Handicapping
International Players Tour utilizes customized handicap system
software with tournament proven adjustment factors to
prevent sandbagging. The IPT customized system is similar
to the standard USGA format but is modified to more
accurately reflect current potential of players based
on more recent tournament score histories.
The IPT customized handicapping system
is currently undergoing minor modification and details
will be available shortly. The following is provided
for informational purposes only and portions may or
may not be included in the IPT customized handicapping
system.
How are USGA handicap indexes calculated?
This is a brief overview of how USGA
handicap indexes are calculated. The "Reduction
of Handicap Index for Exceptional Tournament Performance"
is not discussed. For complete information about USGA
handicapping refer to the "USGA Handicap System
Manual". This manual can be ordered from the USGA
(908-234-2300) or visit their website at www.usga.org.
Step
1
The first step is to enter only a golfer's adjusted
gross scores (not gross scores). To adjust an original
gross score you use the Equitable Stroke Control (ESC).
ESC is used to downwardly adjust individual hole scores
for handicapping purposes in order to create handicaps
that better represent a golfer's playing ability. ESC
prescribes a maximum number of strokes that can be entered
for any hole. This maximum is based on the golfer's
Course Handicap and is obtained from the table shown
below.
|
18 hole
handicapping |
| Course
Handicap |
Limit
on any hole |
| 9
or less |
Double
bogey |
| 10
through 19 |
7
|
| 20
through 29 |
8
|
| 30
through 39 |
9
|
| 40
and above |
10
|
|
9
hole handicapping |
|
Course Handicap |
Limit
on any hole |
| 4
or less |
Double
bogey |
| 10
through 19 |
7
|
| 10
through 14 |
8
|
| 15
through 19 |
9
|
| 20
or more |
10 |
Maximum strokes per hole are allowed according to the
player's course handicap. If a golfer does not yet have
an index, the maximum allowed index will be used. (36.4
/ 18.2 for men, 40.4 / 20.2 for women--for 18 \ 9 hole
handicaps).
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Step
2
The second step in computing a Handicap Index is to
compute a Handicap Differential for each score that
is to be considered in the Handicap Index calculation.
The Handicap Differential is computed using the following
formula:
Handicap Differential = (Adjusted
Gross Score - Course Rating) X 113 / Slope Rating
(113 is the Base Slope, or the Slope
Rating of a course of standard difficulty according
to the USGA.)
If your adjusted gross score is more
than the Course Rating for the course on which the round
was played, the Handicap Differential will be a positive
number. If your adjusted gross score is lower than the
Course Rating, the Handicap Differential will be negative.
Return
to top.
Step
3
The third step in calculating your Handicap Index is
to select the lowest Handicap Differentials. The following
table is used when selecting the best, or lowest, Handicap
Differentials. If more than 20 scores have been entered,
the 10 best differentials of the 20 most recent scores
are used for the calculation.
| 18
hole handicapping
Differential Calculations |
| Differentials
Available |
Differentials
Used |
|
5 or 6* |
Lowest
1 |
| 7
or 8 |
Lowest
2 |
| 9
or 10 |
Lowest
3 |
| 11
or 12 |
Lowest
4 |
| 13
or 14 |
Lowest
5 |
| 15
or 16 |
Lowest
6 |
| 17
|
Lowest
7 |
| 18
|
Lowest
8 |
| 19 |
Lowest
9 |
| 20 |
Lowest
10 |
* The USGA does not calculate
a handicap until five scores have been recorded.
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Step
4
The fourth step in computing the Handicap Index is to
calculate the average of the selected lowest Handicap
Differentials. Simply add the selected Handicap Differentials
together and divide by the number of selected Handicap
Differentials.
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Step
5
The fifth step in calculating the Handicap Index is
to compute the net Handicap Differential average. For
the USGA System the percentage by which the Handicap
Differential averages are multiplied is 96%.
Return
to top.
Step
6
Step six in computing the Handicap Index is to delete
the digits after the tenths place of the net Handicap
Differential average. Do NOT round off to the nearest
tenths place. As established by the USGA, the default
maximum Handicap Index on an 18-hole course is 36.4
for males and 40.4 for females. On a nine-hole course
the default maximum Handicap Index is 18.2 for males
and 20.2 for females. The maximum ceiling can be increased.
Example of
a Handicap Index Calculation:
The following is an example of how
the Handicap Index is calculated using the USGA System.
This example assumes only 14 scores have been posted
for this golfer.
| Differentials
Available |
Differentials
Used |
| Sum of the lowest five
Handicap Differentials: |
68.7
|
| Average of lowest Handicap
Differentials: |
(68.7
divided by 5): 13.74 |
| Handicap Differential Average
multiplied by 96%: |
13.1904
|
| Delete digits after tenths
place: |
13.1
|
| Handicap Index: |
13.1
|
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