What is the criteria for "off-season round" not counting toward handicap?

jvincent · February 24, 2023

1 hour ago, bladehunter said:

Op. I am in the same boat as you. It’s been unusually cold in SC almost every Saturday morning. And that unfortunately is when I get to play. First out with the dogfight. So I’m averaging temps less than 45 for the whole 18. Plenty of rounds under 40. And usually wind. I’ve posted them all. And handicap is way up. Feels like cheating. Especially after I played yesterday in 79 degree temps and realized how far the ball is traveling in good weather. And how good I’m hitting it. I basically have 3 shots in my pocket at the moment for the upcoming season. And it’s not likely to change much until maybe mid summer because I’m not playing enough rounds to knock off the winter ones.

this is the first year where it’s worked out this way. I used to get to play more in the afternoons and it wasn’t near the issue. I feel like I have a handicap for my worst self and I’ll be bringing my best self to play in any of the associations net events.

In theory the PCC is supposed to account for unusually tough playing conditions assuming everyone posts their scores in a timely manner and the play later in the day doesn't prevent the algorithm from kicking in.

davep043 · February 24, 2023

26 minutes ago, jvincent said:

In theory the PCC is supposed to account for unusually tough playing conditions assuming everyone posts their scores in a timely manner and the play later in the day doesn't prevent the algorithm from kicking in.

The PCC corrects to some extent, but isn't intended to normalize all scores. It does move the scores closer to "normal", just not all the way.

bladehunter · February 24, 2023

1 hour ago, jvincent said:

In theory the PCC is supposed to account for unusually tough playing conditions assuming everyone posts their scores in a timely manner and the play later in the day doesn't prevent the algorithm from kicking in.

Yep. I know it’s supposed to. But I went back just now and looked. Of my last 20 weeks. It kicked in once for 2 shots. It was raining off and on and 36 degrees start. It seems down here that it takes absolute extreme weather to get the pcc to kick in.

sui generis · February 24, 2023

From FAQ: https://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/handicapping/world-handicap-system/world-handicap-system-usga-golf-faqs/faqs---what-is-the-playing-conditions-calculation--pcc--.html

Handicap Index Safeguards

Q. What is the playing conditions calculation (PCC) and how does it work?

A. At the end of each day, the playing conditions calculation takes place automatically to determine if scores made at the course were significantly higher or lower than the expected scores of the players who made them, primarily due to weather and/or course set up.

If scores were abnormally low or high, a PCC adjustment between -1 and +3 will be applied in the calculation of Score Differentials™ of everyone who played that day.

A negative (-) adjustment means the course played easier than expected and a positive (+) adjustment means the course played more difficult than expected. A PCC of 0 means the course played as expected, which will be the case on most days.

The PCC:

Uses scoring data so no action is required by the club/course staff or golfer (except for posting scores),

Includes only scores made by players with a Handicap Index® of 36.0 or below,
Considers both 9-hole and 18-hole scores in the calculation, and

Only takes place if at least 8 scores were posted on a given day.
(Rule 5.6, Rules of Handicapping)

MtlJeff · February 25, 2023

As has been pointed out, best thing is to just play by the rules of golf in your area.....but it can get a little funny in some places.

For example in the NE, our season is basically April to November. But many golfers stop playing in September. The guys that play a lot in October, on punched greens, 5C weather, from advanced tees etc.....will typically see their indexes rise.

For example it's pretty common for me to be a 0 around club championship time, and then a 1.7-2.0 when the season ends.

So it's easy to pick on the fairweather golfers early in the year in handicapped events. LOL. I'm basically a sandbagger.

davep043 · February 25, 2023

44 minutes ago, MtlJeff said:

So it's easy to pick on the fairweather golfers early in the year in handicapped events. LOL. I'm basically a sandbagger

Playing and posting by the rules is th complete opposite of sandbagging.

MtlJeff · February 25, 2023

37 minutes ago, davep043 said:

Playing and posting by the rules is th complete opposite of sandbagging.

I know i'm just kidding, was just pointing out the little foibles of northeast seasons. We have a lot of guys that stop playing right after the CC on labor day. If you play 15 rounds in October, it's like a completely different season by that point