The Handicap System was developed to enable players of all skill levels to play against each other on an approximately level playing field.

The calculation itself is quite simple and consists of :-

(the maximum score) - (the player's score) = Difference

(80% of the difference) divided by the number of matches = Handicap per match (handicap per match is rounded according to standard mathematical rules).

So if :

Player A scored 220

240 - 220 = 20

80% of 20 = 16

16 / 12 = 1.333

So Handicap per match = 1 point.

Player B scored 180

240 - 180 = 60

80% of 60 = 48

48 / 12 = 4

So Handicap per match = 4 points.

Player C scored 140

240 - 140 = 100

80% of 100 = 80

80 / 12 = 6.666

So Handicap per match = 7 points.

Player D scored 100

240 - 100 = 140

80% of 140 = 112

112 / 12 = 9.333

So Handicap per match = 9 points.

So, as you can see, it really is easy, and this way it doesn't matter how many matches there are in a season as the handicap is calculated on a "per match" basis not on a "per season" basis.

BUT in order to calculate the handicap accurately scores will be kept across 4 seasons and will be kept on a rolling "1st in, 1st out" basis, meaning that the first season's scores will only be discounted AFTER the player had played their fifth season.

However, if a player misses TWO seasons then they go back to playing off their base handicap which varies from player to player but is generally around about 50% of their normal handicap. The reason for doing this is to ensure that players don't come in and earn a high handicap score, then go away miss two or more seasons while improving their game and then come back and still claim their old high handicap.