FLCC Hole Handicaps & the WHS

The World Handicap System (WHS) required a review and subsequent change to our Hole Handicaps.  We have suspended all golf events through the end of April.  We are hopeful that this will be ready to go when we start up again.

Click here for the FLCC Hole Handicap/Stroke Index Allocation Report

Hole Handicaps / Stroke Index Allocation (SIA)

These are difficult times but we are pressing forward on golf issues so we'll be in a good position on the other side. Pending Board of Director's approval, we plan to go live with this May 1. We have suspended all golf events through the end of April and will reassess going forward. This will be ready to go when we start up again, hopefully soon.

Hole Handicaps / SIA Overview: 

• The World Handicap System (WHS) took effect in January 2020 requiring a review of our Hole Handicaps.
• Our members agree that our current Hole Handicaps need review.
• The Hole Handicaps are NOT a ranking of the difficulty of the holes. Under the WHS, they are determined by a formula using VSGA Course Rating data, split into six triads, with each hole ranked on its playing difficulty relative to par. This formula is in the USGA Rules of Handicapping: Click here for Appendix E. The intent of the new system is to spread the handicaps evenly over the 18 holes so that players receiving strokes will have the opportunity to use a high proportion of these strokes before a match result has been decided.  
• The FLCC Rules & Handicap Committee recommends the FLCC Golf Committee and the FLCC Board of Director's approve the new Hole Handicaps/Stroke Index Allocations (SIA) based on the USGA guidelines.
• A summary document with further details will be available next week.

BOTTOM LINE:  Our members can and will most certainly disagree on the USGA’s new system.  However, we should all understand that there is now a process in place that provides an objective approach using an approved methodology, recommended by a highly credible organization, versus, personal opinion or bias coming into play.

Stroke and Distance: New Local Rule

The local rule that provides an “alternative to stroke-and-distance” relief for a ball that is lost outside

a penalty area or is out of bounds will be in effect for all events except the Club Championships

(Men’s,  Ladies', Senior and Super Senior).

Click for a full description with pictures of how it works:  Alternative to S&D Model Local Rule

Click for a video:  New Local Rule