Handicap Index Update

Q. How often is a Handicap Index® updated?

A. A Handicap Index is updated the day after a score is posted, at midnight local time based on the location of your Allied Golf Association. As a result, players are expected to post their scores the day they play.

(Rule 5.4, Rules of Handicapping)

PCC

Q. What is the playing conditions calculation (PCC) and how does it work?

A. At the end of each day, the playing conditions calculation takes place automatically to determine if scores made at the course were significantly higher or lower than the expected scores of the players who made them, primarily due to weather and/or course set up.

If scores were abnormally low or high, a PCC adjustment between -1 and +3 will be applied in the calculation of Score Differentials™ of everyone who played that day. A negative (-) adjustment means the course played easier than expected and a positive (+) adjustment means the course played more difficult than expected. A PCC of 0 means the course played as expected, which will be the case on most days.

The PCC: Uses scoring data so no action is required by the club/course staff or golfer (except for posting scores),

Includes only scores made by players with a Handicap Index® of 36.0 or below,

Considers both 9-hole and 18-hole scores in the calculation, and

Only takes place if at least 8 scores were posted on a given day.

(Rule 5.6, Rules of Handicapping)

Posting Scores

Q. Are scores designated as “Competition” scores treated any differently?

A. Scores posted with a Competition, or “C” designation are not used any differently for the purposes of calculating a Handicap Index®.

The Competition score designation provides a way for Committees to evaluate if any players perform better or worse in competitive versus recreational rounds, which may be used during a handicap review.

Q. I accidentally posted the wrong score – how can I change it?

A. Simply reach out to the Handicap Chair via the PMWGA website. That person will be able to correct the posted score.

It was recently changed where you now have the ability to delete your score and make your own corrections.

Handicap Index Safeguards

Q. Is there a limit on how much my Handicap Index® can increase?

A. To prevent extreme upward movement of a Handicap Index, every time it is updated, the new value is compared to your Low Handicap Index™ and:

If the result is more than 3.0 strokes higher, a soft cap will be applied to slow additional upward movement by 50%.
If the result is more than 5.0 strokes higher (after the application of the soft cap), a hard cap will be applied to restrict any additional upward movement beyond 5.0 strokes.