Gaffers Handicaps
Based on the survey and other inputs received by committee members, for 2023 the Committee has approved a minor change to the Gaffers handicap system that reverts to including a player's best score in the calculation.
The Handicaps assigned for Gaffers play are not appropriate for other events. If you need a handicap to participate in other events, you will need to maintain your own handicap following World Handicap System guidelines, have a look at this page. Keeping your own Handicap
Gaffers Handicap Overview
The scorecards entered for Gaffers events are the only data that will affect a player’s handicap for Gaffers play.
We use the USGA/GAO handicap approach with Handicap Differentials so that if a player changes tees their playing handicap is created correctly. Differentials are calculated from the player’s Adjusted Gross score using the course Rating and Slope, but with some variations
We do not import handicap information for new members.
Gaffers handicaps only include scores from Gaffers play.
The scores used to develop a handicap are based on the best 5 of the most recent 7 weeks' differentials (including history from the prior year for a returning member).
The attached page (click this link.) will take you to further information about these variations. Clicking this link will show how we calculate a handicap for a player's first week..
There is a full explanation at the GAO web site for how standard handicaps are done.
A Gaffers Handicap is only for use in Gaffers' events.
The highest Playing Handicap that can be assigned for Gaffers play is 36.
Using the Gaffers Handicap
The handicap is calculated for each week and the current handicap is automatically used when scores are entered from the scorecards. Players need to be aware of their current Gaffers handicap for the tees when playing a Gaffers Match Play round. To make this easier, there will normally be a "Pending Matches" report online (and when permitted, also on the Noticeboard) that identifies what matches the scoring system expects and the stroke allowances that are needed. That report has "valid from and to" dates.
A player’s latest handicap is shown to the right of the posted Results sheet in the columns labelled “New Hcap”. Note that if a player changes tees, they need to inform the Captain so he can get the scoring system updated. Their handicap will be automatically adjusted.
Handicaps By Week
This report shows each player's handicaps for all weeks so far. Handicaps After Week .