Calculation of the handicap index
To provide some clarity and based on the details on the Golf Australia website, below is a summary of how handicap index calculation works:
· The handicap index calculation is now based on the US Golf Association (USGA) Course Rating System which Golf Australia has adopted.
· Some relevant definitions:
· Course Rating – This is meant to assess the playing difficulty of a course for a scratch golfer (a golfer with a zero handicap) under normal course and weather conditions. It is expressed as strokes taken and is based on course length and obstacles to extent that they affect the scoring ability of a scratch golfer.
· Slope Rating – This indicates the measurement of the relative playing difficulty of a course for players who are not scratch golfers, compared to scratch golfers. It is computed from the difference between the Bogey Rating and the Course Rating times a constant factor and is expressed as a whole number from 55 to 155.
· Bogey Rating – Represents the evaluation of the playing difficulty of a course for bogey golfers under normal course and weather conditions. It is expressed as the number of strokes taken to one and is based on course length and obstacles to the extent that they affect the scoring difficulty of the bogey golfer.
· Bogey Golfer - A player who has a Course Handicap of approximately 20 on a course of standard difficulty.
· Gross score – Simply represents the score off the stick.
· Equitable Stroke Control – This is designed to minimize the effects of "disaster holes" on a golfer's handicap index. Equitable Stroke Control sets a maximum per-hole score based on your respective course handicap.
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Calculation of handicap index
· Upon determining the course rating and slope rating of each course the calculation of the handicap index takes into account the following:
· Number of rounds
The handicap index is calculated from a rolling sample of the player’s most recent 20 scores. If a player’s handicap record contains a lesser number than 20 scores, the number of scores used to calculate the player’s handicap is as listed in the table below. Once a player’s handicap record contains 20 scores, the next score they return will result in the oldest of the existing 20 scores being removed (to be replaced by the new score). Hence, the handicap record is considered to be a “rolling sample” of the player’s scores.
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Number of Scores in Player’s Scoring Record
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Handicap Differentials to be Used in the Calculation
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3 to 6
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Lowest 1
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7 or 8
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Lowest 2
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9 or 10
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Lowest 3
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11 or 12
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Lowest 4
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13 or 14
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Lowest 5
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15 or 16
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Lowest 6
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17 or 18
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Lowest 7
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19 or 20
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Lowest 8
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· Formula of the handicap differential for each score
- Based on the table above, the formula for the handicap differential for each round is - (Adjusted Gross Score – Course Rating) X (113 /Slope Rating).
- The sum of the handicap differentials is then divided by the number of rounds used in the calculation to determine the average handicap differential.
- The average handicap differential is then multiplied by a factor of 0.93 to determine the handicap index.
Note: The factor of 0.93 is a “bonus for excellence” factor and is meant to act as an incentive for players to improve their golf game.