What is the soft cap and how do I remove it?

We receive this question quite a bit from not just golfers, but golf staff as well.

There is no easy or cut and dry answer to this question as there are many variables that can impact the cap.

But, for a majority of situations, the short answer is you must either post scores that will lower your handicap index to within 3 strokes of your Low Handicap Index over the past 365 days,

or

naturally allow the Low Handicap Index to "expire" after 365 days and post a score to have the calculation remove it from your record.

* When special circumstances exist, such as injury, your Handicap Committee has the ability to override the soft cap or hard cap

Prior to 2020 and the release of the World Handicap System, there was no restriction on the upward movement of a Handicap Index bulit into the calcation of your Handicap Index.  In order to better understand the changes made in the WHS, you must first learn about the key elements that are now limiting the upward movement of your Handicap Index.

Rule change under the World Handicap System:  A "soft cap" and "hard cap" is included within the Handicap Index Calculation.  

• The soft cap suppresses the updward movement of a Handicap Index by 50% if a 3.0 stroke increase takes place within 12 months.

• The hard cap restricts upward movement if, after the application of the soft cap, a 5.0 stroke increase takes place within 12 months.
   

Reasons for change:

The term, "Low Handicap Index" is included within the Rules of Handicapping and is made visible to players.  This value serves as the baseline for the soft cap and hard cap procedures.

• A Low Handicap Index is established once a player has at least 20 acceptable scores in their scoring record.  At that point, the soft cap and hard cap procedures begin taking effect.

• A newly determined Low Handicap Index is considered each time an acceptable score is posted and a Handciap Index is updated.

There is not limit on the amount by which a player's Handicap Index can decrease, but the soft cap and hard cap ensure that a temporary loss of form does not cause a player's Handicap Index to increase to a level inconsistent with their demonstrated ability.

The automatic calculation prevents extreme upward movement of a Handicap Index and assists Handicap Committees as an anti-abuse safeguard.

• When special circumstances exist, such as injury, the Handicap Committee has the ability to override the soft cap or hard cap.

This procedure favors the consistent player, as players who have significant volitility in their scoring history over a 12 month period will be impacted by it more often.