Handicapping

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Purpose of the RCGA Handicap System

The purpose of the handicap system is to enable golfers of differing abilities to compete equitably by utilizing handicap factors. This system will also allow an individual to monitor progress of his/her game.

Developing an RCGA Handicap Factor

Each individual develops an RCGA Handicap Factor which is a measurement of a player's potential scoring ability on a course of standard playing difficulty. This numerical measurement is taken to one decimal place. The RCGA Handicap Factor is calculated by averaging the 10 lowest Handicap Differentials of the last 20. The factor will update after each round played.

A handicap differential is a calculation of the difference between a player's adjusted gross score and the RCGA Course Rating of the golf course that was played. This number is then multiplied by 113 and then divided by the RCGA Slope Rating for the tees that were played. Golfers will use their Handicap Factor from course to course and the number will adjust up or down depending on the length and difficulty of the course played, resulting in a "Course Handicap". The Course Handicap is the number of strokes a golfer receives from a specific set of tees at the course played. The Course Handicap determines the number of strokes a golfer would require to play equitably against a "scratch" golfer (a golfer with a Handicap Factor of "0'). The harder the golf course, the more strokes the golfer receives and vice versa.

RCGA Course and Slope Rating

The relative difficulty of a golf course is determined jointly by the RCGA and Alberta Golf using the RCGA Course and Slope Rating System. Alberta Golf has 4 Course Rating Teams that are trained to assess the difficulty of a golf course. Factors used to determine the rating include:

• Course yardage;
• Obstacle factors such as hazards, natural features, vegetation and playing conditions;
• Effective playing length which is the measured length of the golf course adjusted by factors such as unusual roll, elevation changes, forced lay-ups and doglegs, prevailing wind and altitude above sea level that make the course play longer or shorter than its measured length.

Equitable Stroke Control

Equitable stroke control is the set maximum number of strokes a player can score on any given hole. The purpose is to ensure that a handicap is an accurate representation of the player's potential scoring ability. This downward adjustment prevents exceptionally bad holes from inflating a player's handicap.

RCGA Handicap Factor Facts

• As your handicap factor is a measurement of your potential scoring ability chances are that you will play to this factor less than 20% of the time.
• Factors are calculated using a simple formula which is most often done through RCGA certified computer software but can be done manually.
• Only provincial associations and the RCGA can issue RCGA Handicap Factors to members of member clubs.

Additional information can be found in the RCGA Handicap System Manual or the RCGA website. Alternatively, contact the Alberta Golf Office.