|
05 October 2011
Dear Golfer
As a valued member of our
Handicap database we have
taken the liberty of emailing
you a copy of the Handicap
Update notice below. This
notice has gone to clubs to be
posted on their notice boards.
The email is self explanatory
and we hope you appreciate
that based on your feedback in
the past and the desire of the
South African Golf Association
to ensure that any changes
made to the handicap
calculation, is in future,
supported by the majority of
golfers, we would ask that you
please read through the email
and vote accordingly.
Thank you for your support in
our aim to provide you with a
handicap system that is in
line with the rest of the
world and meets the needs of
the majority of South African
golfers.
Kindest Regards,
Handicaps Network Africa
Proposed Changes to the
Handicap Calculation
Introduction
The South African handicap
system is broadly based on
international handicap
systems, but more closely
aligned with the American USGA
System.
The South African Golf
Association (SAGA ) and
Handicaps Network Africa ( HNA),
have canvassed both the
golfers and the clubs, to
establish which aspects of the
system they would like to
change.
As a result of that feedback,
the following changes have
been adopted, and will be
implemented with effect from
the 1st of November 2011.
Further changes are proposed
with the aim of aligning the
South African system more
closely with the USGA system.
Prior to any further changes
being implemented, the SAGA
would like feedback from
members and clubs to ensure
that the majority of golfers
in South Africa are in
agreement with the proposed
changes. These proposed
changes are detailed further
down in the document.
Handicap Calculation Changes
to be implemented with effect
from the 1st November
1. 72 Hour Late Score Entry
Penalty
The SAGA have decided to
change the penalty for the
late entry of scores, to
follow the American system,
whereby a late score entry
penalty will be equal to the
lowest differential score of
the last 20, added to the
standard rating.
The handicap manual will
therefore be amended to read
as follows:
“8.5 Time limit on entering
scores
A score should be returned
within 72 hours of the
completion of a round. The
period of 72 hours is taken
from 19:00 on the day of play
to 19:00 three days later.
Scores not returned during
this period, will result in a
penalty score (see 8.6) being
entered on the player’s
behalf. Such scores are not to
be deleted or modified by the
player’s home club, unless
exceptional circumstances
warrant such action.
8.6 Penalty Scores
A penalty score is the lowest
differential of the player’s
last 20 recorded scores added
to the Standard Rating of the
course played or such penalty
as the club handicapper may
decide, based on the
circumstances around the
failure of the player to enter
the score. Where the score not
entered was lower than the
players lowest of their last
20 differentials the club
handicapper should decide on
an appropriate penalty score.
Each time a penalty score is
allocated, either by the
computer system, or club
handicapper, a test should be
made according to Interim
Revision rules.”
2.
Removal of section 9.2.2
-
3 Under par handicap
recalculation
Due to discrepancies that can
arise with the CR calculation
and the fact that the current
calculation is based on par
and not the stroke rating of
the tee played, section 9.2.2
of the handicap manual,
whereby a players handicap is
immediately recalculated if a
player records a net score of
3 under par or better, will be
removed. The exceptional
performance calculation will
however remain in place
whereby if a player enters two
or more exceptional scores,
then the best 8 scores from
the last 20 will be used to
compute the players handicap.
Decisions pending feedback
from the clubs and their
members
1.
Removing the limit on the
number of shots a handicap can
move out per month.
The American Handicap System
does not restrict the number
of shots a handicap can move
out per month. The current
South African system restricts
the amount a handicap can move
out to 1 shot per month, with
no limitation on a reduction.
In England, Ireland, Scotland
and Europe they do not use an
average of scores for
handicaps and so handicaps are
calculated after each
qualifying score has been
entered and handicaps can only
go down or up by a percentage
after each round.
Voting
Clubs and members are asked to
vote on whether to follow the
USGA system and remove the
restriction, or to leave the
system as it is.
Club professionals, managers
and players can vote before
the end of October 2011, on
the newly created “Proposed
Handicap Changes” voting
section on the Handicaps
website at www.handicaps.co.za
(click
here) or on a voting sheet
posted on the clubs notice
board.
2. Removing any restriction on
the number of 2 over’s allowed
to be entered for handicap
purposes for handicaps 1 to
18, and limiting handicaps
over 18 to a maximum score of
a net 1 over par for handicap
purposes i.e. they can only
enter a 3 over par score if
they have 2 handicap strokes
on a particular hole.
The American and European
systems do not limit the
number of 2 over par scores
that can be entered. In
England /Ireland /Scotland a
maximum of a net 2 over par
can be recorded (effectively 3
over for 1 to 18 handicaps and
4 over for 18 plus), in Europe
stableford points are used,
and under the USGA system,
handicaps 1 to 9 can enter a
maximum of 2 over par on any
hole, handicaps 10 to 19 a
maximum score of 7 on any
hole, handicaps 20 to 29 a
maximum of 8 on any hole, and
handicaps 30 to 39 a maximum
of 9. The current South
African system restricts the
entering of a 2 over par score
to only those holes where a
player has a stroke, and is
therefore more restrictive
than the other major golfing
nations.
Voting
Club professionals,
managers and players can vote
before the end of October
2011, on the newly created
“Proposed Handicap Changes”
voting section on the
Handicaps website at
www.handicaps.co.za
(click
here) or on a voting sheet
posted on the clubs notice
board.
|
Southern Cape
.JPG)
