[Matthew Essig]

http://www.golfchannel.com/article/golf-central-blog/usga-ra-detail-world-handicap-system/?cid=twitter-gc-a-usga-ra-detail-world-handicap-system-02202018


Key features of the WHS include:

*Flexibility in formats of play, allowing both competitive and recreational rounds to count for handicap purposes and ensuring that a golfer’s handicap is more reflective of potential ability.

*A minimal number of scores needed to obtain a new handicap; a recommendation that the number of scores needed to obtain a new handicap be 54 holes from any combination of 18-hole and 9-hole rounds, but with “some discretion available for handicapping authorities or national associations to set a different minimum within their own jurisdiction.”

*A consistent handicap that “is portable” from course to course and country to country through worldwide use of the USGA course and slope rating system, already used in more than 80 countries.

*An average-based calculation of a handicap, taken from the best eight out of the last 20 scores and “factoring in memory of previous demonstrated ability for better responsiveness and control.”

*A calculation that considers the impact that abnormal course and weather conditions might have on a player’s performance each day. 

*Daily handicap revisions, taking account of the course and weather conditions calculation.

*A limit of net double bogey on the maximum hole score (for handicapping purposes only).

*A maximum handicap limit of 54.0, regardless of gender, to encourage more golfers to measure and track their performance to increase their enjoyment of the game.

[Jeff Schley]

I like this as I play internationally quite a bit. I'm not sure how they will implement these however:

*A calculation that considers the impact that abnormal course and weather conditions might have on a player’s performance each day. 

*Daily handicap revisions, taking account of the course and weather conditions calculation.

I like the max double bogey or pick up basically to speed up rounds. I do wonder how this will work since not all international course have the course rating/slope that the USGA uses and standard scratch of the UK.

[David_Elvins]

Maximum handicap of 54.       


I dont want to play in a competition where the winner shoots 113 off the stick for a net 59.

[Mark Pearce]

Maximum handicap of 54.       


I dont want to play in a competition where the winner shoots 113 off the stick for a net 59.

Quite.  Hopefully we'll see more clubs applying max handicaps to competitions.

[Thomas Dai]

As is usual the devil* will be in the detail.....and by the way, some countries have been operating up to 54 hcps for a while.
atb


* or angel

[Marty Bonnar]

Welcome to the 5-hour Saturday Medal.
Actually, scratch that. We’re already there.
Welcome to the 5-hour bounce...

[Wade Whitehead]

Maximum handicap of 54.       


I dont want to play in a competition where the winner shoots 113 off the stick for a net 59.

Actually, a player could receive more strokes than that, depending on the multiplier for a given course.  You could easily see players getting 60 shots or more.

I don't understand how a net double bogey max can result in an index of 54, though.  If a player can only count a double bogey and there are eighteen holes in a round...

WW

[Niall C]

This is horrific. Presumably this will lead to having to count every score. What nonsense. I do wish the R&A would stop pandering.


Niall

[Michael Graham]

This is horrific. Presumably this will lead to having to count every score. What nonsense. I do wish the R&A would stop pandering.


Niall

Niall,


I could have misinterpreted but from looking on the R&A's website us golfers with CONGU handicaps won't have to count every score but will have the option of submitting score from recreational rounds. What I was pleased to see is the R&A's insistence that rounds played as a single cannot be submitted for handicapping purposes.

[Jeff Schley]

This is horrific. Presumably this will lead to having to count every score. What nonsense. I do wish the R&A would stop pandering.


Niall

Niall,


I could have misinterpreted but from looking on the R&A's website us golfers with CONGU handicaps won't have to count every score but will have the option of submitting score from recreational rounds. What I was pleased to see is the R&A's insistence that rounds played as a single cannot be submitted for handicapping purposes.

That is the rule we use here locally.  You can't report single rounds and this unsurprisingly has made a difference for the "usual suspects."

[Garland Bayley]

Maximum handicap of 54.       


I dont want to play in a competition where the winner shoots 113 off the stick for a net 59.

Actually, a player could receive more strokes than that, depending on the multiplier for a given course.  You could easily see players getting 60 shots or more.

I don't understand how a net double bogey max can result in an index of 54, though.  If a player can only count a double bogey and there are eighteen holes in a round...

WW

Because at handicap 36, a double bogey is net par, and one can post rounds of all quadruple bogeys, which would start one on their way to a handicap of 72 if allowed.

[Jason Topp]

The biggest problem with this change from my perspective is that we will no longer have the BUDA threads where everyone gets confused trying to correllate CONGU and USGA handicaps.

[Erik J. Barzeski]

I like this as I play internationally quite a bit. I'm not sure how they will implement these however:

*A calculation that considers the impact that abnormal course and weather conditions might have on a player’s performance each day. 

Just a math problem, basically.

If a statistically significant number of players all play 2-8 shots worse than they are expected to that day, then the course was quite likely playing more difficult (due to a tournament, due to weather conditions, whatever), so the course rating and/or slope will be adjusted slightly (not 2-8 strokes, slightly) upward for scores posted that day.

Vice versa for days when it's playing lower.

And though there shouldn't be too many days when it plays lower, this will highlight the courses which have us raters come in and rate from where the tees are supposed to be, only to move all the tees up a set or something the other 363 days of the year… Happens more often than you may think.

[SL_Solow]

Erik has it analyzed correctly.  Algorithm will adjust for variance in scores from day to day presumably factoring in differences in conditions.  Enough scores should factor out individual players' good day/bad day differentials.

[Rich Goodale]

The biggest problem with this change from my perspective is that we will no longer have the BUDA threads where everyone gets confused trying to correllate CONGU and USGA handicaps.

As I'm sure you know, Jason, nobody counts at BUDAs, and the trophy is engraved with the venues and not with the winners.


The USGA and the R&A are completely bonkers.  The sooner that "Handicaps" are abolished the better the game of golf will be.


Rich

[Erik J. Barzeski]

The USGA and the R&A are completely bonkers.  The sooner that "Handicaps" are abolished the better the game of golf will be.

Explain?

[Daryl David]

I like this as I play internationally quite a bit. I'm not sure how they will implement these however

I like the max double bogey or pick up basically to speed up rounds. I do wonder how this will work since not all international course have the course rating/slope that the USGA uses and standard scratch of the UK.

All counties participating in the new WHS will implement the slope system.

[Adrian_Stiff]

Maximum handicap of 54.       


I dont want to play in a competition where the winner shoots 113 off the stick for a net 59.

Quite.  Hopefully we'll see more clubs applying max handicaps to competitions.

+1. This is the key to it working, have high handicaps yes but not allowed to compete in competitions.
If 54 hcp is allowed you could even see a junior emerge from the winter and shoot 90 for a nett 36!!!!
Max strokes allowed for club competitions I think should be 24 and No player may receive 2 strokes on a hole in any team event or singles match play.
The 90% Better Ball rule has proved very unpopular with many players refusing to compete. If Silly scores win competitions its more nails in the coffin for golf.

[Jim Hoak]

Rich, in my opinion you are really off base in thinking that golf would be better off with no handicap system. Rather, I think it is the essential element of this great game.
What other sport can you enjoyably play against someone who is radically better or worse than you.  Try playing tennis, for example, against someone of a lot different ability and you will see it is not fun for either of you.
The handicap system is what makes golf universal and compatible.  I agree that the devil is in the details, but I support it as the foundation of our game.

[Cliff Hamm]

Still confused...If one takes a double on every hole is not your handicap 36 or so depending on rating?  How then can you have a 54 handicap?

[David Jones]

Still confused...If one takes a double on every hole is not your handicap 36 or so depending on rating?  How then can you have a 54 handicap?

It’s a net double bogey. For someone with a handicap of 54 that would be 3 shots a hole for a net par 4. So they should pick up when they get to 5 over par - ie a 9 on a par 4, 10 on a par 5!

[Jeff Schley]

Rich, in my opinion you are really off base in thinking that golf would be better off with no handicap system. Rather, I think it is the essential element of this great game.
What other sport can you enjoyably play against someone who is radically better or worse than you.  Try playing tennis, for example, against someone of a lot different ability and you will see it is not fun for either of you.
The handicap system is what makes golf universal and compatible.  I agree that the devil is in the details, but I support it as the foundation of our game.

This is one of the gems of golf is the handicap system as you can play against Rory or Tiger or anyone against anyone. Bowling is one of the other few sports where you can compete against anyone else regardless of ability.  Can you face Clinton Kershaw? Play against Lebron James? or skate against Jonathan Toews?  Nope, but you can in golf and you can play until you die almost.)

So embracing the unique aspect of this and I would argue to expand this to the youth programs as they can play against anyone else,where there is hardly anything else that lends itself to such an inclusive aspect.

[Rich Goodale]

Eric, Jim and Jeff


All of us could play Tiger or Rory and some of us have played and beaten players 10+ shots better than ourselves, we just wouldn't beat them very often.  If I play DJ on the course of his choice and if he gives me 18 shots I have a good chance of beating him, but do you think he would care if I shot 83 and he shot 66?  I would never say I "beat" him.  I've given 18 shots and lost handicap tournaments to hackers because most of them can throw in a gross 85 from time to time.  Did he (or she) "beat" me if I shot 68?  No way.


More importantly, how do you get players to continue to try to improve their game?  By handing them crutches on the first tee (or when they sign the card)?  Not!  Enjoy the game however you play, but don't think you have "won" a match or a tournament just because you were the best hacker on the course on the day.  Cash the check, by all means, but don't pat yourself on the back for being an average player, and most of all, ENJOY! and always try to improve.


rfg


PS--I know that many people on this forum disagree with me on this, but cést la vie.


R

[Sean_A]

Rihc's attitude is how I feel about competitiveness in golf.  It is hard for me take a comp or match seriously when handicaps are involved...or even when they aren't involved but knowing I am so far below the standard of excellence.  I treat it all as recreational.  That said, I think playing golf without handicaps would be far worse because niches of playing levels would develop, moreso than is already the case. 

Ciao

[Garland Bayley]

How do get players to want to improve their game? Give them clubs and balls. It starts right there.

Having a handicap matters not a bit!

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