Handicap System

The MCGA uses the Handicomp Golf Handicap System to manage the handicaps of our members. The Handicomp Golf Handicap System is a proprietary handicapping formula that was developed in 2006 and is in use by hundreds of leagues across the US. The HGHS does not use any components of the WHS™ or USGA like Slope Rating™ or Course Rating™. The HGHS was designed to be completely apart from the other systems so there would be no conflict or overlap between them.

Handicomp Golf Handicap System (HGHS)

What is the HGHS?

The HGHS is a formula applied to a set of scores that produces a Base Handicap for each player. The Base Handicap is portable and is translated to a Tee Handicap relative to course difficulty. The actual formula is proprietary and is not published. However, it is applied equally to all who use it.

A golf handicap requires two fundamental pieces of information. A golfer and score data from rounds played by that golfer. Generally the first question asked is, "what scores will be used in the calculation of the handicap?" Clearly, one score is not a fair representation of a golfer's ability, nor is a score from every round the golfer ever played. The answer is somewhere in the middle. Handicomp has run algorithms against tens of thousands of golfers and millions of scores at thousands of clubs, and has consistently determined that the most accurate handicap is a product of a subset of recent scores. That subset of scores is fifteen of twenty-five 9-hole scores, dropping the worst nine and one best score.

Base Handicaps are real time and are revised after each round. MCGA Members can view their current handicaps by visiting the Handicap Report page or at the Golf League Network website. Navigate to https://www.golfleaguenetwork.com and log in with your user name and password. In the top navigation bar, click on "Reports" and under the "Handicaps" heading, click on "Handicaps".

While on that Handicaps page, if you desire to see the actual scores that your Base Handicap uses, click on the "Calculation" button to the left of your name.

How does the HGHS work?

The HGHS was born from League play and is based on 9-hole scores. So for MCGA members, 18-hole scores from MCGA events are reduced to two 9-hole scores. It uses a player's 15 of their last 25 9-hole scores and relies on yardage, par and score data to determine course tee difficulty. So, a score of 45 on a difficult set of tees may be considered a better round than a 44 on an easier set of tees. The HGHS then takes those scores and produces a Base Handicap that is presented as a decimal number (e.g. 14.1). A Base Handicap can then be translated to a Tee Handicap which is expressed as a whole number (e.g. 15). A Tee Handicap is the handicap value used for MCGA competitions.

The chart below shows how many and which scores are used in the calculation of a player's Base Handicap.

The MCGA uses proprietary handicap software from Handicomp, Inc. It is used by hundreds of golf leagues all over the country.

World Handicap System™, WHS™, Handicap Index®, Score Differential™, Low Handicap Index™, Course Handicap™, Playing Handicap™, Course Rating™, Course Rating System™, SLOPE®, Bogey Rating™, Slope Rating™.