Rules of Handicapping FAQs

Cap

Q. Why was my Handicap Index impacted by a soft cap or hard cap?

A. The cap is an automatic step in the Handicap Index calculation. It is not an additional adjustment, but a built-in safeguard designed to prevent extreme upward movement of a Handicap Index, ensuring it remains consistent with a player’s recently demonstrated ability.

During the Handicap Index calculation, the player's average of their best 8 out of 20 Score Differentials is compared to their Low Handicap Index. If this average exceeds the Low Handicap Index by more than 3.0 strokes, the soft cap reduces any further increase by 50%. The hard cap stops any additional increase beyond 5.0 strokes after the soft cap is applied.

Once a new Handicap Index is calculated, it will be shown in the player's scoring record along with the Low Handicap Index from the past 365 days.

A player remains affected by a cap until the difference between their 8 of 20 average and Low Handicap Index is 3.0 strokes or less. Therefore, the impact of a cap can vary with each score that is posted, and there is no fixed duration for a cap.

Often, the soft cap's effect is minimal, such as a few tenths of a stroke. Many players can quickly overcome the cap by posting one or two good scores or if, after a Handicap Index revision, their previous Low Handicap Index is no longer within the last 365 days.

A cap should only be overridden by the Handicap Committee in special circumstances, such as injury or illness.