The USGA and R&A released info on their new "World Handicap System," set for 2020 implementation. Here are some of the known changes:
- Every country in the world allegedly will be using it.
- It takes 54 holes to establish instead of the current 90.
- Max handicaps will be 54.0 for both genders, instead of the current 36.4 and 40.4 for men and women respectively. No idea if the scale is even the same... meaning is the new 54 really the old 40? That depends on if and how the use of slope and ratings per tee change.
- Course and weather conditions will be taken into account. It appears this will happen based on average reported scores for that day on that course (crowdsourcing, in a way). If scores for that day are abnormally high, the algorithm will assume conditions were bad.
- Maximum hole score allowed will be a NET double bogey.
- Your handicap will update daily instead of twice a month.
- We will no longer be able to calculate official indexes ourselves. Instead we will either need to electronically submit scores to the USGA through an API (which costs money to develop), or pay to join a local association (ie: FSGA) and have them do it for us. Golf is going to be more expensive if you want to be "official."
- We probably won't know what the new algorithm is. It'll be a guarded secret, since the only way to get an index is to submit scores to the USGA.
The USGA told me months ago we're good to continue our process through 2019. After that we'll all need to be on the same system, which might require us to charge yearly dues for the first time ever.
So what your saying is that I’ll never have to putt for a gross 10 ever again. I’ll miss that.
ReplyDeleteOh no. In tournaments, events, and even solo rounds.... you should be putting out until infinity. That's no change from how it is today.
ReplyDeleteOur league just plays to double par because you people would take forever if we didn't.
But when you report your score for your handicap, you reduce anything over NET double bogey to a net double bogey.
Today whenever you personally (Casey) make anything more than a 7 it gets reduced to a 7.
Example... on a par 5 that you stroke on, if you make a 10 in your round, you change that to an 8 in the new system.
ReplyDeleteIn the old system you'd make that 10 a 7. Again... specifically for Casey. It's different for everyone based on their index.
I’m special
ReplyDeleteWill the new method still use your 10 best rounds out of the last 20?
ReplyDeleteChandler mentioned earlier it’s going to the best 8
ReplyDeleteJw is right. 8 of last 20. Will also allegedly have other things in place to prevent big spikes UP. But we won’t really know.
ReplyDeleteSo, what you're saying is... Gorecki can get his handicap up to a 54?
ReplyDeleteOpen question: do you think a Gorecki regrets giving himself so many strokes at the Old Course since that’s the only thing keeping his handicap below 28 right now?
ReplyDeleteNo chance. He'll always be able to say he beat Darren (net) out there.
ReplyDeleteAlso, he's obsessed with his handicap number not being the worst in the league. Which is why the beloved "Handicap Tracker" posts ended. And he blocked me from his Google spreadsheet.
Darren you really suck at golf
ReplyDeleteHaha. I must.
ReplyDelete