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Sherfield Oaks GC Members Website
Sherfield Oaks GC Members Website

Operators of Golf and hospitality venues for the good of the game and their communities

Change in Course Handicaps

Current Calculation of Course Handicap

  • Course Handicap = Handicap Index X Slope Rating / 113, with the result rounded to the nearest whole number.
  • In mixed-tees competitions, Playing Handicaps are adjusted for differences between Course Ratings.

New Calculation, from 1 April 2024

  • Course Handicap = Handicap Index X Slope Rating / 113 + (Course Rating – Course Par).
  • % Handicap Allowances for singles competitions are applied to the unrounded Course Handicap, in the calculation of Playing Handicap.
  • The result is then only rounded as a final step, to give the Playing Handicap as a whole number.

Implications

  • Course Handicaps and Playing Handicaps (mostly for men) will often be lower on the SOGC courses, for which the Course Rating is lower than the Course Par.
  • Separate Course Rating Difference adjustments are no longer needed.
  • 36 points will now be the “Play to Handicap” Stableford score for all players on 18-hole courses, from all tees.
  • Playing Handicaps will be calculated and provided, as now, by IG, for most SOGC competitions, so no action is needed by players.
  • There is no effect on Handicap Index values, as these continue to be based on Score Differentials [Note 1].
  • For pairs matchplay competitions, a “handicap calculator” will be necessary/useful (more on this to follow..).

[Note 1: There can sometimes be a small effect on Handicap Indexes. This is because the new values for Course Handicaps will be used as the basis of Net Double Bogey Adjustments, in the WHS calculation of Adjusted Gross Scores. On average, the effect will be negligible.]