WHS and club competitions

[doublebogey7]

Are they interested in

Golfers know that their handicap index is their handicap. if a non-golfer asks my handicap I have to assume they are interested so I tell them my PH.

Your handicap off the whites, reds, or blues????. And if they ask the same question to your mate who plays at a course with a much higher CR, and says they have a slightly higher PH, are they to assume you are the better golfer. A recipe for confusion all round if you ask me.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

I suppose at risk of repeating what I said. And without overthinking anything. If a golfer asks my handicap ll give my HI. If a non-golfer asks I might give my HI but if asked what that means I’ll give my back tee PH. More likely I’ll just give the latter straight off. Makes no difference to the non- golfer but I measure and see myself in the context of individual strokeplay off my club back tees. If that’s just me then so be it - it suits me.

 

[AussieKB]

On 2 October 2025, tens of thousands of golfers will log into the new Golf Australia Official App and golfer portal on GOLF.com.au to find a change to their handicap thanks to significant updates to align the Australian Rules of Handicapping with changes to the World Handicap System.

The updates, enabled by Golf Australia’s new digital platform and advanced scoring technology, will deliver fairer, more consistent and globally-aligned handicaps for all Australian golfers.

Based on Golf Australia’s extensive analysis and back-calculation of millions of rounds, most golfers are expected to see a change to their GA Handicap, projected to be less than 0.5 on average. Due to back-calculation of the changes to 2023, some players may experience a bigger shift to their handicap based on playing conditions during their unique scoring history.

The Four Key Changes

1. Consistency Factor introduced – Improves competition fairness through a new “Consistency Factor”, providing equity in Daily Handicap calculations for women and girls to reflect their greater consistency in scoring patterns compared to males.
2. Revised 9-hole formula – Ensures 9-hole Daily Handicaps more accurately reflect half of an 18-hole handicap.
3. Adjusted expected scores for holes not played – Uses statistical modelling instead of net par, providing a fairer outcome for incomplete rounds.
4. Refined 'Daily Difficulty’ calculation (PCC) – More accurate recognition of difficult or easy days, back-calculated to 1 January 2023.

Any thing else Happening in other countries to the supposed WORLD System ?

 

[NearHull]

On 2 October 2025, tens of thousands of golfers will log into the new Golf Australia Official App and golfer portal on GOLF.com.au to find a change to their handicap thanks to significant updates to align the Australian Rules of Handicapping with changes to the World Handicap System.

The updates, enabled by Golf Australia’s new digital platform and advanced scoring technology, will deliver fairer, more consistent and globally-aligned handicaps for all Australian golfers.

Based on Golf Australia’s extensive analysis and back-calculation of millions of rounds, most golfers are expected to see a change to their GA Handicap, projected to be less than 0.5 on average. Due to back-calculation of the changes to 2023, some players may experience a bigger shift to their handicap based on playing conditions during their unique scoring history.

The Four Key Changes

1. Consistency Factor introduced – Improves competition fairness through a new “Consistency Factor”, providing equity in Daily Handicap calculations for women and girls to reflect their greater consistency in scoring patterns compared to males.
2. Revised 9-hole formula – Ensures 9-hole Daily Handicaps more accurately reflect half of an 18-hole handicap.
3. Adjusted expected scores for holes not played – Uses statistical modelling instead of net par, providing a fairer outcome for incomplete rounds.
4. Refined 'Daily Difficulty’ calculation (PCC) – More accurate recognition of difficult or easy days, back-calculated to 1 January 2023.

Any thing else Happening in other countries to the supposed WORLD System ?

I’m rather puzzled by the Consistency Factor, insomuch as I didn’t know it was an issue.

 

[D-S]

All looks as if they’re introducing most of the changes we saw, and most of the rest of the world back in April 2024. I thought Aus was normally an early adopter.

 

[wjemather]

On 2 October 2025, tens of thousands of golfers will log into the new Golf Australia Official App and golfer portal on GOLF.com.au to find a change to their handicap thanks to significant updates to align the Australian Rules of Handicapping with changes to the World Handicap System.

The updates, enabled by Golf Australia’s new digital platform and advanced scoring technology, will deliver fairer, more consistent and globally-aligned handicaps for all Australian golfers.

Based on Golf Australia’s extensive analysis and back-calculation of millions of rounds, most golfers are expected to see a change to their GA Handicap, projected to be less than 0.5 on average. Due to back-calculation of the changes to 2023, some players may experience a bigger shift to their handicap based on playing conditions during their unique scoring history.

The Four Key Changes

1. Consistency Factor introduced – Improves competition fairness through a new “Consistency Factor”, providing equity in Daily Handicap calculations for women and girls to reflect their greater consistency in scoring patterns compared to males.
2. Revised 9-hole formula – Ensures 9-hole Daily Handicaps more accurately reflect half of an 18-hole handicap.
3. Adjusted expected scores for holes not played – Uses statistical modelling instead of net par, providing a fairer outcome for incomplete rounds.
4. Refined 'Daily Difficulty’ calculation (PCC) – More accurate recognition of difficult or easy days, back-calculated to 1 January 2023.

Any thing else Happening in other countries to the supposed WORLD System ?

Didn't we discuss this about a year ago (around the time when GA's new software was originally planned to go live) - the RoW already adopted most of these things in the 2024 update (GB&I introduced the revised PCC long before that) - the CF seems to be the only new feature (which was also supposed to have been introduced at least 6 months ago).

 

[wjemather]

All looks as if they’re introducing most of the changes we saw, and most of the rest of the world back in April 2024. I thought Aus was normally an early adopter.

GA decided to tie in most of the 2024 update with their pending software upgrade/migration (rather than make changes to the existing system), which ended up being significantly delayed (edit to add: the originally announced go-live dates were 1-6 December 2024).

 

[nickjdavis]

Any specific information as to what the "Consistency Factor" is?

Not sure we have such a thing here in the UK unless it goes by another name.

 

[AussieKB]

Consistency Factor ?

No idea and no one I know does either, or what formula etc.

From our Officials

FYI- Info for all

Our current system will be turned off on Monday 29th September until Thursday 2nd October and games played during this period will not be recorded and therefore will not be handicapped.

Not sure what that means.....shoot the lights out and not be cut.

 

[clubchamp98]

I’m rather puzzled by the Consistency Factor, insomuch as I didn’t know it was an issue.

Yes what about consistent boys and men ?

 

[wjemather]

Consistency Factor ?

No idea and no one I know does either, or what formula etc.

It's simply a (minimally significant) multiplier that is different for men and women, that is supposed to reflect their relative gender based (in)consistency.
It was announced around the end of last year/beginning of this year: https://www.golf.org.au/2025-handicapping-changes-v2/

 

[clubchamp98]

It's simply a (minimally significant) multiplier that is different for men and women, that is supposed to reflect their relative gender based (in)consistency.
It was announced around the end of last year/beginning of this year: https://www.golf.org.au/2025-handicapping-changes-v2/

So in a world system there’s a different thing between sexes?

 

[AussieKB]

Yes what about consistent boys and men ?

Most of my pal's are consistent in their inconsistency to play golf.

 

[clubchamp98]

Most of my pal's are consistent in their inconsistency to play golf.

But not you

Are any ams really consistent ?

 

[nickjdavis]

Can't see that 0.9986 is going to make the slightest bit of difference to bugger all.

 

[wjemather]

So in a world system there’s a different thing between sexes?

If the data shows statistically significant and measurable differences between men and women of comparable ability, it's perfectly reasonable to account for them whenever that is possible.
The rating system differentiates between men and women; there are different models for scratch and bogey players, different rating values for the various categories (length, conditions, obstacles, etc.), and Slope is produced using a different multiplier.

 

[AussieKB]

If the data shows statistically significant and measurable differences between men and women of comparable ability, it's perfectly reasonable to account for them whenever that is possible.
The rating system differentiates between men and women; there are different models for scratch and bogey players, different rating values for the various categories (length, conditions, obstacles, etc.), and Slope is produced using a different multiplier.

Sounds so simple when you explain it.....but what happens in US where half the country cannot define who is a woman

 

[clubchamp98]

If the data shows statistically significant and measurable differences between men and women of comparable ability, it's perfectly reasonable to account for them whenever that is possible.
The rating system differentiates between men and women; there are different models for scratch and bogey players, different rating values for the various categories (length, conditions, obstacles, etc.), and Slope is produced using a different multiplier.

Whenever possible ? What does that mean ?

Your post reads like a perfect example why men and women should not compete against each other!

 

[wjemather]

Your post reads like a perfect example why men and women should not compete against each other!

It's precisely because all these differences are accounted for in the rating & handicap system that men and women can compete with and against each other.

 

[D-S]

It's precisely because all these differences are accounted for in the rating & handicap system that men and women can compete with and against each other.

…..and do so equitably at both a club and elite level. Our scratch knockout has been successfully received with the addition of the best women in the club - some of oir lowest handicappers with one off +2.8, who recently was fourth in the West of England U16 Championship a mixed elite event.