2019 Biggest Loser Handicap Challenge Rules  

 

 

Eligibility: Entry is open on April 15, 2019 to all female LPGA Amateur Golf Association members in good standing who have a verifiable USGA Handicap Index.

 

LPGA Amateur Golf Association Member-in-Good-Standing: Participants must be LPGA Amateur Golf Association Chapter members with current membership processed and on record at LPGA Amateur Golf Association Headquarters. In addition, dues must be paid current at the time of registration into the Biggest Loser Handicap Challenge.

 

Handicaps: Players must have an established USGA Handicap Index as of the Beginning Revision Date of April 15, 2018. To establish a USGA Handicap Index, a player must post a minimum of the equivalent of ten (10) 18-hole scores prior to the ending handicap revision date.

 

Registration Deadline: May15th, 2019.

 

Beginning Revision Date: May 15th, 2019  - 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: November 30th, 2018 - The participant’s Handicap Index on this date will be used as the ending point for determining improvement through the duration of the Challenge.

 

Flights: Flights will be determined at the end of registration and will be based on the size of the field and distribution of Handicap Indexes.

 

Awards & Prizes: Prizes will be awarded to the overall most improved player of the field and the most improved player of each flight. Overall Winner will receive a round of golf for two with LPGA Professional Brittany Lincicome.

 

Determination of Winners: Winners will be determined using the USGA recommended method for determining the most improved Player (USGA Handicap System Manual,  Appendix H). 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, calculating 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
 

Continue this process for every player who improved during the year. The player with the highest improvement factor is the most improved player.

 

*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 determined 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.

 

Current Standings: Current standings will be posted periodically on the Results page of this website, beginning after the August 1, 2018 revision.

Posting Scores: In the spirit of the Handicap System, players are expected to post ALL ELIGIBLE SCORES immediately after play.