Handicaps in 4BBB match play

Handicaps
Match play
Author

Kadda Mohamed

Published

April 22, 2024

The calculation for 4BBB match play was changed in 2024. The handicap allowance of 90% is no longer applied to the Course Handicaps but to the difference in Playing Handicaps instead. Previously, the 90% allowance was applied to the Course Handicap and strokes based on full difference to the lowest Playing Handicap.

flowchart LR
  A[Index] --> B(CH) --> C([x 90%]):::foobar --> D([+ adjustment])
  D --> E(PH) --> F(Difference)
  G(lowest PH) --> F(Difference)
  
    classDef foobar fill:#f96



Following this change, the players now receive strokes based on 90% of the difference in their Playing Handicaps to the lowest Playing Handicap. This is similar to the calculation prior to the WHS.

flowchart LR
  A[Index] --> B(CH) --> C([+ adjustment])
  C --> D(PH) --> E(90% Difference):::foobar
  F(lowest PH) --> E(90% Difference):::foobar
  
    classDef foobar fill:#f96


Impact of the change

For most players, the strokes received in a match will be the same as when the 90% was applied to the CH. In some cases, there may be a difference in one stroke when the 90% is applied to the difference in PH instead.

The PH of all players are rounded before taking the difference to the lowest PH. Since all par adjustments are whole numbers, the CH is effectively rounded in the new calculation.