Worldwide Handicap System
Practical Implementation Difficulties
Contents
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Overview of Handicaps Network Africa
SAGA Handicap System Numbers
Implementation of a Revised Course Rating System in SA
Facilitating Electronic Score Entry
Overseeing of Electronic Score Entry
Updating Handicaps Immediately
Peer Review
Dynamic Rating Adjustment
Course Rating
Active Clubs by Union
Golfers by Union
Handicap Calculation
Performance Statistics
Competition Statistics
Golfer Survey
Proposed Changes to SAGA Handicap System
Impact of Global Handicap System
Conclusion
Questions
Handicap Network Africa
(Pty) Ltd
• 50/50 joint venture with the SAGA
• Responsible for the running and implementation of the SAGA
Handicap System.
• Golfers pay an annual fee of R117/$13 for a handicap and handicap
card.
• Free touch screen terminal provided to every club.
• Central on line database via ADSL or 3G.
• Scores can be entered via terminal, website, iPhone App or by
phoning the club.
• www.handicaps.coza website allows golfers to enter and view their
own as well as their peer’s handicap and scoring histories.
• HNA also provides handicap services to clubs in Namibia, Zambia
Botswana and Malawi.
SAGA Handicap System
Numbers
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South African Golf Clubs
Other Southern African Golf Clubs
Total Registered Golfers
Male golfers
Female golfers
460
20
154 856
136 233
18 623
Implementation of a
Revised Course Rating
System in SA
• 460 Golf Clubs in 14 Unions.
• Training of 2 national rating trainers.
• Running regional training courses for provincial rating
personnel in each Province/Region.
• Rating courses in each Union at the rate of 2 per week
assuming people are not employed full time by the
Union.
• Initial revised rating on the system to be a scratch rating
so existing system can run until all courses are rated.
Rating Implementation
Cont.
• Provincial rating personnel to be remunerated per course for 4
hours per course funded by SAGA and the handicap system.
Estimated cost (includes travel, accommodation and allowance):
- Per 2 courses per day = R8 000/$890
- Total estimate = R1 840 000/$204 500
• Each club to be given a manual on the course rating system and the
practical implications of switching to a slope system including
reprinting of score cards and the communications with members.
• Once all courses are rated - embark on the player education
program and the planned switch over plan using guidelines
provided by International.
Rating Implementation
Cont.
• Update the national handicap system.
• Ongoing support for clubs and golfers through the central call
center and the www.handicaps.co.za website.
Facilitating Electronic
Score Entry
• Scores can be entered directly from tournament management
software, or Club system into a centralized handicap
database.
For individual golfers the following has been implemented:
• Each golfer is given a handicap card with encoded mag-strip.
• Each club is given a touch screen terminal and the option to
buy additional terminals.
• All Clubs linked to a central system via direct line ADSL
(equivalent) or 3G (4G, LTE) where no direct line available.
Facilitating Electronic
Score Entry Cont.
• Central server connected to a website.
• Players can enter scores via website using log in details which
can be customized.
• Scores can be entered via mobile phone or mobile phone
application.
• Scores can be entered on the handicap terminals using log in
details if the player has forgotten their card.
• Scores can be entered via a call or email to home club.
Handicap Terminal
Home Screen
Handicap Terminal
Score Entry Screen
Handicap Terminal
Lookup Golfer Screen
Website Login
Score Entry Page
Website Login
Lookup Golfer Page
Website Login
Player Score History
Website Login
Player Handicap History
Overseeing of Electronic
Score Entry Cont.
• Clubs open a round when player checks in using handicap
card or via central server look up on handicap terminal or
club system.
• Player has 72 hours in which to enter score or receives a
penalty.
• If terminal off line for more than a set time central
support contacts club.
• Scores entered on off line terminal immediately
uploaded when terminal is back on line.
Overseeing of Electronic
Score Entry Cont.
• System fully funded and profitable with an annual handicap
fee of around $13 dollars collected by clubs from their
members.
• All scores immediately visible to the public and clubs for
peer/club review.
• Changes to the system can be made centrally and
immediately deployed.
Updating Handicaps
Immediately
• With a centralized electronic system handicaps can be
updated when scores are entered or at agreed intervals
(weekly, bi-monthly, monthly etc.)
• Late scores incur a penalty and also a recalculation if
entered after a cut off date.
• Dynamic course rating can be calculated after a set
period and before late score entry penalty cut off,
provided sufficient scores are entered to get a
statistically correct result.
Peer Review
• All scores entered are on a centralized system.
• Scores can be viewed by any person on the website, handicap
terminal or mobile phone app.
• Restricted viewing can be easily implemented where there are
country specific privacy issues.
• Filters can be set to notify the clubs handicap committee
automatically if there are players with questionable scoring
records.
• System could also send emails to playing or scoring partners
for score verification provided these details were logged by
the club on the system before play.
Dynamic Rating
Adjustment
• With centralized electronic system all scores at each club
are immediately available.
• Where the input is tournament related the system can
immediately calculate any variation from an agreed
statistical average performance.
• Where input is from the golfers the system is
programmed to calculate the rating according to the
same statistical criteria but only after an agreed time
delay and sufficient scores have been entered.
Dynamic Rating Cont.
• Issues with delays in calculating the rating relate to
recalculation dates.
• In South Africa handicaps are recalculated monthly and the
dynamic rating for the day was initially done after 72 hours
which was the cut off time for score entry before players
incurred a late score entry penalty. This resulted in scores for
month end handicaps having to be cut off 72 hours before
month end which was problematic.
• System should if possible calculate overnight so that Scores/
differentials are correct the next day.
• Dynamic rating was suspended in South Africa due to the
minimal impact of adverse conditions on an average handicap
system using 96% of the best 10 of the last 20 scores.
Course Rating
• Tees at each club are rated by the Provincial Union.
• Rating of the tee is based on the score a scratch
player would be expected to achieve.
• Rating based mainly on length followed by hazards,
width of fairways, green size and elevation changes.
Active Clubs by Union
Unions
Number of Clubs
SAGA
WGSA
Boland Golf Union
44
51
Border Golf Union
23
23
Central Gauteng Golf Union
33
31
Eastern Province Golf Union
26
27
Ekurhuleni Golf Union
20
19
Free State and Northern Cape Golf Union
55
65
Gauteng North Golf Union
21
20
Karoo Golf Union
20
0
Kwa-Zulu Natal Golf Union
85
85
Limpopo Golf Union
22
22
Mpumalanga Golf Union
38
37
North West Province Golf Union
28
32
Southern Cape Golf Union
21
24
Western Province Golf Union
22
21
Total:
458
455
International
20
Golfers by Union
Handicap Calculation
• All scores are eligible except pure match play rounds.
• Handicap based on differential between adjusted gross score
and the standard rating of the tee.
• Average of the best 10 differentials from the last 20 scores.
• 96% of this is then rounded down or up to an exact playing
handicap.
• Handicaps are recalculated monthly.
• Exceptional scores of 3 shots below handicap are recorded
and if a player has two or more then his handicap is
immediately recalculated using the best 8 differentials.
Handicap Calculation
Cont.
• Handicaps are immediately recalculated if a player posts a
score from a prior month.
• Players are obliged to enter South African scores within 72
hours of the day they played.
• Late score entry penalty of the lowest of the last 20
differentials.
• Maximum score allowed is 2 over par except if a player has 2
handicap strokes on a hole in which case 3 over par is the
maximum.
• No limitation on how many strokes a players handicap can
move up or down. If a player’s handicap moves by 3 or more
strokes in a month the system sends their club an email to
check and review the player’s handicap.
Handicap Calculation
Cont.
• Clubs open rounds on the central system prior to play.
• International rounds can be entered using the course and
stroke rating of the tee they played from.
• System relies on players honesty with review by peers and the
club handicap committee who can change or suspend a
players handicap accordingly.
• Provincial and National Amateur scores are automatically
entered on the system and flagged.
Performance Statistics
Handicap Ranges as at 1 May 2013
1 May 2012
HCP Range
No. of
Players
Percentage
of
Database
1 May 2013
No. of
Players
Percentage
of
Database
+6 – 5
9 141
6.99%
7 520
5.78%
6 – 12
30 707
23.49%
27 866
21.43%
13 – 18
39 608
30.30%
39 881
30.66%
19 – 24
29 553
22.61%
30 144
23.17%
25 - 36
21 714
16.61%
24 666
18.96%
Performance Statistics
Percentage Performance to HCP by HCP Group over last 6 months
Male
Female
HCP
Range
Nov. ‘12
Dec. ‘12
Jan. ‘13
Feb. ‘13
Mar. ‘13
Apr. ‘13
+6 – 5
22%
22%
20%
22%
21%
20%
6 – 12
22%
22%
21%
21%
20%
19%
13 – 18
22%
21%
20%
21%
20%
18%
19 – 24
21%
21%
19%
19%
20%
20%
25 - 36
22%
22%
19%
19%
20%
21%
Nov. ‘12
Dec. ‘12
Jan. ‘13
Feb. ‘13
Mar. ‘13
Apr. ‘13
+6 – 5
32%
29%
21%
25%
26%
15%
6 – 12
21%
20%
19%
21%
19%
18%
13 – 18
20%
21%
17%
19%
18%
16%
19 – 24
18%
18%
15%
15%
16%
19%
25 - 36
16%
16%
13%
14%
15%
16%
HCP
Range
Performance Statistics
Percentage of Exceptional Scores by HCP Group over last 6 months
HCP Range
Nov. ‘12
Dec. ‘12
Jan. ‘13
Feb. ‘13
Mar. ‘13
Apr. ‘13
+6 – 5
3.98%
4.19%
3.69%
4.42%
3.98%
3.55%
6 – 12
4.86%
4.69%
4.33%
4.65%
4.31%
3.79%
13 – 18
5.01%
5.04%
4.37%
4.66%
4.56%
3.88%
19 – 24
5.33%
5.21%
4.34%
4.58%
4.79%
4.82%
25 - 36
5.48%
5.59%
4.27%
4.40%
4.74%
4.96%
Performance Statistics
Average HCP over the last 6 months.
Nov. ‘12
Dec. ‘12
Jan. ‘13
Feb. ‘13
Mar. ‘13
Apr. ‘13
Male
16.44
16.44
16.41
16.43
16.43
16.45
Female
25.65
25.66
25.65
25.71
25.76
25.82
Competition Statistics
Better Ball Winners by HCP Range
% of All Winners
% of All
Competitors
-6 to 5
7.14%
6.83%
6 to 12
32.68%
28.08%
13 to 18
33.76%
33.91%
19 to 24
17.43%
19.66%
25 to 36
8.99%
11.51%
HCP Range
Golfer Survey
Conducted in the first 2 months of 2013
Handicap System Golfer Survey
Q1 - Are you happy with the 4 methods set up to enable you to enter scores on
the system i) the handicap terminals at all clubs, ii) the www.handicaps.co.za
website, iii) the Mobile Phone app and iv) by a Phone Call to your home club?
Yes – 96.44%
No – 3.56%
Q2 - All scores entered on the system are stored on a central database and
therefore immediately visible on your record sheet. Are you happy with the
accuracy of the scores on your profile?
Yes – 98.46%
No – 1.54%
Q3 - Are the score entry screens on the handicap terminals user-friendly?
Yes – 96.21%
No – 3.79%
Q4 - Are you happy with the new www.handicaps.co.za website?
Yes – 95.96%
No – 4.04%
Q5 - The handicap terminals rely either on clubs’ ADSL internet connections or a
3G card for access to the central database. Terminals that are offline can still be
used for recording scores and will upload these scores when they go back online.
Are you happy with the online availability of terminals at your club?
Yes – 91.72%
No – 8.28%
Golfer Survey
Conducted in the first 2 months of 2013
Handicap System Golfer Survey
Q6 - Are you happy with the Handicap Committee and player monitoring at your
club?
Yes – 89.23%
No – 10.77%
Q7 - The fairness of handicaps across the different handicap divisions is measured
by the percentage of time players’ play to or below their handicaps, are you a
happy with this measure?
Yes – 89.83%
No – 10.17%
Q8 - Are you happy with the SAGA following the USGA system by using 96% of the
average of the best 10 scores of the last 20 for handicap calculations?
Yes – 89.25%
No – 10.75%
Q9 - Are you happy with the penalty score for late entry being the same as that
applied by the USGA, i.e. the lowest score of the last 20?
Yes – 82.66%
No – 17.34%
Q10 - The system relies on every player making his best effort on every shot on
every hole, but for handicap purposes a player may only record a maximum score
on any hole. South Africa is currently the lowest in the world for high handicaps.
Which of the following do you prefer (please select only one)?
Current System –
52.34%
0 Stableford
points – 26.28%
USGA system –
7.52%
Other – 13.86%
Golfer Survey
Conducted in the first 2 months of 2013
Handicap System Golfer Survey
Q11 - Are you happy with the exceptional score recalculation which uses the best
8 scores from the last 20 if you have 2 or more exceptional scores in your last 20
rounds?
Yes – 87.49%
No – 12.51%
Q12 - Do you agree golfers should always record their most likely score on a hole
which they do not complete?
Yes – 72.67%
No – 27.33%
Q13 - Better ball handicaps. The system is fair to all golfers in individual
performance as measured by the percentage of time players play to their
handicaps. In the USGA where they have a similar handicap calculation to ours
they use 90% of handicaps for better ball and alliance competitions; in Europe
where they use Individual Stableford points for handicapping they use 90%; in
England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales they recommend clubs use 75% of
Handicaps. Please advise which of the following you prefer for better ball and
alliance competitions?
No change –
56.42%
90% - 20.27%
80% - 7.76%
75% - 15.55%
Q14 - There is an initiative by the largest golf playing countries to standardise the
handicap calculation globally. Are you in favour of following the rest of the world
or do you feel South Africa should have a home grown solution?
World System – 77.48%
SA System – 22.52%
Proposed Changes to the
SAGA Handicap System
• Implementation of the USGA Course rating
system.
• Club Competition scores to be entered on the
system by the clubs and flagged with a ‘T’.
Impact of Global Handicap
System
• Cost and time required to re-rate all the courses to a
global standard.
• Implementation of any new calculation or handicap
system would not pose any major problem.
Conclusion
• The current SAGA system is delivering a fair handicap for
all handicap divisions.
• The majority of South African golfers are happy with the
system as seen by the golfer survey results.
• The SAGA would welcome a global standard and would
have no major issue in implementing it over a 1 year
period.
Questions
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