Course Ratings are based on normal playing conditions, but the difficulty of a golf course can vary substantially from day to day, due to:
The PCC determines whether playing conditions on the day differed from normal conditions to the extent that an adjustment is needed to compensate. It is a daily statistical procedure that compares the scores submitted by players on the day against expected scoring patterns. The purpose of this feature within the handicap calculation is to recognize that an average score submitted in harder playing conditions may be better than a good score submitted in easier playing conditions. Unadjusted, such a score may be omitted from the Handicap Index calculation. If the PCC determines that acceptable scores submitted are in line with expected scoring patterns, then no adjustment is made.
The PCC can result in an adjustment of -1, 0.0. +1.0, +2.0, or +3.0
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A 0.0 adjustment means the course played as expected.
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A -1.0 adjustment means the course played easier than normal
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A +1.0, +2.0, or +3.0 adjustment means the course played more difficult than normal.
The requirements for a PCC adjustment include:
The PCC is applied at midnight, so the morning after a score is posted, the final score differential is confirmed.