Handicaps
The World Handicap System was established in 2020 to standardize handicapping for the game of golf around the world.
The World Handicap System includes the Rules of Handicapping and The Course Rating System. Its purpose is the enhance the enjoyment of the game of golf and to give as many golfers as possible the opportunity to:
- Obtain and maintain a Handicap Index
- Use their Handicap Index on any course around the world
- Compete, or play a casual round, with anyone else on a fair and equal basis.
Handicap Committee
A golf club affiliated with the USGA is responsible for ensuring that the Handicap Index of those members who have designated it to be their home club is administered in accordance with the requirements of the Rules of Handicapping. Those responsibilities are carried out by the club’s Handicap Committee.
Weymouth and Fox Meadow have determined that, based on the fact that the clubs sponsor many joint tournaments, a joint Handicap Committee comprised of members of both clubs is most appropriate.
The goal of the Handicap Committee is to ensure that handicap indices of our members create competitions that give each participant a fair opportunity to compete with all others in that competition.
The Rules of Handicapping are based on two important premises:
- Each player will try to make the best score on each hole in every round
- Each player will post EVERY ACCEPTABLE ROUND for peer review
Rule 2.1 defines an acceptable score for posting purposes. Rule 3 defines the maximum hole score for Handicap purposes. Those rules are included at the end of this section.
The player and the Handicap Committee share responsibility for adhering to these premises. Each member can help The Committee and The Clubs ensure this system is working:
- Understand and follow the adjustment of hole scores as defined in Rule 3. The maximum score that can be posted on any hole, when factoring in any handicap strokes the player receives on that hole, is a net double bogey.
- Participate in the Peer Review process by holding those we play with accountable by reminding them to post their scores and to follow Rule 3 in determining the score to be posted.
Peer Review
The clubs now have the ability to reconcile the daily tee sheet at each course against the GHIN system to determine whether members that played on a given day posted a score as required under the Rules of Handicapping.
The Handicap Committee will use this capability to periodically review a report comparing the tee sheet against the GHIN system.
Since the process will be new in 2023, there will be a 30-day phase in period during the month of April. The pro shop will send out reminders to members who appear on the tee sheet, but do not post a score to their GHIN number. Beginning on May 1st, the pro shop will continue to send reminders to members on the tee sheet that do not post a score. If a member receives a reminder and still does not post a score and a second non-posting occurs, the member will have a penalty score, equal to their lowest posted differential posted to their record in the previous twelve months. Members who repeatedly play without posting a score will be subject to additional penalties, up to and including suspension of their GHIN number. A suspension of a GHIN number would make the member ineligible for tournament play.
2024 Tournament Handicaps
Tournament handicaps for MGA events in 2024 will be handicapped as follows:
- Current GHIN Index Events
1. Opening Day at both clubs
2. President’s Cup
3. Stag Day Events
4. Club Championships
5. Men’s League
- Low 12-Month Index Events
1. Individual and Two-Man Match Play (Handicaps will be reviewed and reset, if appropriate, at the beginning of each new round of play.
2. Strategy Draft Scramble
3. Interclub Cup
4. Guests playing the Member-Guest event are expected to have a minimum of 10 scores posted to their GHIN record in the most recent 12 months. Low 12-month index will be compared to GHIN index for Guests competing in the Member Guest tournament at each club. A significant gap between the two will result in the index for the Guest being the low 12-month index.
- Current GHIN compared to CPI, 80% of GHIN will be used for a player that does not have a record that allows for calculation of a CPI (see full description of CPI at the end of this section)
1. Member\Member
2. Tradition
3. Member Handicaps for Member Guest
The above listed methods are the starting point for handicapping an event. The Handicap Committee has full authority to adjust any player’s handicap if the Committee determines the adjustment is necessary to ensure a fair competition.
Rules and Definitions
Rule 2.1 Acceptable Scores
A score is acceptable for handicap purposes if the round has been played:
- In an authorized format of play (see Rule 2.1a) over at least the minimum number of holes required for either a 9-hole or an 18-hole score.
- In the company of at least one other person, who may also act as a marker
- By the Rules of Golf
- On a golf course with a current established Course Rating and Slope Rating, where length and normal playing difficulty is maintained at a consistent level.
- On a golf course during its active season.
Rule 3 Maximum Hole Score for Handicap Purposes
Par + 2 Strokes + Handicap strokes the player receives on that hole (NET DOUBLE BOGEY)
Competitive Playing Index (CPI)
The GHIN system calls for scores to be designated as Home, Away, or Competition Scores when the score is posted. Members who play in MGA tournaments, NOGA competitions, Member-Guest events at other clubs, and all other competitions should make certain those scores have been posted by the club or by themselves as Competition scores. In Men’s Golf Association events, the pro shop will be posting each player’s score as a competition score.
For certain tournaments, the Handicap Committee will compute a CPI for those players with an adequate scoring record. The minimum requirement for a CPI calculation is 5 Competition scores from 1/1/21 to the date at which the CPI is being computed (the CPI period). The CPI calculation is similar to the calculation of a player’s regular GHIN. If a player has 20 competition scores in the CPI period, the lowest 8 will be used to compute the CPI. If there are less than 20 scores the number used will be based on the following table:
Competition Scores Scores used to compute CPI
5-7 2
8-9 3
10-12 4
13-14 5
15-17 6
18-19 7
The resulting CPI will be compared to the player’s current GHIN. If the CPI is 2 strokes or more lower than the current GHIN, the CPI will be used for the tournament.
If a player does not have 5 competition scores on their record, their index for the tournament will be 80% of their current GHIN handicap index
Questions about handicaps can be emailed to the Handicap Committee at WCCFOXHC@gmail.com