2025 Changes to the Rules of Golf Handicapping
Golf Australia has advised of changes to golf handicapping rules, as of 1st January 2025.
These changes are as follows:
- 1. Change to the Daily Handicap formula – inclusion of new ‘Consistency Factor’
- 2. Change to the Daily Handicap calculation for 9-hole rounds
- 3. Use of an‘ Expected Score’ for a Hole Not Played
- 4. Inclusion of shorter-length golf courses within the Course Rating System
- 5. Change to the Daily Difficulty (PCC) formula (to be back-calculated to 1st January 2023).
1. Change to the Daily Handicap formula – inclusion of new ‘Consistency Factor’
A new ‘Consistency Factor’ has been added to the Daily Handicap formula. The statistical analysis underpinning this change involved assessing the different levels of consistency exhibited by various segments of golfers, and the competitive advantage the handicap system’s existing settings offer to more inconsistent players.
The new ‘Consistency Factor’ values accommodate the tendency of men/boys to exhibit greater inconsistency in their scoring patterns compared to women/girls. The ‘Consistency Factor’ will enhance equity within single-gender and gender-neutral events, reinforcing the handicap system’s purpose of providing each golfer with a reasonable prospect of winning or placing well if they play close to their ability. On average, the introduction of the ‘Consistency Factor’ will generate a slight increase of approximately 5% to the Daily Handicaps of women/girls. We will continue to assess club and golfer feedback as we monitor the impact of consistency more broadly on equity in handicap competitions and review these settings periodically.
Click here for details of the upgraded Daily Handicap formula
2. Change to the Daily Handicap formula for 9-hole rounds
A new 9-hole Daily Handicap formula will be used. The new formula will calculate a 9-hole Daily Handicap for a player that is usually about 50% of what their 18-hole Daily Handicap would be.
Clubs may choose to create a 9-hole stroke index allocation.18-hole stroke indexes may also continue to be used in 9-hole play.
Click here for more information on the new formula, and on stroke indexes for 9-hole Daily Handicaps.
3. Use of an ‘Expected Score’ for a Hole Not Played
Improvements have been made to the method used to handle holes not played, which will now be based on a player’s ‘expected score’ rather than a score of net par. This new method will produce a 9-hole or 18-hole result that more accurately reflects a player’s ability by using a statistically developed ‘expected score’ formula.
How does the new formula work? A model formula for every GA Handicap for women/girls and men/boys has been developed using millions of previous scores. The applicable one will be applied to create a player’s expected score when they have only started 8 holes in a 9-hole round, or only started 16 or 17 holes in an 18-hole round. This process replaces the one of filling gaps with net pars. The new formula is built to account for a standard golf course, so the calculations aren’t course dependent.
Click here for full details of the process for handicapping scores returned from anywhere between 8 to 17 holes.
4. Inclusion of shorter-length golf courses within the Course Rating System
The overall length requirements for international Course Rating will be significantly reduced. A set of tees on an 18-hole course may now be as short as 1,370 metres to be eligible for a Scratch Rating and Slope Rating, and a set of tees on a 9-hole course as short as 685 metres. This change is intended to enable many more golfers to obtain and use a GA Handicap.
5. Change to the Daily Difficulty (PCC) formula
The R&A and USGA have modified the Daily Difficulty formulas to increase the likelihood by approximately 5% of an adjustment for abnormal playing conditions. The change to these formulas was held back in Australia to coincide with the introduction of GolfConnect. To address the resultant minor misalignment that has arisen between Australian handicaps and handicaps in other parts of the world, Daily Difficulty calculations for all Australian competitions will be back-calculated to 1 January 2023 as a part of the transition project to GolfConnect.
Note: The technical term for Daily Difficulty is ‘Playing Conditions Calculation’ or PCC. PCC is a daily rating that is assessed purely by analysing scores. Under the PCC system, the software automatically assesses a Scratch Rating adjustment each day. The PCC is displayed on a golfer’s handicap record as an adjustment value (eg ‘+2’ or ‘-1’).
Click here for more information.