Ohio Golf Journal January 2020

NewYear – NewHandicap System T HE CALCULATION OF GOLF HANDICAPS HAS GONE GLOBAL WITH SIGNIÚCANT CHANGES &OR PLAYERS IN THIS COUNTRY HOWEVER THE REVISED SYSTEM WILL HAVE MINIMUM IMPACT ON THEIR )NDEXES 4HE CONVERSION TO THE 7ORLD (ANDICAP 3YSTEM WILL BEGAN *ANUARY ÚRST IN THE 5NITED 3TATES AND TEN other countries but will not be completed until 'REAT "RITAIN AND )RELAND ARE ADDED BY THE END OF 2020. 4HE CONCEPT IS SIMPLE HAVE ONE WORLDWIDE process to calculate handicaps to broaden the GAME AND MAKE IT EASIER FOR PLAYERS OF ALL SKILL LEVELS TO COMPETE IN A MORE EQUITABLE MANNER 4HE INITIATIVE WAS SPEARHEADED BY THE 5NITED 3TATES 'OLF !SSOCIATION 53'! AND 4HE 2OYAL !NCIENT 2 ! FOR THE PAST SEVERAL MONTHS AN ambitious rollout has been underway. In this COUNTRY THE EFFORTS TO EDUCATE GOLFERS HAVE BEEN PRIMARILY CENTERED IN THE STATE AND REGIONAL associations. By Ed Travis 7HEN THE 7ORLD (ANDICAP 3YSTEM TAKES EFFECT THOSE HAVING A CURRENT (ANDICAP )NDEX UNDER THE OLD 53'! '(). RULES WILL SEE MINOR CHANGES to their handicap. To Implement the new system MORE THAN NON 5 3 COURSES NEEDED TO BE rated. Calculation of handicaps will be based on the best EIGHT OF THE LAST ROUNDS WITH TWO HOLE SCORES COUNTING AS ONE ROUND 4HE OLD '(). SYSTEM USED OF WITH A DOWNWARD ADJUSTMENT )NDEXES FORMERLY WERE ÚGURED TWICE EACH MONTH BUT WILL NOW BE AVAILABLE DAILY 4HOSE WHO SOUGHT TO GAIN AN ADVANTAGE UNDER THE OLD RULES WILL BE MORE EASILY EXPOSED 4HE HIGHEST SCORE ALLOWABLE WILL BE A NET DOUBLE BOGEY BASED ON THE PLAYERS HANDICAP ALONG WITH THE HOLEmS DIFÚCULTY RATING 0EER REVIEW UNDER THE OLD SYSTEM WAS INEFFECTIVE AND SO CALLED SANDBAGGING WAS NOT CAUGHT UNTIL AFTER AN EVENT IF AT ALL $AILY Ohio Golf Journal