YOUR QUESTIONS ANSWERED!
Why is there a 95 percent handicap allowance in individual strokeplay?
In individual strokeplay formats, it is important that when a player performs well, they place well on the leaderboard – regardless of their Handicap Index. This is what we mean by equity – and it is the 95 percent handicap allowance which creates equity.
Without it, there is an increased probability that a higher handicapper will win the event. This is because there are generally more higher handicap players in the field, thus it only takes one of them to have a good day.
Can I still submit a score when my course is using winter greens or winter tees?
Yes, although there are limits to how much the course can be changed. For scores to be acceptable, no more than two temporary greens are allowed to be used on an 18-hole course, and no more than one on a ninehole course.
Can I submit a score using a fairway mat?
You may submit scores for handicap purposes when using fairway mats as long as the mat is placed as near as possible to where the ball lies. The ball may be cleaned when lifted.
If mats are compulsory on all parts of the course (including areas cut longer than fairway height), your score is no longer acceptable for handicapping purposes.
Similarly, if a Local Rule is implemented for players to move the ball from the fairway to the rough for their next shot, your score is not acceptable for handicapping.
What happens to my Handicap Index if I fail (or forget) to submit a pre-registered general play score?
Whenever a player fails to submit a score, the Handicap Committee should investigate the reason why, and take appropriate action. If the scorecard is not
discoverable, a penalty score may be applied (England Golf recommend a penalty score of course rating + course handicap, unless there is a valid reason for the non-submission).
If the scorecard is discoverable, the available hole scores are still taken into account – even if the scorecard is not complete. On holes that have been started but not completed, the hole score is recorded as a net double bogey. On holes that have not been started for a valid reason, a hole score of net par is recorded. A score differential will be calculated on this basis and added to your scoring record.
Why is there rarely an adjustment for the Playing Conditions Calculation (PCC) on days when the conditions feel more challenging?
The Playing Conditions Calculation is designed to detect when the playing conditions are ‘abnormal’ and reflect any significant changes in scoring difficulty on the day, on a specific course. The PCC will not be triggered due to the poor performance of a small number of players in the field.
In order for the PCC to trigger an adjustment, a significant percentage of players must return scores which are higher or lower than their expected scoring range.
On days when the conditions are perceived to be difficult but there is no adjustment for PCC, this will be because a significant number of players have scored within their expected range.
It is not just weather that can cause scores to be higher or lower than expected, as course conditions and course set up also play a key role and can contribute to a PCC adjustment (or lack of it).
In any case, players are not expected to play to their handicap every time they go out, and this is reflected in the player’s expected scoring range that is used for the PCC.