A player's LOW HANDICAP INDEX is remembered within the Handicap Formula, which is the Lowest Handicap Index that the member has held within the last 12 months.
The Low Handicap Index provides a reference point against which the current Handicap Index can be compared.
This is to help to ensure that the player's current Handicap Index cannot stray too far away from the member's demonstrated playing ability, in too short a space of time.
If the new Handicap Index is more than a certain number of strokes above the LOW HANDICAP INDEX, the cap is triggered.
The SOFT CAP suppresses upward movement when the difference between the new calculated Handicap Index is greater than 3.
The increase of the handicap Index is suppressed by 50% of any value over 3
The HARD CAP prevents further upward movement by placing a hard ceiling at 5 above the LOW HANDICAP INDEX
Currently we have 11 members with the Soft Cap in place i.e. when the difference between a player's newly calculated Handicap Index and their Low Handicap Index is greater than 3.0 strokes
Regards
Martyn Harris Handicaps Committee
Currently we have 2 members with a Hard Cap in place = The hard cap prevents further upward movement by placing a hard ceiling at 5 above the Low Index.