Ask Linda #68-computing Handicap Index®
Linda,
I thought you might know the answer to this question. I just got a new index run. Do you know why there is an R after my index?
Thanks,
Lulu
Dear Lulu,
In order to answer your question, Lulu, I will have to take you on a brief tour of how your Handicap Index is computed.
If you will take a look at your most recent score history, you will notice a column on the far right called “Diff.,” which is short for “differential. The differential is based on the difficulty of each course you play; simply put, it is the difference between your score and what you might be expected to shoot if you were a scratch player. [The formula is as follows: Handicap Differential = (Adjusted Gross Score – USGA Course Rating) X 113 / Slope Rating. Your handicap computation service –GHIN, in your case– does the math for you, thank goodness!]
In computing your Handicap Index, your best (lowest) ten differentials of your last 20 scores is averaged. That average is then multiplied by .96. The most important thing to learn from this computation is that your index does not represent an average of how you usually play, but rather the score you might be expected to shoot on your best day. It is your dream score, and you are not expected to score that well more than 25% of the time.
Most players do not score as well in tournaments as they do in regular, daily play. But every rule has its exception, and for those players who score significantly better in tournaments, the USGA uses a formula for reducing those players’ Handicap Indexes to more accurately reflect their potential.
Take another look at your score history. At the bottom, you will notice a section called “Two Lowest Eligible Tournament Scores.” These scores are kept around for one year. They will figure in the calculation of your Handicap Index at each revision if the differential (that pesky number in the far right column) is as low or lower than your ten lowest differentials of your last 20 scores.
Now that you understand how your Handicap Index is calculated, I can explain why it has been reduced and now sports that “R” next to it. The USGA reduces your Handicap Index if you have what they consider to be “exceptional tournament scores.” A tournament score is “exceptional” if the differential is at least 3.0 lower than your Handicap Index. Once you have two such exceptional tournament scores, your Handicap Index is reduced according to a complicated mathematical process. If you would like to read about that process, paste the following link into your web browser:
http://www.usga.org/playing/handicaps/manual/manual.html
On the left, click on Section 10, USGA Handicap Formula. On the right, click on Section 10-3, Reduction of USGA Handicap Index Based on Exceptional Tournament Scores.
So, Lulu, this is a good news-bad news story for you. The good news is you have played very well in a couple of tournaments this year – congratulations! The bad news is that your handicap computation service has noticed your success and has adjusted your index to reflect your true potential. If you think about this for a moment, I hope you will agree that this is a fair system with the lofty goal of making competition between golfers of varying skills fair and equitable.
Linda
Copyright © 2008 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
