These calculations & rules help in ensuring fair play and accurate competition results based on team performance and individual best scores.
In golf, various team formats are used to enhance the game; here is how the handicap's are calculated for each competition type.
N/A (being a Gross competition type)
In an Ambrose competition, the team handicap is calculated by first calculating the course handicap for each player (in the case of a mixed tournament the players may be off different markers). The course handicaps are then added together and divided by twice the number of players in the team. For example, if there were 4 players in a team, the sum of the course handicaps would be divided by 8. The final handicap figure is rounded to 2 decimal points to get to the team handicap, eg. 24.74
In Foursomes competitions, the team handicap is calculated the same as an Ambrose, except for the rounding at the end - by first calculating the course handicap for each player (in the case of a mixed tournament the players may be off different markers). The course handicaps are then added together and divided by twice the number of players in the team. For example, if there were 4 players in a team, the sum of the course handicaps would be divided by 8. The final handicap figure is rounded up or down to the nearest whole number to get to the team handicap, eg. 25.
In American Foursomes the player with the lower course handicap is allowed 60 percent of their course handicap. The player with the higher course handicap is allowed 40 percent of their course handicap. To get the team handicap the total is rounded up or down to the nearest whole number.
In Canadian Foursomes competition, the team handicap is calculated by first calculating the course handicap for each player (in the case of a mixed tournament the players may be off different markers). The course handicaps are then added together and divided by the number of players in the team, and then multiplied by a factor of 0.8 (80%). The resulting figure is rounded to the nearest whole number to get to the team handicap, eg. 25.
In an Greensomes competition, the team handicap is calculated by first calculating the course handicap for each player (in the case of a mixed tournament the players may be off different markers). To calculate the team handicap; the Lower Course Handicap is multiplied by 0.6 (60%) which is then added to the High Course Handicap multiplied by 0.4 (40%). This is then all divided by 2 as their is 2 players per team. If both handicaps are equal, you just need add them together and halve them.
Eclectic competitions are played over many rounds, often 50 or more, and the best score on every hole is counted towards a single 18-hole (or 9-hole, depending on the competition setup) result. These results are ranked, and a winner is determined by the best total score.
The gross score on each hole is simply the score played, with no handicapping adjustments taken into account. Holes that were picked up or not attempted do not count towards the Eclectic result for that hole.
The best net score for every hole is recorded and counted towards the result. For example, if you scored a 5 on a par 4 and you had 1 stroke on that hole (as per your course handicap on the day), your net score of 4 will be counted towards the result. Note that the Course Rating - Par adjustment is now taken into account when calculating the Playing Handicap, per the Rules of Handicapping 2020.
Due to historical reasons, we still include the Half Net result on the results report. The Half Net value is worked out by taking the total Gross score of the result and subtracting half of the player's course handicap as on the last day of the competition, on the played marker. If the Eclectic competition is ongoing, the player's current Handicap Index will be used.
When an Eclectic competition is played from multiple different markers, the Whole Net results are unaffected because the handicap for each day (and marker) is taken into account, and the net score recorded will reflect this. However, when the results are calculated with combined markers, the Half Net result cannot be calculated (because there is no rule on which marker's rating to use) and will be hidden.
We don't currently do countback on Eclectic competitions; results with the same total score will be tied.
In all competition types, the following is the sequence of scores considered to determine the winner of a tie:
The best total round score.
The best score on the last:
9 holes
6 holes
3 holes
1 hole
Please note that in competitions where there may be more than one starting tee e.g. 1 and 10, the last 9 holes for countback purposes refer to the last 9 holes as per your scorecard i.e. 10-18.
A special case applies for Net competitions, where the allowed strokes are NOT applied to the holes using the stroke indexes; but instead are applied to the holes equally. For example, when doing countback for the last 9 holes, half the player's course handicap is applied to the gross score to calculate the net score for countback.
For multiple round competitions where the players either play all competition rounds or have the option to play a minimum number of competition rounds, a countback is performed using the last played best counting cards.