Handicap ‘Fairness Safeguard’ for the low handicappers

Following recent discussion and review, the Committee has agreed to introduce a change to the way handicaps are managed within the Dawn Patrol competition. The purpose of this adjustment is to ensure the system remains fair, balanced and enjoyable for all players, while recognising the different impact handicap reductions can have across the full range of playing abilities.

The existing handicap system will remain in place, with one additional safeguard: A player’s Dawn Patrol Handicap (DPHC) cannot be reduced below 75% of their current Playing Handicap, rounded to the next whole number.

What remains unchanged

• Your DPHC will continue to be calculated using 95% of your Playing Handicap, less any Dawn Patrol deductions, for individual competitions played from the yellow tees.
• For team games played from the white tees, 100% of your Playing Handicap, less any Dawn Patrol deductions, will continue to be used.
• Individual competition deductions will remain as follows:
  • Overall winner −1
  • Winners of the Front 9 and Back 9 −0.5
  • Don’t forget any player can only win one pot.
• Team competition deductions will remain as follows:
  • Winning team: each member receives a −1 deduction
  • Second place, where there are 20 players or more: each member receives a −0.5 deduction.
• Combined winnings deductions will remain as follows:
  • Winnings of £30 and over: −1
  • Winnings of £60 and over: −2
  • Winnings of £90 and over: −3, and so on.
  • Don’t forget winnings of £90 and over will start the next season with a -2 deduction and winnings of £75 to £89 a -1 deduction.

New rule effective 17^th of August 2026

• A player’s DPHC cannot be reduced below 75% of their current Playing Handicap, rounded to the next whole number. This has been introduced as a fairness safeguard.
• The calculation will be refreshed whenever WHS handicaps are re-synced.
• The change is expected to affect only a small percentage of players in the current data set, mainly those with lower handicaps.
• It is designed to prevent extreme outcomes. For example, without this safeguard, Tom has moved to −1 from a Playing Handicap of 3, and Vaughan has move to −1 from a Playing Handicap of 2. Under the new rule, both would play off 2.

Importantly, this change has been tested against the actual results from April to August 2026 and is not an arbitrary adjustment. In most cases, players will see no change to their DPHC.

The Dawn Patrol Committee reserves the right to make a minor positive or negative adjustment to a member’s Dawn Patrol Handicap in exceptional circumstances. Examples may include players recovering from illness, players with fewer than five qualifying cards in the previous 12 months, players joining Dawn Patrol without a full 20-score WHS record, or players who are not regularly submitting competition or general play qualifying cards.

If any member has questions about the change or how it may affect their Dawn Patrol Handicap, please contact a member of the Committee.