Worldwide Handicap System

Practical Implementation Difficulties

Contents• 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

• South African Golf Clubs 460• Other Southern African Golf Clubs 20• Total Registered Golfers 154 856• Male golfers 136 233• Female golfers 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 TerminalHome Screen

Handicap TerminalScore Entry Screen

Handicap TerminalLookup Golfer Screen

Website LoginScore Entry Page

Website LoginLookup Golfer Page

Website LoginPlayer Score History

Website LoginPlayer 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

1 May 2012 1 May 2013

HCP Range No. of Players

Percentage of Database

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%

Handicap Ranges as at 1 May 2013

Performance Statistics

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%

HCP Range

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%

Male

Female

Percentage Performance to HCP by HCP Group over last 6 months

Performance Statistics

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%

Percentage of Exceptional Scores by HCP Group over last 6 months

Performance Statistics

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

Average HCP over the last 6 months.

Competition Statistics

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%

Better Ball Winners by HCP Range

Golfer SurveyConducted in the first 2 months of 2013

Handicap System Golfer SurveyQ1 - 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 SurveyConducted in the first 2 months of 2013

Handicap System Golfer SurveyQ6 - 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 SurveyConducted in the first 2 months of 2013

Handicap System Golfer SurveyQ11 - 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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