Golf Handicap - CONGU®
The handicap system used in the United Kingdon(UK) and Ireland is known as the CONGU Unified Handicapping System. This has recently been updated and was re-launched on 1st February 2004.
The handicap scheme is published by the Council of National Golf Unions (CONGU). www.congu.com
Do I need a golf handicap?
A golf handicap is a measure of your standard of golf, and allows you to play against other golfers on a fair and equitable basis.
It also offers a controlled way of measuring how your golf game is progressing.
There is demonstrable proof that there is a link between performance and measurement, and this is true not only to the corporate world, but to golf as well. By measuring your golf handicap over time you can identify areas of your golf game to concentrate on that will help you improve your game.
What is a handicap?
Your golf handicap represents the number of strokes you are typically going to take above that taken by a "scratch" golfer. A “scratch” golfer is someone who plays of a 0 handicap.
The Handicap Calculation
Initially you need to identify your starting point for the handicap. Once this is done, each handicap round played contributes to an adjustment (up or down), depending upon your performance in that game.
Calculating your Starting Handicap
First you need to establish what your starting handicap would be.
What you need is the following information:
- Three scorecard for games played over a 18 hole course.
- The course standard scratch score (SSS) of the Tee you are playing on. Usually ranges between 70-74.
CONGU allows double bogey (+2) maximum, on any hole. Therefore, if a player takes 8 shots (gross score) on a par 5, the maximum score allowed for that hole is 7 (adjusted Gross Score)
| Round | Strokes | Standard Scratch | Gross Score | Adj. Gross Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
1 |
110 |
71 |
39 |
35 |
2 |
103 |
72 |
31 |
24 |
3 |
100 |
72 |
28 |
25 |
84 |
From the above example add three adjusted gross scores i.e 84, and divide
by 3. i.e. 84 / 3 = 28. So your starting handicap would be: 28.0
Buffer Zones - adjusting your handicap
|
Your current handicap determines which buffer zone your fall into, and subsequently how your handicap increases or decreases. So with a handicap of 28.0 we would be in Buffer Zone 4. |
|
How does your Handicap Change?
Handicap adjustments are worked out on your adjusted golf score for the round.
The maximum score you can get for each hole is 2 shots above its par.
|
If you score 6 on a par 3 your adjusted score will be worked out on a score of 5 for that hole. If you scored 5 and get a shot for the hole your adjusted score for that hole would be 4. |
Using then Stroke Index (SI)
The number of shots received per hole is determined by the holes stroke index (SI).
If the hole has a stoke index (SI) of 6 then any golfer with a handicap of 6 and over will get a shot for this hole.
If a golfer has a handicap of 24 or more then they will receive 2 shots for the hole because (18+6 = 24).
Calculating the change
- Subtract your adjusted score from the Standard Scratch Score (SSS) for the course.
- Take this value (Gross Score) and subtract your current handicap to get your Net Score.
- Take your handicap category (1,2,3,4,5) and determine the adjustment based on your buffer zone.
Examples for a Category 4 golfer.
| How does my handicap increase? | |
|---|---|
| Adjusted Score - SSS = Gross Score Gross Score - Handicap = Net Score If Net Score > Buffer then ADD 0.1 Running Handicap + 0.1 New Handicap calculated |
103 - 70 = 33 32 - 28 = 5 5 is > +4 28.0 + 0.1 28.1 |
| How does it stay the same? | |
|---|---|
| If your H/Cap Range was within you buffer zone then there would be no change in you handicap. | |
| Adjusted Score - SSS = Gross Score Gross Score - Handicap = Net Score Net Score is within buffer of +4 No Change to handicap |
101 - 70 = 31 31 - 28 = 3 3 is < +4 28.0 |
| How does my handicap reduce? | |
|---|---|
| Adjusted Score - SSS = Gross Score Gross Score - Handicap = Net Score Net Score < Handicap so reduction is 0.4 per shot Running handicap - reduction New Handicap Calculated |
95 - 70 = 25 25 - 28 = -3 3 * 0.4 = 1.2 28.0 - 1.2 26.8 |
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