30 Jan '10

LAUNCHING NEW HANDICAPPING SYSTEMS

Finally - yesterday, G.A. announced that the first package of changes to our Australian Handicapping system will take effect at 9.00 a.m. (AEST) on Friday 9 April, 2010.

What is in this package? What does this mean for me?

Firstly, read (or re-read) the news item on our web site, HANDICAPPING PACKAGE DELAYED. Much of the process is explained there.

It is important to note that these substantial changes to our handicapping will NOT occur in one hit. Instead they will be bundled into several packages and introduced incrementally.

This first package has two components:

Part 1.  commence operation of the USGA's "rolling sample" method;
Part 2.  remove CCR for men's handicapping (already done in 2007 for lady golfers).

The new procedures for calculating our handicap differentials has 5 steps:
(Differential = gross score—AMCR/AWCR. AMCR = 66 from blue tees, AWCR = 68)

1.  Use the “rolling sample” of the lowest 10 scores from your 20 most current rounds.

2.  Average these handicap differentials being used.

3.  Multiply the average by 0.96 (This is the ‘bonus for excellence’ factor as an incentive for players to improve their golf game!)

4.  Delete all numbers after the tenths’ digit (not rounded off). Eg. 23.6983 = 23.6

5.  Your exact playing handicap is determined by rounding off this number. Eg. 23.6 =24

This first and probably most significant change will take effect at 9.00 a.m. on Friday 9 April. It is also worthy to note that Golf Link (our "handicapper") will be off line from 9 a.m. Wednesday 7 April until 9.00 a.m. Friday 9 April. So any competition games played in that period will not have the handicap adjustments immediately available. Match committee will meet shortly to make a decision on this minor issue.

NOW THERE ARE STILL MANY QUESTIONS YOU MAY HAVE ABOUT THIS FIRST PACKAGE.

> Will CCR be removed only from 9 April, or from my last 20 games??
 
> What if I haven't played 20 games yet?

> When will our slope rating be applied? Have we been rated yet?

> What if I have an NCR - how will that be treated?

> Why is a "bonus for excellence" factor being included?

> How often will my handicap be calculated? I have heard it will be only once a month!??

> How many games do I need to play in a year to avoid my Australian handicap lapsing?

> How does this new handicapping method allow your committee to deal with players who try to 'manipulate' handicaps?

> What happens if I am disqualified in a competition? Does my score still count?

> A new player used to submit 3 cards to obtain a handicap. How does the club allocate an initial handicap to a new player now?


For all the answers to these questions, and even more, use the following link to G.A. web site
http://www.golfaustralia.org.au/default.aspx?s=newsandcommunication

These are the latest releases to clubs about the 'new' systems. If/when you read this you will know as much as we do!

As more info is provided to us, you will be informed!