Calculation of Course & Playing Handicaps

Course Handicap Calculation

• Old
  • HI * (SR / 113)
  • And round it
• New
  • HI * (SR / 113) + (CR - PAR)
  • And round it

Competition Playing Handicap Calculation

• Old
  • HI * (SR / 113)
  • And round it
  • Then multiply by the Competition Handicap Allowance: eg 95% / 85%
  • And round it again
• New
  • HI * (SR / 113) + (CR - PAR)
  • Then multiply by the Competition Handicap Allowance: eg 95% / 85%
  • And round it

Mixed Tee Competition Score Balancing

• Old - For Medal, Stableford and ParBogey the difference between the Course Ratings of each Tee in use
• New
  • Medal the difference between the PAR of each Tee in use
  • Stableford and Par/Bogey no longer need Score Balancing as CR - PAR automatically balances the PH's
  • Scratch Medal continues to use the difference in the Course Ratings

Matchplay

Individual Matchplay

• The full difference between the rounded Course Handicaps

Pairs Better Ball Match Play

• 90% of the difference between the rounded Course Handicaps

Foursomes Matchplay

• 50% of the difference between the combined rounded Course Handicaps

Greensomes Matchplay

• The difference between 60% of the Low CH & 40% of the High CH of each pair
• PLEASE NOTE - MACHINE PRECISION COURSE HANDICAPS ARE USED

Matchplay Score Balancing

• The difference the PAR of each Tee in use

Examples of rounding confusion

SR = 138 : CR = 70 : PAR = 70

For Individual Medal / Stableford / Par-Bogey at 95%

• 11.6 = CH: 14.1663717 (14) & PH: 13.4580531 (13)
• 11.7 = CH: 14.2884956 (14) & PH: 13.5740708 (14)
• 11.8 = CH: 14.4106195 (14) & PH: 13.6900885 (14)
• 11.9 = CH: 14.5327434 (15) & PH: 13.8061062 (14)

In summary we can see that HI's 11.6 and 11.9 return a PH that is 1 shot lower than the CH which is what your players were used to pre 01/04/2024

However HI's of 11.7 & 11.8 return a CH of 14 and a PH of 14 which has been the cause of most of the confusion

Is there an easy way to calculate a PH?

Yes, use the following method to avoid any confusion with BODMAS when working out a PH on a calculator or your phone

Slope Rating / 113: eg (138 / 113) = 1.22123894

1.22123894 multiplied by the HI: eg (1.22123894 * 11.7) = 14.2884956

14.2884956 plus the CR: eg (14.2884956 + 70) = 84.2884956

84.2884956 minus the PAR: eg (84.2884956 - 70) = 14.2884956

14.2884956 multiply by Competition Allowance: eg (14.2884956 * 0.95) = 13.57407082

13.57407082 Round to the PH of 14:

The following video may help explain the recent changes:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97tWQhprSQk