Obtaining A USGA Handicap :

To obtain a USGA handicap index a golfer must post at least 5 full 18 hole scores.

All players must write their name and date on the score roe cards.

Under the USGA System a golfer is required to record a hole score for a hole he has not finished, not played or not played under the rules of golf, and to adjust any hole score when it is higher than the maximum number she is allowed to post.

Unfinished Holes and Conceded Strokes :

If a player starts but does not complete a hole or is conceded a stroke, she shall record for handicap purposes the score she most likely would have made. The most likely score consists of the number of strokes already taken plus, in her best judgment, the number of strokes the player would need to complete the hole from that position more than ‘half the time’. This number may not exceed the player’s Equitable Stroke Control Limit. Which is specified below :

EQUITABLE STROKE CONTROL

Maximum USGA Handicap Index for women is 40.4.
Maximum USGA Handicap Index for men is 36.4.

A player may have a local handicap above this limit, but it shall be identified as a local handicap. For tournaments such local handicaps be reduced to the maximum USGA Handicap Index specified above.

Improving Faster than the System Can React :

Numerous Away Scores Change Handicap :

If a player’s handicap increases by 3 or more due to posting many away scores, and subsequent scores at her club clearly indicate that her increased handicap is too high, the handicap committee shall adjust her handicap downwards.

The handicap committee does not have the authority to refuse to accept away scores, nor to erase them from player’s scoring record.

Temporary Disability :

An increase in a handicap shall not be granted because a player is temporarily off his game or has discontinued play. However, an increased handicap may be given for a temporary disability. The increased handicap is not a USGA h’cap. IT is only for local use.

Failure to Post:

A player’s handicap shall be adjusted up or down if a player does not turn in acceptable scores or does not observe the spirit of USGA Handicap System. The Committee shall determine the amount of adjustment.

If the player does not post an acceptable score, the Handicap Committee should post a penalty Score and Ratings equal to the lowest handicap differential in the player‘s scoring board. However, if the score not returned is unusually high, the penalty score may be equal to the highest score in the player’s scoring record.

Player Manipulates Round :

If a player manipulates her round by :

1. Posting erroneous scores.
2. Stopping play after 12 holes to avoid posting scores.
3. Repeatedly playing more than one ball.
4. Not adjusting holes under Section 4.
5. Deliberately taking extra strokes to inflate a score.
6. Deliberately reporting more or fewer strokes than actually scored.

The Committee shall adjust or withdraw her handicap, depending on the severity of the offense.

Duration of Adjustment of Handicap :

The Committee shall determine the duration of the modification. At each revision date the committee should compare the modified Handicap to the value determined by normal computation method.

Tournament Performance Review :

THE Committee should review the reduction in handicap for exceptional tournament scores. The procedure in 10-3 is to be used for this. To use the procedure a player must have 2 or more eligible tournament scores and a minimum of 2 differentials that are atleast 3 or more strokes better than the players current h’cap. This procedure automatically works in the handicapping programme. But if this is done manually then this reduction should be evaluated at each revision. The committee may further reduce or override this reduction.

Handicap Index Withdrawal :

If a player repeatedly fails to meet their responsibility under the USGA H’cap System, the committee shall withdraw the player’s h’cap. Before this action the committee shall advise the player of the information available to the committee and the player shall be invited to respond to the committee. A player whose h’cap has been withdrawn may be reinstated under the conditions set forth by the handicap Committee.

HANDICAP COMPETITIONS :

Handicap Required for Competitions.

Players shall submit handicap index in effect on the date of her entry.

USGA Handicap Changed by the Committee

A Handicap reduced by the Committee shall be the player’s USGA handicap. A handicap increased by the committee because a player has manipulated her scores is a USGA handicap. But a handicap increased for any other reason is a local h’cap and may be used only with the approval of the committee in charge of the competition.

Handicap Index to Use :

At the start of Competition :
USGA recommends that the committee require use of handicap in effect on the date the competition commences.

The Committee in charge of the competition shall determine and publish prior to the competition whether the handicaps may be changed during the competition or not. Rule 33-1 of the Rules of Golf provides in part : the committee shall lay down the conditions under which the competition is to be played.

If a player has more than one handicap : They must use the lowest handicap when competing with players from more than one club.

How to decide Ties in Handicap Competitions :

Rule 33-6 of the Rules of Golf requires the Committee to determine how and when a halved match or a stroke play tie shall be decided. The procedure should be published in advance.

USGA Recommendations :

Match Play : which ends all square should be played off hole by hole until one side wins a hole. The play off should start where the match began. Strokes should be allowed in the prescribed round.

Stroke Play : In the event of a tie in a stroke play competition a play off over 18 holes with Course Handicap is recommended. If a shorter play off is necessary, then an nine hole, six hole or three hole play off is recommended, in that order. If such a method is used, one half, one third, one sixth , etc of the handicap should be deducted from the score for those holes. Fractions of one-half stroke or more should count as a full stroke, any lesser fractions should be disregarded. A single hole match of cards, or a sudden death , is not recommended.

In a stroke play competition if a play-off is not feasible, then matching cards is to determine the winner on the basis of the best score for the last 9 holes. This is to be announced in advance. If the tying players have the same score for the last 9, determine the winner on the basis of last 6, last 3 and finally the 18th. If such a method is used, one half, one third, one-sixth of the handicap is to be deducted from the score for those holes. The committee should provide what is to be done if this procedure does not produce a winner.

USGA Handicap Formula :

The USGA handicap is calculated by taking 96% of the average of the best handicap differentials, and applying section 10-3 (handicap reduction under exceptional tournament scores).

The following Formula is used to determine the handicap differentials :
Handicap Differential = (Adjusted Gross Score-USGA Course Rating) x 113/USGA Slope Rating).

(Section 10-2) USGA Handicap Index Formula is based on best handicap differentials is A players’ scoring record. If a player has 20 scores in her scoring record. Then the best 10 differentials of the most recent 20 scores are used to calculate her USGA handicap Index.

Tournament Performance Review :

THE Committee should review the reduction in handicap for exceptional tournament scores. The procedure in 10-3 is to be used for this. To use the procedure a player must have 2 or more eligible tournament scores and a minimum of 2 differentials that are atleast 3 or more strokes better than the players current h’cap. This procedure automatically works in the handicapping programme. But if this is done manually then this reduction should be evaluated at each revision. The committee may further reduce or override this reduction.

Handicap Index Withdrawal :

If a player repeatedly fails to meet her responsibility under the USGA H’cap System, the committee shall withdraw the player’s h’cap. Before this action the committee shall advise the player of the information available to the committee and the player shall be invited to respond to the committee. A player whose h’cap has been withdrawn may be reinstated under the conditions set forth by the handicap Committee.

HANDICAP COMPETITIONS :

Handicap Required for Competitions.

Players shall submit handicap index in effect on the date of her entry.

USGA Handicap Changed by the Committee

A Handicap reduced by the Committee shall be the player’s USGA handicap. A handicap increased by the committee because a player has manipulated her scores is a USGA handicap. But a handicap increased for any other reason is a local h’cap and may be used only with the approval of the committee in charge of the competition.

Handicap Index to Use :

At the start of Competition :
USGA recommends that the committee require use of handicap in effect on the date the competition commences.

The Committee in charge of the competition shall determine and publish prior to the competition whether the handicaps may be changed during the competition or not. Rule 33-1 of the Rules of Golf provides in part : the committee shall lay down the conditions under which the competition is to be played.

If a player has more than one handicap : she is to use the lowest handicap when competing with players from more than one club.

How to decide Ties in Handicap Competitions :

Rule 33-6 of the Rules of Golf requires the Committee to determine how and when a halved match or a stroke play tie shall be decided. The procedure should be published in advance.

Determine handicap differentials :
Average the differentials being used
Multiply the average by .96 :

Delete all numbers after the tenths digit. Do not round off to the nearest tenth.

Apply Section 10-3 for golfers with 2 or more eligible tournament scores. (At Tolly this is being taken care of by handicapping software).

We are following the USGA Handicap Formula Pre-Slope.
Standard Slope rating of 113 is being used for calculation.

Handicap Revisions: should be done on thee 1st of every month. This should be done not less than once a month and not more than twice in a month.