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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
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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.
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.
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
Performance Statistics Percentage Performance to HCP by HCP Group over last 6 months Male Female
Performance Statistics Percentage of Exceptional Scores by HCP Group over last 6 months
Performance Statistics Average HCP over the last 6 months.
Competition Statistics Better Ball Winners by HCP Range
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.
