World Handicap System

[Colin L]

I agree. Averaging 8 figures is easy ..... provided you're given the right 8 to average.

 

[Swango1980]

So, early in year, I sent a detailed e-mail about WHS to members to give them a heads up, and read at their own leisure. In last few months, I've posted some of the England Golf posters on Noticeboard and our facebook. However, now with just under a month to go, I was going to send an email of bullet points, to try and capture the basics that golfers need to know, without getting technical. I'll also post them to the CONGU reference guide if they want more detail. So, my points are as follows, but does anyone think anything else should be mentioned (note, these will not be exact wording, but just to give you a flavour):

1. The World Handicap System will replace the current CONGU system on 2nd November
2. Players will get a Handicap Index, maximum limit 54. The initial Index will be based on players qualifying scores since Jan 2018.
3. The handicapping authority are currently processing these handicaps for players, and Players are likely to be invited to register with England Golf website on around 19th October to view their initial Index (details to follow) - my note, I think this information is ok?
4. The Index, simply put, is calculated from a players best 8 scores from their last 20 rounds, taking into account the difficulty of the course played each time. The Index is constant at all courses.
5. A player converts their Index to a Course Handicap, that applies to the course and tees players. This is done by multiplying Index by the Slope of Course, then dividing by 113. However, each club will have conversion charts that will inform a player what their course handicap is based on their Index.
6. A Playing Handicap then needs to be calculated depending on the format of the competition. Below shown the Playing Handicap for common forms of play...
7. When entering a competition, the software / apps should also inform players what their Course and Playing Handicaps are
8. Scores should be entered by midnight of the day played. Handicap Indexes are processed for every player who played on that course during the day, ready for the following day. This can also take into account course/weather conditions by comparing submitted scores to what would typically be expected.
9. Players can submit social scores for handicap, in same way Supplementary Scores are currently used. These must be pre-registered, and hopefully the phone Apps and PSI can be used for this.
10. Players must ensure to submit any pre-registered score for handicap. Failing to submit scores can lead to disciplinary action, as suggested by England Golf. This is because repeated no returns by a player can have a much more profound impact on their handicap in comparison to CONGU system. Note, a no return on a few holes because a player had excessive shots is not a problem, but failure to continue scoring thereafter, or not returning the score at all would not be considered acceptable, unless under special circumstances such as injury.
11. The scorecard will have spaces for Handicap Index, Course Handicap and Playing Handicap. Players should be aware, that under the Rules of Golf, it is the COURSE handicap that must be correct. If this is too high on card, the player will be disqualified from the competition.

 

[Colin L]

So, early in year, I sent a detailed e-mail about WHS to members to give them a heads up, and read at their own leisure. In last few months, I've posted some of the England Golf posters on Noticeboard and our facebook. However, now with just under a month to go, I was going to send an email of bullet points, to try and capture the basics that golfers need to know, without getting technical. I'll also post them to the CONGU reference guide if they want more detail. So, my points are as follows, but does anyone think anything else should be mentioned (note, these will not be exact wording, but just to give you a flavour):

1. The World Handicap System will replace the current CONGU system on 2nd November
2. Players will get a Handicap Index, maximum limit 54. The initial Index will be based on players qualifying scores since Jan 2018.
3. The handicapping authority are currently processing these handicaps for players, and Players are likely to be invited to register with England Golf website on around 19th October to view their initial Index (details to follow) - my note, I think this information is ok?
4. The Index, simply put, is calculated from a players best 8 scores from their last 20 rounds, taking into account the difficulty of the course played each time. The Index is constant at all courses.
5. A player converts their Index to a Course Handicap, that applies to the course and tees players. This is done by multiplying Index by the Slope of Course, then dividing by 113. However, each club will have conversion charts that will inform a player what their course handicap is based on their Index.
6. A Playing Handicap then needs to be calculated depending on the format of the competition. Below shown the Playing Handicap for common forms of play...
7. When entering a competition, the software / apps should also inform players what their Course and Playing Handicaps are
8. Scores should be entered by midnight of the day played. Handicap Indexes are processed for every player who played on that course during the day, ready for the following day. This can also take into account course/weather conditions by comparing submitted scores to what would typically be expected.
9. Players can submit social scores for handicap, in same way Supplementary Scores are currently used. These must be pre-registered, and hopefully the phone Apps and PSI can be used for this.
10. Players must ensure to submit any pre-registered score for handicap. Failing to submit scores can lead to disciplinary action, as suggested by England Golf. This is because repeated no returns by a player can have a much more profound impact on their handicap in comparison to CONGU system. Note, a no return on a few holes because a player had excessive shots is not a problem, but failure to continue scoring thereafter, or not returning the score at all would not be considered acceptable, unless under special circumstances such as injury.
11. The scorecard will have spaces for Handicap Index, Course Handicap and Playing Handicap. Players should be aware, that under the Rules of Golf, it is the COURSE handicap that must be correct. If this is too high on card, the player will be disqualified from the competition.

After just quick skim through
4. The Index is constant at all courses. I know what you mean to mean, but I'm not sure the words say it.
10. A bit heavy, perhaps. Better to encourage members to return scores?
11. It's a DQ only if it results in receiving more strokes than you should [R.3.2c and 3.3.b(4)]. I'd jus tell them it has to be correct - if you start expanding on things like that you end up re-writing half the rule book.

 

[rosecott]

I and others were told yesterday that as our rollup is an organised comp our scores will be included in our moving 20. As it happens as we play individual stableford scoring I don’t NR as such if i pick up on any hole as long as i enter play my card on the system. Thinking I’ll just go with it as a compromise to our rollup tee reservations being maintained.

Issue I think is largely one of perception because we in UK have always had a clear distinction about golf that counts towards handicap and other golf. Under new system ALL organised competitive golf should count towards my HI calculation. And I can see why as HIs should become more reflective of ability and less prone to manipulation.

The issue my rollup friends have is calling our rollup comp a ‘qualifier‘ with all that that has implied. When in fact it is just one round included in our 20 rounds moving window, and whereas every qualifier would be used towards or handicap only 8 out of 20 in the window now do - so a good rollup round will only impact HI if it is one of 8 best. A rubbish one won’t impact my HI at all other than in an indirect way if i have a long period of rubbish golf - and clearly then it is accurately reflective of my golf - Whereas previously a rubbish score would have impacted directly.

Gimmes not allowed? Well we will just have to say we have to avoid marking our ball and associated faffing about for putts that previously would have been gimmes to avoid slowing everything down. Just quickly hole out as jim8flog says.

If a putt is close enough to be a gimme, then it surely cannot take up much time to hole it.

 

[Mozza14]

Thanks for looking Colin.
Sorry I didn't paste the whole sheet I was just making sure I was getting the Adjustment score correct and then the whole de-sloping. The ave. of 8 is the easy bit
QUOTE]

That looks correct to me. It is very much how I have approached it.

 

[Bwgan]

Thanks, I just wanted something quick I could copy and paste peoples results into and it all works it out automatically.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

We have to remember it is a different handicapping system intended for all year round play. (Except when there is an 'off season' imposed).

Presumably some are concerned that if they play a lot of poor condition winter golf their handicap will go up. But conversely, during great summer conditions their handicaps will come down.
Committed winter players will start the summer comps with a competitive handicap advantage over the 'stay indoors when it's wet' players.

But to the point re roll-ups, surely players are playing to the best of their ability and their handicaps should reflect that. If they are not playing to their ability why are they bothering to play in what would be considered to be a 'competitive' situation?

Just on the final point. We all play individual stableford for a very small pot - and at the same time play a little 4BBB in our group of four players. The 4BBB match is always taken as a bit of fun alongside the notionally more ‘important’ stableford - for most of us the fun 4BBB is the main thing we enjoy. But on reflection and thinking it through I don’t think it’ll make much difference to how we play - and we can still play the same double format as we currently play - only difference being that on any hole we must hole out to score points or we pick up for none. There is some thought about how the handicaps of 5hose playing in the rollup will potentially change more than those who dont - but again ‘so what’.

Bottom line is the club is interpreting the ‘should’ in the guidelines on what can be counted as an acceptable round to be included as what we as a club want to do, just adhere to what is intended as fully as we can - and just get on with it.

And I think some of us just didn’t like being told that we had to change our format - there was no proper communication or discussion...but I think we’ll calm down once we have all had a chance to think it through.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

If a putt is close enough to be a gimme, then it surely cannot take up much time to hole it.

Yes I know - and I agree - but one aspect of our 4BBB match we play alongside the individual s/Ford is distracting and fun and games around gimmes being given and not being given.

But yes. As long as players don’t start marking their ball and doing all their lining up and faffing around for the gimme length putts then things should not get delayed at all by tap ins.

 

[Old Skier]

Just on the final point. We all play individual stableford for a very small pot - and at the same time play a little 4BBB in our group of four players. The 4BBB match is always taken as a bit of fun alongside the notionally more ‘important’ stableford - for most of us the fun 4BBB is the main thing we enjoy. But on reflection and thinking it through I don’t think it’ll make much difference to how we play - and we can still play the same double format as we currently play - only difference being that on any hole we must hole out to score points or we pick up for none. There is some thought about how the handicaps of 5hose playing in the rollup will potentially change more than those who dont - but again ‘so what’.

Bottom line is the club is interpreting the ‘should’ in the guidelines on what can be counted as an acceptable round to be included as what we as a club want to do, just adhere to what is intended as fully as we can - and just get on with it.

And I think some of us just didn’t like being told that we had to change our format - there was no proper communication or discussion...but I think we’ll calm down once we have all had a chance to think it through.

Does your clubs Terms and Conditions of “official” Competions allow for playing comps within a comp, ours doesn’t so we wouldn’t accept cards of those playing in your format.

 

[Mozza14]

Thanks, I just wanted something quick I could copy and paste peoples results into and it all works it out automatically.

It's a pity that we haven't been provided with parallel run Handicap Index figure as was indicated in the early blurb. This would have a far greater impact on golfers than the literature alone and allowed us to understand the calculation that they have used.

 

[Old Skier]

It's a pity that we haven't been provided with parallel run Handicap Index figure as was indicated in the early blurb. This would have a far greater impact on golfers than the literature alone and allowed us to understand the calculation that they have used.

Coming to a club near you next week (had an email from EG suggesting tomorrow) I’ll believe it when I see it, members, if they have an EG account, supposedly from the middle of the month.

 

[Colin L]

It's a pity that we haven't been provided with parallel run Handicap Index figure as was indicated in the early blurb. This would have a far greater impact on golfers than the literature alone and allowed us to understand the calculation that they have used.

Well, it's certainly a pity, but unfortunately a nasty disease has been rampaging around.

The calculation of your Handicap Index is easy enough to understand but it's not necessary to understand it in order to use it.

 

[rulefan]

I run a weekly Seniors’ competition at my golf club over a reduced course (the first 12 holes of the course). Entrants are initially awarded a (12 hole) handicap; after that handicap goes down solely on the basis of winning i.e. if you win, regardless of your score, you get cut one shot, if you don’t win you HC goes up 0.1 shot.

I have been asked the question . . what am I doing to ensure that this competition which comply with / conform to the WHC system?

My answer is NOTHING - what should my answer be and why?

 

[Wildboy370]

A quick question for anyone to help. We use winter tee mats. Unfortunately using these takes the course length below the 300yards permitted under WHS guidelines. After contacting England Golf, they tell us there is a huge backlog in getting courses rated already let alone a new rating for winter and advised us it would be later into 2021 before they could come. So to allow us to have qualifying comps through winter, can we not use the only 14 or 10 holes to score allows for a handicap entry rule ? In other words just play that amount of holes and submit the score, we could miss the Par 3 x 3 we have as these seem to be the most changed along with maybe a par 4 which losses lots of yards.. I maybe reading the ruling wrong but it does say these are the minimum to count. Any ideas ?. We are looking at moving the mats to the yellow tee area but this is costly and will take a while to sort.

 

[rulefan]

A quick question for anyone to help. We use winter tee mats. Unfortunately using these takes the course length below the 300yards permitted under WHS guidelines. After contacting England Golf, they tell us there is a huge backlog in getting courses rated already let alone a new rating for winter and advised us it would be later into 2021 before they could come.

I m surprised that they haven't offered you a Temporary Rating. These are normally offered in such situations and can last for a year or two. I suggest that you go back to them and enquire. It is only a paper exercise.

 

[Wildboy370]

I m surprised that they haven't offered you a Temporary Rating. These are normally offered in such situations and can last for a year or two. I suggest that you go back to them and enquire. It is only a paper exercise.

This is the email from England Golf
“The only tees you can use for Qualifying purposes are the White and Yellow.
Moving forward and in order for you to have qualifying competitions playing off the “winter tees” we require an official Certificate of Measurement . Measurements must be taken from the Permanent Marker on each hole. Once we have this we can then look at the next stage. However, because of Covid there is a huge backlog of rated courses still to be processed by England Golf and I cannot see you having anything official before the end of the year.
We will do our best to get this in place for you once we have the Certificate of Measurement”

from that I deduce they haven’t even finished courses in time for 2nd Oct. along with the software they supposed to be developing. All in all not the best from the countries governing body. Not the best start to a new system. They dictate we must use every round for handicap then can’t give us the tools to do so, then demand we hand over our data or we won’t get a HI.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

Does your clubs Terms and Conditions of “official” Competions allow for playing comps within a comp, ours doesn’t so we wouldn’t accept cards of those playing in your format.

Don’t know...will ask. Anyway - following my reflection yesterday I will now argue in support of our rollup stableford comp being included as one to be chucked in the 20 round pot- but if we cannot play our fun 4BBB match at the same time...hmmm...

One argument that is made opposing the rollup stableford being included is that our 4BBB match introduces conflict of objectives for every shot we play. Does it matter? I’d argue not.

 

[fenwayrich]

Don’t know...will ask. Anyway - following my reflection yesterday I will now argue in support of our rollup stableford comp being included as one to be chucked in the 20 round pot- but if we cannot play our fun 4BBB match at the same time...hmmm...

One argument that is made opposing the rollup stableford being included is that our 4BBB match introduces conflict of objectives for every shot we play. Does it matter? I’d argue not.

I think that the most recent Rules discourage playing the two formats at the same time, but do not disallow it. The rules of stroke play are paramount, so no concessions etc.

 

[rulie]

I think that the most recent Rules discourage playing the two formats at the same time, but do not disallow it. The rules of stroke play are paramount, so no concessions etc.

Imo, concessions would still be permitted for the match, just by saying, "that's good for the match, but you need to putt it for the Stableford."

 

[rulefan]

This is the email from England Golf
“The only tees you can use for Qualifying purposes are the White and Yellow.
Moving forward and in order for you to have qualifying competitions playing off the “winter tees” we require an official Certificate of Measurement . Measurements must be taken from the Permanent Marker on each hole. Once we have this we can then look at the next stage. However, because of Covid there is a huge backlog of rated courses still to be processed by England Golf and I cannot see you having anything official before the end of the year.
We will do our best to get this in place for you once we have the Certificate of Measurement”

from that I deduce they haven’t even finished courses in time for 2nd Oct. along with the software they supposed to be developing. All in all not the best from the countries governing body. Not the best start to a new system. They dictate we must use every round for handicap then can’t give us the tools to do so, then demand we hand over our data or we won’t get a HI.

Not all counties managed to get all their courses rated in time. They are not suppose to rate in the 'winter'. Those courses use the current SSS as the CR and will be given a temporary Slope Rating based on the national average (or some such).