Deemples handicap was designed because there was a flaw in the ways golfers submitted scores that made golf handicaps questionable. It's a case of a few bad apples spoil the basket. But we didn't want a spoilt basket of apples to affect how we can still have a fair and equitable handicap that we can trust.
We'd be using a lot of examples taken from the latest KLGC game organised at the Mines Golf Club on 7 April 2021. Read post here: https://kualalumpurgolfersclub.com/klgc-open-mines-golf-club-april-2021/
Deemples Handicap
To date, there are over a 1000 golfers that have the deemples handicap, and over hundreds more that are on their way of completing their 5 scores to get the deemples handicap.
The deemples handicap formula is following exactly the USGA formulas. It's not upgraded to the WHS yet because of a whole lot of reasons which is stated here: https://www.golfdigest.com/story/voices-the-flaw-in-the-new-world-handicap-system-dean-knuth
Not to go deep into it, but we somehow agree with Dean Knuth that the WHS is a downgrade from the USGA handicap system, but won't go into it on this blog post. For the most part, the formulas are almost the same with a few variations.
Fair Scoring
How we're solving the flaw mentioned above is simple. Golfers can't submit their own scores. A golfer's score and handicap is dependent on 2 other golfers submitting the exact same score for that golfer. If the scores don't match, it doesn't count. The golfer also cannot choose to submit or not to submit their scores, it's all in the hand of his playing partners. If there are only 2 people for that game, the score submission function doesn't work.
There are 2 parts of the score submission.
1- is for handicapping purposes
2- is for game results purposes.
For game results, current format available in Deemples is only a stroke play format.
Handicap Requirement
For handicapping purposes, 3 variables are required to be submitted:
1- adjusted gross score
2- course rating
3- slope rating
To adjust your gross score, find out your course handicap, and then find out what the maximum score allowed for your course handicap is. For more info on this: https://deemples.com/golf-handicap-score-submission/
Course ratings and slope ratings are normally found on the score card for the tees you play from.
These 3 variables are ONLY to calculate your handicaps, and provide you with a handicap index that you can use at ANY golf course that is rated (with a course/slope rating).
For game results for stroke play competitions. In addition to the 3 variables above, your gross score is required to be submitted as well in a hole by hole format.
Gross score is NOT the same as your adjusted gross score. Gross score is basically the total strokes you make during the game. Adjusted gross score is adjusted to the maximum allowable score based on your course handicap for handicapping purposes.
Why each hole is to be submitted separately, is so that if ties happen, and they always do in large competitions, then tie breakers can be automatically done by comparing the last 9 hole net scores, and if still tied, then last 6 hole net score, and if still tied then last 3 hole net score, and finally last 1 hole net score.
Once scores are submitted, you can see an updated game result on deemples.
Takeaways
Now that the fairer part of the competition is out of the way with fair handicaps, competitions can now be run smoother, since score submission is self-serve by the golfers on the deemples app after the game.
With this, and with the current COVID landscape, where golf competitions should have lower touch, less fanfare, and ceremonies, it allows golf competitions to be run more remotely. Golfers just show up (since they're paid), head to the allocated buggies for them, after the game they can get scores submitted and head home. Once all scores are submitted, the organiser can arrange for prizes that they can pick up from the golf course next time they arrive, or have it mailed out to them. If it's digital prizes (vouchers, etc) then it can even be emailed to them.
Deemples is here to make golf games, events, and competitions, more efficient and scalable. So that golf organisers can run multiple events at the same time, allowing even more golf participation in Malaysia, and hopefully eventually around the world.
