Handicap adjustment

[Grant85]

This is an obvious problem in cultures about what cards people submit for handicap purposes and what they don't.

In the UK, it's almost all medal rounds under tournament conditions. Everything holed out etc.
Of course you can put in a supplementary in a friendly game off the yellows, but you have to declare this before play and hole everything out.
And unless you are really trying to keep your handicap as low as possible, there's not really much point as you can't win anything.

In the US, most people play v little competition golf and most handicaps are worked out on social rounds and even solo rounds. I've heard plenty of instances where people don't hole out and give themselves putts and many game their handicap with breakfast balls and irish drops etc.

Ultimately this is the culture and in the US your handicap ends up generally being a reflection of the best you can play. In the UK, it's more something that you'll play to every 3 or 4 rounds, give or take a shot.

 

[YandaB]

<<snip>>
In the US, most people play v little competition golf and most handicaps are worked out on social rounds and even solo rounds. I've heard plenty of instances where people don't hole out and give themselves putts and many game their handicap with breakfast balls and irish drops etc.

I'd never heard of these prhrases. For those others that are as ignorant as myself, I've now looked them up: a breakfast ball is a Mulligan and an Irish drop is "Any ball lost in the long rough may be treated as lost in a water hazard. One shot penalty at point of entry."

 

[Grant85]

I'd never heard of these prhrases. For those others that are as ignorant as myself, I've now looked them up: a breakfast ball is a Mulligan and an Irish drop is "Any ball lost in the long rough may be treated as lost in a water hazard. One shot penalty at point of entry."

correct. obviously the type of thing you might do in a casual game but certainly not when playing for competition or handicap purposes.

 

[Chris L]

This is an obvious problem in cultures about what cards people submit for handicap purposes and what they don't.

In the UK, it's almost all medal rounds under tournament conditions. Everything holed out etc.
Of course you can put in a supplementary in a friendly game off the yellows, but you have to declare this before play and hole everything out.
And unless you are really trying to keep your handicap as low as possible, there's not really much point as you can't win anything.

In the US, most people play v little competition golf and most handicaps are worked out on social rounds and even solo rounds. I've heard plenty of instances where people don't hole out and give themselves putts and many game their handicap with breakfast balls and irish drops etc.

Ultimately this is the culture and in the US your handicap ends up generally being a reflection of the best you can play. In the UK, it's more something that you'll play to every 3 or 4 rounds, give or take a shot.

True we have a 9 hole stapleford comp every Wednesday and unless you get 22 points or more you have no chance

 

[rulefan]

In the US, most people play v little competition golf and most handicaps are worked out on social rounds and even solo rounds. I've heard plenty of instances where people don't hole out and give themselves putts and many game their handicap with breakfast balls and irish drops etc.

Ultimately this is the culture and in the US your handicap ends up generally being a reflection of the best you can play. In the UK, it's more something that you'll play to every 3 or 4 rounds, give or take a shot.

The new WHS regulations have tightened up the traditional US approach to social scores. The player must be accompanied and scores are subject to peer review.

4.4/1 – Clarification of Meaning of Peer Review as a Method of Certification of Scores

Peer review is normally conducted by someone:
- Playing in the same group or who was present during the round, and/or who is a member of the same golf club as the player.

In all cases, it must be someone who:
- Has formed a reasonable basis from which to provide support for a score that has been posted or challenge the player on any anomalies in the posted score or has knowledge of the player’s demonstrated ability and can reasonably verify or challenge the Handicap Index issued to the player.

Challenges or disputes should be raised with the player and/or reported to the Handicap Committee for consideration.
To facilitate the process of peer review, player scoring records must be accessible to all other members of the golf club (see Appendix B).

 

[Grant85]

The new WHS regulations have tightened up the traditional US approach to social scores. The player must be accompanied and scores are subject to peer review.

4.4/1 – Clarification of Meaning of Peer Review as a Method of Certification of Scores

Peer review is normally conducted by someone:
- Playing in the same group or who was present during the round, and/or who is a member of the same golf club as the player.

In all cases, it must be someone who:
- Has formed a reasonable basis from which to provide support for a score that has been posted or challenge the player on any anomalies in the posted score or has knowledge of the player’s demonstrated ability and can reasonably verify or challenge the Handicap Index issued to the player.

Challenges or disputes should be raised with the player and/or reported to the Handicap Committee for consideration.
To facilitate the process of peer review, player scoring records must be accessible to all other members of the golf club (see Appendix B).

That's fair enough, but the USGA have always had this in the rules that solo rounds shouldn't count for handicap purposes. But people just ignore it and submit their scores on the app. It's not a rule problem, it's a culture problem.

 

[rulefan]

the USGA have always had this in the rules that solo rounds shouldn't count for handicap purposes.

No. It was only introduced a year before WHS.

 

[TheJezster]

From what I read on reddit, they still take gimmies etc and still put all rounds in for handicap including pairs etc

 

[rulie]

From what I read on reddit, they still take gimmies etc and still put all rounds in for handicap including pairs etc

You can read everything official about the USGA WHS at the site below:
https://www.usga.org/handicapping/roh/2020-rules-of-handicapping.html

 

[rulefan]

From what I read on reddit, they still take gimmies etc and still put all rounds in for handicap including pairs etc

The USGA recognises the following for handicapping. This not confined to the USA.
Individual Strokeplay and Matchplay
Fourball Strokeplay and Matchplay

Gimmes are not permitted in strokeplay but there are rules for matchplay and not putting out in relevant formats.
It is possible that the CONGU restrictions may be changed in a few years.

 

[jim8flog]

You can read everything official about the USGA WHS at the site below:
https://www.usga.org/handicapping/roh/2020-rules-of-handicapping.html

The USGA recognises the following for handicapping. This not confined to the USA.
Individual Strokeplay and Matchplay
Fourball Strokeplay and Matchplay

Gimmes are not permitted in strokeplay but there are rules for matchplay and not putting out in relevant formats.
It is possible that the CONGU restrictions may be changed in a few years.

I have noticed on very quick read through they have a specification section

3.3 When a Hole is Started But Player Does Not Hole Out

 

[Crazyface]

Are handicaps being adjusted this year? How many comps do we have to play in to keep it "Active" if they are?

 

[doublebogey7]

If you play in a qualifying competition your handicap will adjust as normal. Then on 2nd November your CONGU handicap will be converted to a WHS handicap. Under WHS "Active" or to be accurate "Competition" does not exist and there is no equivalent.

 

[jim8flog]

Are handicaps being adjusted this year? How many comps do we have to play in to keep it "Active" if they are?

When the WHS comes it is advisable to have have as many Qualifying scores in your record as possible if you want a handicap index that reflects you current ability.
These do not have to done in comps they can be done as Supplementary Scores.

Until you reach a handicap record of 20 scores (since January 2018) you are considered not to have a full handicap record and a different formula applies

Number of qualifying scores and calculation

No. Calculation
3 Lowest single score minus 2 shots
4 Lowest single score minus 1 shot
5 Lowest score
6 Average of the lowest 2 scores minus 1 shot
7 to 8 Average of the lowest 2
9 to 11 Average of the lowest 3
12 to 14 Average of the lowest 4
15-16 Average of the lowest 5
17-18 Average of the lowest 6
19 Average of the lowest 7

 

[Colin L]

If you play in a qualifying competition your handicap will adjust as normal. Then on 2nd November your CONGU handicap will be converted to a WHS handicap. Under WHS "Active" or to be accurate "Competition" does not exist and there is no equivalent.

It's not quite accurate to say that your CONGU handicap will be converted to a WHS handicap. Your CONGU handicap will be replaced by your WHS Handicap Index which is calculated in a different way.

 

[Old Skier]

Are handicaps being adjusted this year? How many comps do we have to play in to keep it "Active" if they are?

What information is your club passing to its members? I thought you were on one of your clubs committees

 

[Crazyface]

No, sorry. Moved clubs two years ago. I have asked at my new club (in the Pro shop) what will be required but they (he, one of the Pro's) did not know.

 

[Crazyface]

When the WHS comes it is advisable to have have as many Qualifying scores in your record as possible if you want a handicap index that reflects you current ability.
These do not have to done in comps they can be done as Supplementary Scores.

Until you reach a handicap record of 20 scores (since January 2018) you are considered not to have a full handicap record and a different formula applies

Number of qualifying scores and calculation

No. Calculation
3 Lowest single score minus 2 shots
4 Lowest single score minus 1 shot
5 Lowest score
6 Average of the lowest 2 scores minus 1 shot
7 to 8 Average of the lowest 2
9 to 11 Average of the lowest 3
12 to 14 Average of the lowest 4
15-16 Average of the lowest 5
17-18 Average of the lowest 6
19 Average of the lowest 7

WOW, is this true? And we can put "supplementary" cards in and they will suffice?

 

[Old Skier]

No, sorry. Moved clubs two years ago. I have asked at my new club (in the Pro shop) what will be required but they (he, one of the Pro's) did not know.

Congu have been briefing clubs on this over the last 3 years, which from the club went on the briefings? Many clubs will have recieved their slop ratings over the last week. Seems like you may have moved to a club that doesn't have the right attitude.

 

[Old Skier]

WOW, is this true? And we can put "supplementary" cards in and they will suffice?

That's always been the case prior to WHS. What sort of clubs do you go to.