As part of the transition to the World Handicap System, there will be change to the maximum score allowed per hole, with effect from 1 October 2019, to a Net Two Over Par (sometimes referred to as a Net Double Bogey).
The current method of determining your maximum score for the hole is a maximum of 2 over par, unless you have two Course Handicap strokes on a hole, in which case you must enter a 3 over par.
From 1 October, the maximum score on any hole for your Handicap Score will be a Net Two Over Par (or Net Double Bogey), which is equal to Zero Stableford points. (Note: a net score on a hole is your Gross Score less any Course Handicap Strokes you have on that hole, while a Bogey is a 1-over-par score.)
Example:
If a golfer has a Course Handicap of 18, they get 1 handicap stroke per hole, so they must enter a maximum score of 3 over par on any hole where they blow out. If a golfer has a handicap of 9, then on stroke holes 1 to 9 they must enter a maximum score of 3 over par on those holes and, on stroke holes 10 to 18, a maximum of 2 over par.
The following table gives a simple overview of the maximum score allowed for Handicap score entry purposes, based on the number of strokes the player receives on a hole.
If you are in any doubt about maximum scores, please ask your club to assist you. Alternatively, you can enter your actual gross score on each hole on your HNA Phone App, the club terminal or at www.handicaps.co.za. The system will automatically adjust your score to your maximum allowed on a hole according to your Course Handicap when you press ‘Enter Score’.
The effect of this change to the maximum score allowed on a hole will result in Handicap Indexes, on average, going up. However, the simultaneous change of the Handicap Calculation to the average of the best 8 of the last 20 scores on the 1 October, should ensure that the overall effect on your handicap over time will be minimal.
This change should also have a negligible effect on the speed of play because currently most golfers continue to play until they have no Stableford points.
