The World Handicap System made a change in the method for determining four-ball match play handicap. Previously, each player was assigned 90 percent of his handicap. A player’s playing handicap was then this handicap minus the handicap of the player with the lowest handicap. The method is illustrated in Table 1 below using the example presented in WHS 2024 Rule 7 Guidance:
The new method is more complicated. First a player’s unrounded handicap for each player is calculated 15.353 for player B). Second, each player is then assigned the unrounded difference between his unrounded handicap and that of the player with the lowest handicap (16.486 for Player B). Third, the ninety percent allowance is applied to the unrounded difference (14.838 for Player B). Fourth, the unrounded difference is rounded to form the playing handicap (15 for Player B). The results are shown in Table 2 below:
As shown in the tables, the new method makes little change in playing handicaps. A player may get one stroke more or less depending on the random nature of rounding. This is illustrated by two examples presented in the Appendix. Minimizing the number of rounding procedures in determining handicaps is a good thing. It will have a noticeable positive effect on handicaps for foursome and Chapman events. This point was made years ago in a recommendation to the USGA (See, www.ongolfhandicaps.com, Chapman Handicaps and Sec. 3-5: Proposed Changes in Allowance, August 19, 2013). The WHS is to be commended for making the change even if belated.
The examples shown are for players using the same tees. The WHS implies the new handicap system ensures the equity of competition. Actually, it gives players a chance to game the system. For example, take two players with18 handicaps. The 90% a;;pwance would reduce their handicaps by two strokes. If a player moves to the forward tees, his handicap is 14 and his handicap is only reduced by one stroke. This would give him a slight advantage over the player who plays the back tees. This is one reason (others are errors in course ratings and incorrect placement of tees) why this blog has always recommended players play from the same set of tees in competition. This recommendation is generally disregarded so the reader should be aware of the possible defects in equity.
Appendix
Examples of the Change in Handicaps
