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INCREMENTAL
INTRODUCTION OF COMPONENTS OF U.S.G.A. HANDICAP SYSTEM
The three initial changes scheduled by GA for early
introduction are (note: changes A and B are scheduled to take
effect on 9th April, 2010 at 9.00am; the commencement date for
change C is yet to be confirmed but is likely to be mid-2010):
A. Calculation of handicap – commence operation of the USGA’s
‘rolling sample’ method.
B. Remove daily course rating component (ie CCR) of Australian
Handicapping Systems.
C. For handicapping, all eligible scores to be converted to (and
processed as) Stableford scores.
The
best-known component of the USGA Handicap System is ‘Slope’.
However, the introduction of Slope is dependant on all Australian
golf courses having USGA Scratch AND Bogey ratings, and this is not
scheduled to be achieved until the start of 2012. Nevertheless, GA
is committed to incrementally introducing those components of the
USGA Handicap System that are not reliant on the Course Rating
roll-out.
Whilst we
are mindful of the need to proceed in a cost-effective manner, it
is a GA priority to commence the upgrade of our systems. The USGA
Handicap System is the product of an ongoing sophisticated and
comprehensive research and development program. This is the reality
of an organisation with significant budgets and resources.
Additionally, each individual component of the USGA systems has
been subjected to far greater checks and balances than have
occurred with our existing code (which has operated in isolation to
the rest of the world). As a result, each of these components is
more robust than what they are replacing,
and takes better account of all of the real-world
considerations.
A.
CALCULATION OF HANDICAP – COMMENCE OPERATION OF THE U.S.G.A.’S
‘ROLLING SAMPLE’ METHOD. (Note: Those clubs that are a part of
the national computerised handicapping network will NOT need to
make any changes – all handicapping calculations will be made by
the network.)
From 1 February 2010, the exact Australian Handicap will be
calculated from a rolling sample of the player’s previous 20
scores.
The rolling sample process is better-geared to producing a more
contemporary handicap than our current incremental adjustment
method. It also produces handicaps that better indicate a player’s
potential. Currently in Australia for example (where an outward
increase can only occur in increments of 0.1), outward corrections
take place at a rate that is far too slow and can be unfair on the
player who has one ‘lucky’ round.
The USGA handicap formula is based on averaging the best handicap
differentials in a player’s handicap record. If a player’s handicap
record contains 20 scores, the best 10 handicap differentials are
used to calculate the player’s exact handicap. As the number of
scores in the player’s handicap record increases (starting at 3 and
then increasing to 20 as the player returns more scores), the
percentage of these scores that are used to calculate the player’s
handicap also increases (as per the below table).
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.
B: REMOVE DAILY COURSE RATING COMPONENT (ie C.C.R.) OF
AUSTRALIAN HANDICAPPING SYSTEMS. (Note: Women’s CCR has not
operated in Australia since the decision was taken by Golf
Australia to suspend its operation from 1 October 2007.)
Whilst ‘daily course rating’ (ie CCR) sounds like a must-have
concept, the practical construction of a system that works well in
real situations and across a range of clubs is a totally different
matter.
The challenge of designing a system that is able to produce
consistently accurate ratings for competitions that don’t have
large fields cannot be overestimated. This is underlined by the
lack of a daily rating component in the USGA Handicap System
despite the statistical research power of the USGA Handicap
Department.
In looking to the future, the Board not only considered other
options from around the world, it also took careful note of the
considerable amount of feedback that has been forthcoming on what
has been a controversial topic over the years. One constant theme
has been the lack of confidence exhibited by golfers (and
officials) in players’ performances being used to determine a
course rating. (Too often the feeling under CCR has been that
ratings were skewed by the age of the competitors, or their
handicaps, or by a couple of competitors having lucky scores, etc.)
Another ongoing concern has been the small-field issue. For too
long, women’s fields and country fields have played the role of the
sacrificial lamb, and this has not been an acceptable outcome.
These are some of the factors that have led to the Board reaching
the conclusion that the maintenance of a daily course rating
component is not the best way forward for a national system.
C: FOR HANDICAPPING, ALL ELIGIBLE SCORES TO BE CONVERTED TO (AND
PROCESSED AS) STABLEFORD SCORES (with 100% of the rounded
Australian Handicap to be used, irrespective of whatever other
handicap the player may have played off for that round).
The purpose of this regulation is to:
o Reduce the effect of high hole scores for handicap purposes in
order to make handicaps more representative of a player’s scoring
potential.
o Make all handicaps as equitable as possible by using a uniform
score type for all handicapping (approximately 68% of handicapping
rounds
in Australia are currently played under the Stableford format –
this move will bring the remaining 32% into line).
(Note – If a player is competing in a Par, Stroke Play, or Match
Play competition, their Stableford score is disregarded when
assessing any of
the following; competition placings, allocation of prizes,
event/match winners or results.)
Changes A and B are scheduled to take effect on 1 February
2010.
The commencement date for change C is yet to be confirmed but
it is intended to be mid-2010 (and will likely be accompanied by
further changes). As a way of preparing for change C, we will be
encouraging all clubs to require their players to list Stableford
scores in Par and Stroke competitions at least two months prior to
the commencement date. (Note: This will be a straightforward change
once players become accustomed to the new procedure (ie this is
because the new procedure will require players to do exactly what
they already do in a regular Stableford competition). Getting
players accustomed prior to implementation is likely to be the most
effective change-management approach.)
Further Information from the Golf Australia
Website
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