Handicap Policies 2019
Contents TGAA HANDICAP SYSTEM... 3 HANDICAPS FOR BRAND NEW PLAYERS... 4 HANDICAPS FOR RETURNING MEMBERS... 5 HANDICAPS FOR MEMBERS RETURNING FROM A MULTI-YEAR ABSENCE... 5 HANDICAP ADJUSTMENTS FOR MEDICAL REASONS... 5 FIRST TIME PLAYER RULE... 5 TIMELINE FOR HANDICAP UPDATES... 6
TOUR HANDICAP POLICIES TGAA HANDICAP SYSTEM The TGAA Tour Handicap System promotes fair competition for all players as the handicap value is based solely on TGAA tournament scores. The TGAA Tour handicap formula is calculated using only rounds played on the TGAA tour, applying a Reasonable Stroke Adjustment, and utilizing a standardized course rating and slope that treats all courses equally. Only scores posted from the current season and most recently completed season are used to calculate a member s TGAA Handicap Value. The table below illustrates the number of differentials used to calculate the player s TGAA Handicap Value (based on the number of available scores). Number of TGAA Scores Number of Differentials Used 3 or less Best 1 4 Best 2 5 or 6 Best 3 7 or 8 Best 4 9 or 10 Best 5 11 or 12 Best 6 13 or 14 Best 7 15 or 16 Best 8 17 or 18 Best 9 19 or 20 Best 10 Reasonable Stroke Adjustment (RSA) is the downward adjustment of individual hole scores for handicap purposes in order to make the gross score more representative of a player's potential ability. RSA sets a maximum number that a player can post on any hole depending on the player's TGAA Handicap Value. RSA is used only when a player's score exceeds the maximum number based on the table below. There is no limit to the number of holes on which a player may have scores adjusted. Once RSA is applied, this becomes the player s adjusted gross score, and is used in the TGAA Handicap formula.
TGAA Handicap Value Max Strokes Up to 9.4 Double Bogey 9.5 to 19.4 Triple Bogey 19.5 and Above Quadruple Bogey The TGAA Handicap Formula was developed after a statistical analysis of thousands of rounds and is detailed below. The TGAA formula differs from the USGA formula as it standardizes two of the most misunderstood factors in the equation: slope and rating. The TGAA formula uses Course Par, instead of the course rating, as a player understands his score in relation to par. The second is a standardized slope which represents the average slope of all courses played throughout the season. By standardizing both the rating and the slope, every TGAA player s handicap value is calculated using the same set of main elemental data points, no matter which course played during the season. TGAA Handicap Formula: [(Adjusted Gross Score Course Par) X 113 / Standardized Course Slope] X.96 (Note: Since the TGAA Handicap formula differs from the USGA handicap method, the computed handicap value is not a USGA handicap and cannot be used as such. Players must subscribe to a USGA Handicap Service to obtain an official USGA Handicap) HANDICAPS FOR BRAND NEW PLAYERS A brand new player is defined as a player who has never played a TGAA Tour event and, as such, has no TGAA scoring history. To start with an index greater than 0 a new player must have a verifiable handicap. This may be through (but not limited to) a national or state golf association, an amateur or professional tour that uses only tournament scores. If the player does not have a verifiable handicap, or cannot provide enough information for the TGAA Tour to make a reasonable decision, the player s starting TGAA Handicap Value will be 0. Players that have a handicap from another amateur or professional tour will use that handicap as their starting value with the TGAA. If there are less than 3 scores from that tour, the player will be subject to the First Time Player rule. When requested, the new player must submit the information to the TGAA Tour in a timely manner, allowing the TGAA Tour enough time to research the information. Once the process is complete, the TGAA Tour will notify the player of their starting TGAA Handicap Value.
HANDICAPS FOR RETURNING MEMBERS At the start of a new season a player s starting TGAA Handicap Value is based on their prior season s differentials. The number of events played in the prior season determines, whether or not, the player is subject to the First Time Player Rule (see below for definition of adjustment). HANDICAPS FOR MEMBERS RETURNING FROM A MULTI-YEAR ABSENCE If a player was a member in a prior season, and does not have any scores in their current history (meaning the current and previous season), they are considered a brand new player and must provide a verifiable handicap prior to their first event. The player is subject to the First Time Player Rule. HANDICAP ADJUSTMENTS FOR MEDICAL REASONS The player must contact the TGAA Tour for the adjustment and must state the medical reason (i.e. surgery, illness, etc.). Situations will be handled on a case by case basis. If the player is granted a medical adjustment it is good for three (3) tournaments. At any time during these three tournaments, should the player post a score that breaks net even par, the player is subject to adjustment as detailed in the First Time Player Rule. Medical adjustments do not include majors. If a Player under a medical adjustment wants to play in a major the player must play back to their original TGAA Handicap Value. FIRST TIME PLAYER RULE In order to protect the field, and the integrity of the TGAA Handicap System, a player with less than three (3) tournament scores in their scoring history may not post a tournament round that betters their TGAA Handicap Value. Adjustments occur on a per round basis. Detailed below is how the rule is applied based on the event type. One Day (18 hole event) The player s TGAA Handicap Value is reduced so that their net score equals par and is done prior to announcing the unofficial results at the event (and becomes official when results are posted). This score becomes part of the player s scoring history and used to calculate their TGAA Handicap for their next event. The adjustment includes the optional Players Committee sponsored side pots (if applicable) Major (36 hole event)
If this occurs in the first round, the player s TGAA Handicap is reduced for that round, so that the net score for that round equals par. The player maintains their original TGAA Handicap Value for the second round and is subject to the same adjustment. If the adjustment occurs in the second round, the player s TGAA Handicap is reduced for that round, so that the net score for that round equals par. These scores are included in the player s scoring history and recalculated (based on the table above). The adjustment applies to the optional Players Committee sponsored side pots (if applicable). TIMELINE FOR HANDICAP UPDATES Player handicaps are updated at the conclusion of each tournament once results are official and posted to the website. At a major, the player s handicap at the start of the event remains unchanged between rounds, unless impacted by adjustment as covered in the First Time Player Rule.