By Kelly Neely, Sr. Dir., Handicapping & Course Rating
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A Wide-Angle View

If you perused January’s Handicap Hub (thank you to my One Reader), you know that a very important change took place with the launch of the World Handicap System; a nice little rule called Net Double Bogey (we like to buck the trend and call it Double Bogey Plus).

Understanding this rule – an improvement from the old Equitable Stroke Control – also led us to examine how important it is to post scores hole-by-hole going forward. I hope I was convincing, but if not, I’ve got all season to work on you.

If I were to take a poll on the top issues of the day, Net Double Bogey and posting hole-by-hole would be the front-runners, which is why I covered them right out of the gate. But before we get too deep into the season, I think I need to backup a bit, widen the lens, and give a broader view of the WHS. Here’s a rundown of the key changes.

Let’s get math out of the way first
The formulas have changed a bit. A Handicap Index used to be based on the best 10 differentials out of the player’s 20 most recent scores. With the WHS, the Index reflects an average of the best 8 out of 20. Though this is obviously less than taking 50% of your scores, new Indexes will be more responsive to good scores and less responsive to bad ones. Your new Index has likely only changed slightly – maybe up to a stroke in either direction.

It takes fewer scores to obtain a handicap
With the WHS calculating an Index after only three 18 hole scores (or 54 holes of golf), golfers new to handicapping don’t have to wait as long to get their number. If there was ever a time to coerce your hold-out friends into finally getting a Handicap Index so you can enjoy more legitimate arguments over strokes, this is it.

Handicap Index maximums have increased…..a lot
Under the old system, the USGA limit for men’s Indexes was 36.4, and for women was 40.4. Now it’s 54.0 regardless of gender. With this new maximum, the WHS is inclusive and designed for all players. However, a Committee always has the right to impose their own limits for club events as they deem necessary.

Updates of handicaps occur every night
No more waiting until the 1st and 15th to see how recent rounds impact your handicap. With the WHS, every time a score is added, removed, or edited you’ll want to check your Index, but not until after midnight PST. It’s always best to stay on top of your handicap by relying on the new GHIN mobile app, but you can also view the display on the kiosk at your club or ghin.com. TIP: Try storing your buddies’ handicap info on the mobile app, which also updates automatically. Not that you don’t trust them, but. . . .well, this is golf and you have priorities.

Handicaps will be “capped” if they increase too much
One of several new safeguards of the WHS, capping will limit extreme upward movement of a handicap. A “soft cap” will trigger when the difference between a player’s current Index and their Low Index is greater than 3.0 strokes, and slows additional movement. A “hard cap” will prevent a handicap from increasing more than 5.0 strokes within one year. Of course, the Committee can get involved if the player has special medical circumstances, but perhaps capping will prevent those magical upsurges we see every fall. If you know what I mean. And I know you do.

Exceptionally low scores still matter
Remember the old dreaded “R” designation on Handicap Indexes for “Reductions” due to low Tournament scores that many golfers referred to as “Restrictions?” To the delight of many, those have gone away. However, as a replacement, whenever a golfer posts a score differential at least 7.0 strokes below their Index for any score, an automatic 1.0 stroke reduction will be applied to the Index. To get a 2.0 reduction, the player must shoot 10.0 strokes below their Index. As an added bonus, there will be no “scarlet letter” attached.

Weather and course conditions will be considered
It could be really interesting how the Playing Conditions Calculation (PCC) plays out. This will be an automated adjustment that will occur after an analysis of daily scores determines that they were significantly higher or lower than expected. You can’t assume that merely rainy, windy weather will trigger a PCC – it could be a tough course setup that impacts scores (maybe on US Open Day when the Super becomes an Evil Genius). This special calculation is conducted before all Handicap Indexes are updated at midnight, which is why it's imperative that scores are posted the day of play. Scores need to be posted quickly to give a potential PCC a chance to kick in.

Par is now of consequence
In the good ole USGA Handicap System, par was irrelevant. Now it plays more than a noteworthy role. First, hole par matters because of the maximum hole score procedure – the previously mentioned Net Double Bogey. Obviously, the player must know correct hole par in order to figure out their max for handicap purposes. Secondly, accurate total par is important because it is now woven into the calculation of a Course Handicap. Contrary to popular belief, par is not necessarily 72, and certainly not necessarily 72 from all sets of tees. This is because the Course Rating system’s definition of a Scratch golfer is what sets par – and that standard has not changed with the advent of the WHS. It’s just that now it’s visible within the system.

Before, Course Handicaps were very close to the same from tee to tee. Now we may see wider differences between Course Handicaps. If the Course Rating is lower than Par, your Course Handicap will go down. If the Course Rating is higher than Par, your Course Handicap will go up.

Let’s look at an example:

Course Rating 68.0, Slope Rating 120, Par 71
15.0 Handicap Index player –

In 2019 his Course Handicap was 16
In 2020 his Course Handicap is 13

Since the Course Rating (68.0) is 3 strokes lower than Par (71) the player’s Course Handicap will be 3 strokes lower in 2020. Although this rule represents a major change in handicapping, and you might take issue with your Course Handicap going down, you’re in good company because pretty much all of us are going in the same direction. (Except the guy who carries a 5.0 and is playing the Tips at Pronghorn. He’s now a 9).

Equitable Stroke Control is out. Net Double Bogey is in
Though I’ve beat this subject up in January’s Handicap Hub, it’s just one more opportunity to drive the point home to simply post your score hole-by-hole. So you totally blow up on a par 4, where you get a stroke, with a 10 – just post the ugly 10 and let your Net Double Bogey 7 take over automatically. There. Not so ugly.

Questions? Contact Kelly or Gretchen in the OGA Handicapping & Course Rating Department at (503) 981-4653 x226 or Click Here to Email Your Question