tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1961792768612881019.post7936317736938396536..comments2024-02-20T05:23:19.974-08:00Comments on On Golf Handicaps: How Will the World Handicap System Affect Your Index?Laurence Doughartyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08574283457305691679noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1961792768612881019.post-27830226649175370542020-01-07T08:15:50.933-08:002020-01-07T08:15:50.933-08:00Most golf leagues run their own handicapping syste...Most golf leagues run their own handicapping system completely separate of any USGA calculation just because they are generally 9 hole leagues played once a week. I run a golf league website and the average # of rounds league use rounds out to 6 (6 9-hole rounds, to be exact), while dropping the highest 1 or 2. larrybudhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10113342747864555237noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1961792768612881019.post-47990745716999392972019-11-18T09:30:09.632-08:002019-11-18T09:30:09.632-08:00You mention above that only league scores count. ...You mention above that only league scores count. I assume this means you keep track of handicaps outside of the MGA (GHIN) system. Tournament Committees have the authority to assign handicaps different from a player's USGA handicap. Some clubs have adopted the Knuth Point System which lowers a player's handicap if he/she has been a frequent winner. In some tournaments, a player has to play to his low Index of the year. Since apparently you have all of the data, you could stick with the best ten with no trigger. The limit to your authority is only the reaction of the players. If a handicap system is seen as unjust, some players will drop out. I doubt that would be the case, if you just stuck with the old system. <br />You are lucky to be in Michigan--except for this time of year--where public golf is accessible and relatively inexpensive. Laurence Doughartyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08574283457305691679noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1961792768612881019.post-71778274648038304672019-11-15T08:08:45.607-08:002019-11-15T08:08:45.607-08:00I should add that the WHS paints a broad brush; co...I should add that the WHS paints a broad brush; considering golf as a homogeneous unit. It isn't. The truth is that golf is a community sport and those communities are different. A public course 9 hole league is a world apart from a private club tournament series, and forcing a single handicap system on both will fail one or the other. Maybe that's why the USGA Handicap System has contracted over the past two decades rather than grown.Stuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03869695205872747223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1961792768612881019.post-51678380968939133292019-11-15T08:00:30.588-08:002019-11-15T08:00:30.588-08:00In areas where 9-hole leagues exist (in my state o...In areas where 9-hole leagues exist (in my state of Michigan we estimate there are more than 5000 leagues representing 250k golfers), the average course hosts a dozen leagues and each league averages 14-15 rounds a season (which usually lasts late April to late August). Effectively, league players play at minimum a 9 hole round once a week and many league players do not play outside of league play (or they just post their league rounds (above comment)). Consequently, yes, many of these aging core golfers may have their handicaps held hostage to older scores. This is a key technical reason why the WHS will not work well for leagues.Stuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03869695205872747223noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1961792768612881019.post-75177629480060277392019-11-07T06:38:16.410-08:002019-11-07T06:38:16.410-08:00The state associations recently released the detai...The state associations recently released the details for the new 2020 rules. I've already applied the new system changes to my league, (over 170 players, with ages ranging from upper 70s to late teens, and skill levels ranging from plus handicappers to extremely high handicappers). The early indications coincide with the comment already posted. We run a 9-hole handicap, basically meaning the new rule means we'll be using 16 of last 40 9-hole posts. Most casual players are posting 30-40 rounds a year, so they will be "held hostage" with a year's worth of data. (Note: we only use league data for handicap purposes.) <br /><br />The two components of the new system having the biggest effect are the extended data base (40 scores) and the exceptional score trigger. When triggered, exceptional scores will now be applied to all 40 scores, meaning that the "safeguard" will be felt until that score cycles out of the 40 score databank. Playing off the 18-hole trigger of 7.0, this basically means the unstated 9-hole net differential of 3.5 is needed to trigger the adjustment. <br /><br />The volatile players who can occasionally go low will be affected by the new rules, and with their newly calculated course handicap, they will experience some serious "sticker shock." As much as the USGA has downplayed the effect, it will be much stronger felt once applied. But rightfully so. Based on the data I've applied to date, the new system will more accurately represent a player's potential, as the new safeguards do tackle "sandbagging."<br /> Steelskullhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11378533888957848102noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1961792768612881019.post-43033407813789906652019-11-01T09:49:03.847-07:002019-11-01T09:49:03.847-07:00"Held hostage" seems a little strong. Th..."Held hostage" seems a little strong. The player you describe only plays nine holes about once a month. It seem unlikely that such a player is involved in high stakes games where a stroke or two difference in handicap can be crucial. In my imaginary world where sandbaggers have become extinct, our player is more concerned with comradery and fresh air than drubbing his good friends. If I have mistaken the character of our player, he is certainly able to play a few more rounds to make his Handicap Index a more accurate estimate of his potential.<br />Thanks for the comment and your concern for ageing players such as myself. Laurence Doughartyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08574283457305691679noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1961792768612881019.post-30642059099793675452019-10-31T07:17:36.079-07:002019-10-31T07:17:36.079-07:00I agree with your assessment of the Index and the ...I agree with your assessment of the Index and the indifference by championship or core 18-hole golfers. However I believe the greater impact will be the affect on the aging 9-hole golfer population as 8 of 20 18-hole scores translates to 16 of 40 9-hole scores. And, considering most golfers play more poorly as they age, if they generally post 10 or fewer 9-hole scores a year, then their WHS Index could be held hostage to scores from 3-4 years ago. Couple this with the fact that the USGA has eliminated the "N" (9-hole) Index.Stuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03869695205872747223noreply@blogger.com