What is the Playing Conditions Calculation (PCC)?
The WHS includes an adjustment for abnormal course conditions. Learn how the PCC affects your handicap.
By Team on 25 June 2025
Ever played a round in torrential rain or high winds and felt your score didn't reflect your actual performance? The World Handicap System (WHS) has a mechanism for that: the Playing Conditions Calculation (PCC).
What is the PCC?
The PCC is an automatic calculation that compares the actual scores submitted on a course on a given day to the expected scores of the players who submitted them. If scores are significantly higher or lower than expected, the PCC will apply an adjustment to the Score Differential calculation for every player.
This adjustment can range from -1 (if conditions were easier than normal) to +3 (if conditions were much harder).
How It Works
The calculation happens automatically overnight after at least eight acceptable scores have been submitted by players with a Handicap Index of 36.0 or below. You don't need to do anything. The adjustment will be reflected in your handicap record the next day.
The PCC ensures that your handicap is not unfairly inflated by a round played in terrible weather or on a course undergoing maintenance. It's another way the WHS aims to create a more accurate and responsive measure of a golfer's ability. Find out more on our FAQ page.