Handicap Index

Handicap Index

Handicap Index is a measure of a player's demonstrated ability calculated against the Slope Rating of a golf course of standard playing difficulty

It represents a golfer's playing handicap on a course with a Neutral Slope Rating of 113

It is calculated as a rolling average of the lowest 8 from the last 20 Score Differentials  

Each time a new score is submitted the average of the lowest 8 from the last 20 is re-calculated overnight, which may or may not lead to a change of Handicap Index, in the example in image 

A single new score is submitted at the top of the list and becomes one of the best "8 from 20"

An old score drops off the bottom

The overnight calculation changes the player's Handicap Index from 13.0 to 13.3

There are additional safeguards to ensure that a player's handicap does not rise too quickly when a player is going through a spell of poor form

Low Handicap Index (LHI)

A player's lowest Handicap Index during the last 12 months is used as an Anchor Point to limit increases in Handicap Index 

Soft CAP: Potential increases of Handicap Index to a figure greater than (LHI + 3) are limited by half the amount >3, e.g.

5 is limited to 4,  6 is limited to 4.5, etc  

Hard CAP: The maximum that the Handicap Index can increase to is (LHI + 5)  

Exceptional Scores

An adjustment to the Handicap Index after a very low score has been posted

A reduction of -1 for scores between 7 and 9 below Handicap Index 

A reduction of -2 for scores 10 or more below Handicap Index

The reduction is applied to the last 20 scores on the Scoring Record and drops off gradually over the next 20 rounds  

New Handicaps

A New Player's Handicap Index is initially allocated at 2 less than the best of the Adjusted Gross Scores from 3 x 18 hole cards submitted. Cards can be submitted as 6 x 9 hole or some other combination. Subsequent Handicap Index calculations change as more scores are entered:

3 scores entered : lowest score -2

4 scores entered : lowest score -1

5 scores entered : lowest score

6 scores entered : average of lowest 2 scores -1

7 to 8 scores entered : average of lowest 2 scores

9 to 11 scores entered : average of lowest 3 scores

12 to 14 scores entered : average of lowest 4 scores

15 to 16 scores entered : average of lowest 5 scores

17 to 18 scores entered : average of lowest 6 scores

19 scores entered : average of lowest 7 scores

20 scores entered : average of lowest 8 scores 

Transition Handicaps

Player's that already have a current CONGU Handicap will be allocated an initial Handicap Index when the new system comes into effect as described on the Transition Handicaps page.