2 +0.1

28.5-28.9    -0.5 -0.9 -1.3 -1.7 -2.1 -2.5 -2.9 -3.3 +0.1

29.0-29.4    -0.5 -1.0 -1.4 -1.8 -2.2 -2.6 -3.0 -3.4 +0.1

29.5-29.9    -0.5 -1.0 -1.5 -1.9 -2.3 -2.7 -3.1 -3.5 +0.1

30.0-30.4    -0.5 -1.0 -1.5 -2.0 -2.4 -2.8 -3.2 -3.6 +0.1

30.5-30.9    -0.5 -1.0 -1.5 -2.0 -2.5 -2.9 -3.3 -3.7 +0.1

31.0-31.4    -0.5 -1.0 -1.5 -2.0 -2.5 -3.0 -3.4 -3.8 +0.1

31.5-31.9    -0.5 -1.0 -1.5 -2.0 -2.5 -3.0 -3.5 -3.9 +0.1

32.0-36.0    -0.5 -1.0 -1.5 -2.0 -2.5 -3.0 -3.5 -4.0 +0.1

In Stableford Competitions the Net Differential is obtained by subtracting 36 from your score and then taking off the difference between SSS and the CSS!

             IE Points-36-CSS+SSS

E.g. Player score 38 points from our White tees (SSS 70) in a competition when the CSS is 71

Then the Net Diff = 38-36-71+70=-3

In PAR or Bogey Competitions score yourself the equivalent stableford score i.e

                2 up = 38 points

                1 up=37 points

 Square=36 points

1 down=35 points

2 down 34 points

etc

And calculate your Net Diff as for stableford.

Self-Reduction:- Normally handicaps are adjusted as soon as is practicable. However there will occasions when there has been insufficient time to post new handicaps before you play again. This may be because two competitions are close together or maybe you have played in a competition at another club and the result has not yet been processed. In these cases you are required to make a temporary reduction in your handicap if your net score is under the CSS following the procedure above. If you do not know the CCS at this time then you can assume that the CCS=SSS

NB Self reduction can only be made as a result of a Qualifying Competitions and in no circumstances can handicaps be increased under this clause.

As a Result of General Play:-

General Play:- At times when the handicap committee considers that your handicap does not reflect your playing ability then General Play adjustment can be made. (Your form in non-qualifying play as well as Qualifying Competitions may be taken into account). General play adjustments are never less than one whole stoke.

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