How LOW Can You Go?
Lower Your Handicap CHALLENGE
2022 WA Golf
Overview:
Do you have game? Or want to get a game?
Show us how low your handicap can go this year! The WA Golf Lower Your Handicap Challenge gives every golfer the chance to be the Most Improved Player for 2022!
Whether it’s lowering your Handicap Index from a 40 to a 30, or a 12 to a 9, or anywhere in between, let’s see how much you can improve this year.
This five-month long competition is open to all WA Golf members, and will consist of four divisions – Women, Men and Juniors.
Details & Rules:
Eligibility: open to all golfers who have an up-to-date USGA Handicap Index issued by Washington Golf. Handicap must be established by May 1, 2022. To be eligible for the Junior division, players must not reach their nineteenth before midnight on September 30, 2022.
Entry fee: None
Entries open: March 15, 2022
Entries close: April 30, 2022 at midnight.
Beginning Revision Date: May 1 2022 – The participant’s Handicap Index on this date will be used as the beginning point for determining improvement through the duration of the challenge.
Ending Revision Date: October 1, 2022 – The participant’s Handicap Index on this date will be used as the ending point for determining improvement through the duration of the challenge.
Minimum Number of Rounds: Golfers must post a minimum of 180 holes in any combination of 9 or 18-hole rounds from May 1, 2022 through September 30, 2022.
Posting Scores: In the spirit of the Rules of Handicapping, players are expected to post ALL ELIGIBLE SCORES immediately after play.
Divisions: Field will be split into three divisions for Women, Men and Juniors.
Awards & Prizes: Winners in each division will receive a package from GOLFTEC that includes a Swing Evaluation and five 30-minute lessons.
Determination of Winners:
Winners will be determined using the USGA recommended method for determining the Most Improved Player. The method is as follows:
Add 12* to the player’s Handicap Index at the start of the season. This is Value A. Add 12 to the player’s Handicap Index at the end of the season. This is Value B.
Divide Value A by Value B and round to three decimal places. This is the improvement factor. The player with the highest improvement factor will receive the Most Improved Player award.
Example: Starting Handicap Index = 22.6, Ending Handicap Index = 17.4
Value A: 22.6 + 12 = 34.6
Value B: 17.4 + 12 = 29.4
A / B: 34.6 / 29.4 = 1.177
Improvement Factor: 1.177
*The number 12 has been determined by the USGA as equitable in gauging the improvement of players encompassing the entire spectrum of handicaps. For example, it is relatively the same improvement factor to go from a 20.0 to a 10.0 Handicap Index (improvement factor of 1.454) as it is to go from a 5.0 to a scratch, or zero Handicap Index (improvement factor of 1.416), yet the change in Handicap Index is “10” (20 – 10) versus “5” (5 – 0) strokes. The number 12 takes into consideration the level of a player’s improvement rather than the net change in Handicap Index.
Breaking Ties: Ties will be broken by extending beyond three decimal places until a winner is determined. Example:
Player A Improvement Factor (IF): 1.134 (Beg. Index = 15.1, End Index = 11.9)
Player B Improvement Factor (IF): 1.134 (Beg. Index = 31.3, End Index = 26.2)
Player A Expanded IF: 1.1339
Player B Expanded IF: 1.1335
Since Player A’s IF is larger by .0004, she is the winner.