I've just been looking through my 2004 competition rounds and found out the following :

The Number of Medals I played this year that affected my handicap was 12.

From November to April we have placing so our medal comps don't effect our handicaps.

I play nearly every Sunday so I don't miss any Medals.

So I have 12 chances every year to reduce my handicap.
This seems a very small amount.

Is this the same for everybody ?

It is a frustrating sometimes that on Medal day, the greens haven't been cut and the wind is 30 mph. Out of the 12 medals in 2004, I tied my handicap once and had a six under another time. All the others I was over my handicap. Not that good really !