Multiple tees are often played in a competition. In this scenario, there are a few different options for computing Playing Handicaps. The available options may differ depending on which country you are in and the method used to compute Playing Handicaps. In this article, we will discuss the following options:
Relative Par Difference
Relative Course Rating Difference
If you would like a more detailed guide to computing Playing Handicaps, Click Here.
Multiple Tees when using Relative Par Difference:
If using this method (commonly used in the US and other parts of the world), the difference in par may be used to make the proper adjustments to the Playing Handicap.
You can view and select your options in the "Handicap Settings" tab of your Default Settings or Event/League Profile (as shown below).
(Note: After changing the Default Settings in the Customer Center, the changes will not propagate to events/leagues already created. They will only be applied to future events/leagues being created. However, if you change the settings in the Event/League Profile for a specific Event/League, those changes will propagate to future rounds within that Event/League.)
When viewing the Handicap Settings tab, you have two options:
Calculate Course Handicap and Apply Relative Par Difference: Select to use Relative Par Difference to compute Playing Handicaps.
Calculate Course Handicap without Applying Relative Par Difference: Select to ignore relative par difference.
When selecting to apply the relative par difference, you have the following options to select what tees are to be adjusted:
Adjust Higher Par or Rated Tees: Players set on the lowest par or rated tees are unadjusted. Players set on all the higher par tees will be adjusted off the lowest par tee.
Adjust Fewest Players: Players set on the tee used most are unadjusted. Players set on all other tees are adjusted off of the tee used most.
Fixed Unadjusted Tee: Disregard the other options above and simply select what tee you want unadjusted.
The example below shows the computation for a player who needs to be adjusted in a round where the difference in par is used to make the adjustment
Before the adjustment, Shane's Course Handicap is unrounded at 6.739. However, the difference between the pars of his tee (Gold - Men) and the unadjusted tee (White - Men) is -1 stroke. His Course Handicap becomes 5.739 before rounding and then rounded to 6 Playing Handicap.
(Note: Depending on your country CR-P may or may not be used when calculating Playing Handicaps)
Competitions with Multiple Tees and Divisions/Flights:
If there are multiple divisions/flights in the competition, then the rating adjustment is applied separately within each flight.
For example, say for instance there is an individual stroke play event with a Senior Division and Junior Division. The event also has an Overall competition using the players in both divisions. The Seniors are playing the Silver Tees and the Juniors are playing the Black Tees. For the Senior and Junior Division competitions, no rating adjustments will be applied because all the players within each competition are playing the same tee. However, rating adjustments will be applied for the Overall competition because multiple tees are used within that competition.
Match Play Competitions with Multiple Tees:
When multiple tees are played in a Match Play competition, rating adjustments are applied separately within each match. If all the players within a match are playing the same tee, then no rating adjustments will be applied. If there are multiple tees being played within a match, then rating adjustments will be applied.
For example, a Four Ball match play event is being played where most players in the event are playing the Blue tees and a few players are playing the Silver tees. In matches where all four players are playing the same tee, no rating adjustments will be applied. However, in matches where multiple tees are being played, rating adjustments will be applied.
Reviewing Handicap Computations:
Computing Playing Handicaps can be tricky when Rating Adjustments need to be applied. There are also many options available, discussed earlier in this article, that can further complicate things. Because of this, we suggest visiting the Handicap Analysis to make sure the expected players are being adjusted and the expected procedure is being used.