The controversial Playing Conditions Calculation has been altered – after months of players and governing bodies complaining it was “too conservative”.
The algorithm used to drive the calculation has been changed and the new measures should come into force imminently – perhaps as early as Monday.
The R&A and USGA have told national handicapping associations that detailed analysis of scoring data submitted by countries indicates that a change to the rounding method currently used to work out the PCC would increase the number of times an adjustment is made for abnormal conditions by an average of 5%.
They have said this means that, for example, in countries where a PCC adjustment happens about 10% of the time, it would increase the average to about 15% on eligible days.
In April, NCG reported the PCC was under review following concerns since the launch of the World Handicap System that it was too rigid.
What is happening to the Playing Conditions Calculation?
England Golf had shared around 12 million anonymised scores from across England, Ireland, and Wales with R&A and USGA researchers and had concluded it was “far too conservative”.
The PCC is designed to consider whether “playing conditions on the day differed from normal conditions to the extent that an adjustment is needed to compensate” by comparing scores submitted on any given day against “expected scoring patterns”.
Clubs in England have been informed of the PCC changes, which will not be made retrospectively.
While the PCC will remain a “black box calculation”, which clubs won’t be able to see, chiefs believe its impact – even though it may seem a small change on the surface – could still be significant.
If so, it would finally conclude one of the most talked about criticisms of the new global system since it came into force in GB&I in November 2020.
Now have your say
What do you think of the changes to the WHS Playing Conditions Calculation? Will World Handicap System playing conditions make a significant difference to what you’re experiencing at your clubs? Why not contact me on X and let me know...
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