To – All Australian Clubs Dear All,

Subject: Completion of 2016 Review & Monitoring of GA Handicap System

LOWER LIMIT OF D.S.R. TO BE CHANGED TO 1 BELOW THE SCRATCH RATING (from the current limit of 3 below) – TO TAKE EFFECT AT 5.00AM ON MONDAY 30 JANUARY 2017

The change – LOWER LIMIT OF D.S.R. TO BE CHANGED TO 1 BELOW THE SCRATCH RATING

From 5.00am on Monday 30 January 2017 the lower limit of the DSR will be one (1) below the Scratch Rating. The upper limit will remain unchanged at four (4) above the Scratch Rating. (Currently a DSR can be calculated by GOLF Link within a range of three (3) below the Scratch Rating and four (4) above the Scratch Rating.)

This means that if the course is playing easy the DSR for the day will only go down 1 stroke i.e. from 71 to 70. If the course is playing hard the DSR on the day may go up from 71 to 75

The change will increase the likelihood of a player’s handicap reducing by a more appropriate amount as a result of a very good score. This is because the lower the DSR is permitted to go, the less the player’s handicap reduces as a result of a good score – and this change will further restrict downward DSR movement.

As we move into the heart of the period of the year where many Australian golf courses are typically at their easiest, this change will apply some downward pressure to handicaps and consequently to Stableford scores. Whilst this change is not designed to lead to a major adjustment to net scoring patterns, it is intended to better meet the preferences of our constituents.