Handicap Committee Updates

Have a question about handicaps? Just ask anyone on the committee, they’re happy to help! Janet Conneely, Chair; Members: Madelyne Stevens, Lori Myers, Vanessa Reiter, Laurie McPhee, Stacy Hoffer
2020: New World Handicap System

Effective this year (2020), the USGA has introduced the new World Handicap System. The USGA and R&A consolidated previous systems used in the US, Europe and the rest of the world.
What has changed?
1. There is no longer an ‘equitable stroke control’ or “Max” score.
2. For score posting purposes, the “Max” score has been replaced by Net Double Bogey and it varies by hole.
3. There is now a Competition (C) score instead of a tournament (T) score.
4. Index will refresh every 24 hours so it will be important to post your score on the day of play.

Definitions:
Handicap Index: The measure of a player’s demonstrated ability calculated against the slope rating of a golf course of standard playing difficulty. It is the number that the GHIN system gives you and is calculated from the scores that you post.

Course Handicap:  It is the number of handicap strokes a player receives from a specific set of tees as determined by the Slope Rating and the difference between Course Rating and Par.

Net Double Bogey: A score equal to the par of the hole plus two strokes and adjusted for any handicap strokes applied to that hole. A Net Double Bogey is a player’s maximum hole score for handicap purposes.

Net Par: A score equal to the par of a hole adjusted for any handicap strokes applied on that hole.

Most Likely Score: The score a player records for handicap (posting) purposes for a hole that is started but where the player does not hole out.

World Handicap System – The Basics
A Handicap Index is an indication of your ability when you are playing well. The handicap system assures fair play across a range of golfing ability.

When should I post a score?
All scores from stroke play, match play and team formats where you play your own ball are acceptable – as long as you play and another person is present during your round. Posting on the day of play is highly encouraged.

Posting your score
The GHIN system has been updated to reflect the new World Handicap System. In the new GHIN, you can post a score hole-by-hole or as a net score. Since the system updates daily, it is important that you post your score on the day of play. You can post on the golf shop kiosk, on the web at Coloradogolf.org/ghin or by downloading the GHIN app on your phone.

It is highly recommended that you post your score hole by hole in GHIN. This is the easiest way to post and does not require ANY calculations as the GHIN system will adjust for your net double bogey maximum.
Before you post your score, make sure that you have a score recorded for every hole. If you started and did not complete a hole or if you did not play a hole at all, you must determine a score for those holes.

Guidance for holes NOT played or Holes NOT completed
To post a score for 9 holes, you need to play a minimum of 7 holes; to post a score for 18 holes, you need to play a minimum of 14 holes.

Score for a hole NOT played: post net par. Net par equals par plus any handicap strokes you receive.

Score for a hole NOT completed* (see below * for more detail on most likely score): Calculate your most likely score by taking your strokes at the time you picked up your ball and adding 1 stroke if you are 5 feet or less from the hole; 2-3 strokes if you are between 5 feet and 20 yards and 3-4 strokes beyond 20 yards. Note: this score cannot exceed your Net Double Bogey.

What if I forgot to post on the day of play? Post your score and date it for the day of play.

Posting a Score Hole-By-Hole in GHIN:
Once you complete your round, and have a score for every hole on your scorecard (remember to calculate a score for any holes not completed and any holes note played), you are ready to post your score on GHIN.
Once you have logged in to GHIN (at kiosk, on your phone or on your computer), click on POST A SCORE.
Select: Hole-by-hole score
Select: Course (i.e. Pole Creek Golf Club/Course Combo)
Select: 18 or 9 holes
Select: Tees you played (i.e. red tees)
Select: Home or Away (Home for Pole Creek)
Select: Date Played
Select: Enter Hole-by-Hole
Enter your raw (unadjusted) scores. The system will adjust to your Net Double Bogey.

Posting an Adjusted Net Score in GHIN:
Once you complete your round, and have a score for every hole on your scorecard (remember to calculate a score for any holes not completed and any holes note played) you are ready to log into GHIN.
Once you have logged in to GHIN (at kiosk, on your phone or on your computer), click on POST A SCORE.
Select: Course Handicap Calculator
Select your course and tees and GHIN will give you your course handicap
Using your course handicap, adjust your hole by hole scores to reflect scores no greater than net double bogey.
Return to main page and Select: Post a Score
Select: Total score
Select: Course (i.e. Pole Creek Golf Club/Course Combo)
Select: 18 or 9 holes
Select: Tees you played (i.e. red tees)
Select: Home or Away (Home for Pole Creek)
Select: Date Played
Select: Enter ADJUSTED front nine and back nine scores
Your adjusted hole scores cannot exceed your Net DOUBLE BOGEY per hole.

Calculating Net Double Bogey
If you choose to post a net score, you must calculate the course handicap based on your handicap index and then adjust your hole by hole scores for Net Double Bogey.

Adjustments to your score for posting purposes
If any hole scores exceed your Net Double Bogey you must adjust them down. Net Double Bogey is the highest score you may post on a hole. Net double bogey = double bogey plus any handicap strokes you receive.
Example: A player with a course handicap of 27 receives 2 strokes on the first 9 handicap holes and one stroke on the 10-18 handicap holes. On a par 4 with a stoke/handicap index of 5, the net double bogey is 8 (double bogey plus 2).

How to post a net score rather than a hole by hole score.
1. Calculate your course handicap. Course Handicap=Handicap Index x (Slope Rating/113)+(Course Rating-Par). You may also use the course handicap calculator in GHIN.
2. Determine where you get your strokes. If you have a course handicap of 27, you will receive two strokes on handicap holes 1-9 and one stroke on the remaining 9 holes.
3. Your net Double Bogey will be a Par plus four on handicap holes 1-9 and a par plus three on handicap holes 10-18. This is the maximum score you may post.
4. Post your net score after you have adjusted for your net double bogey.
Reminder: It is highly encouraged that you post your scores hole by hole and avoid the need to do the above calculations.

Need to ‘SEE’ what this really looks like? Check out a 2019 scorecard vs. 2020 scorecard:  Handicap Scorecard.final

* “Most Likely Score” Guidelines are below.

* The most likely score is:
The number of strokes already taken to reach a position on a hole, plus
The number of strokes the player would most likely require to complete the hole from that position, plus
Any penalty strokes incurred during play of the hole.
Most likely scores should be determined on any hole in accordance with the following guidelines:

Position of the Ball

Strokes to be Added

If the ball lies on the putting green, and is no more than 5 feet from the hole:

Add one additional stroke.

If the ball lies between 5 feet and 20 yards from the hole:

Add 2 or 3 additional strokes, depending on the position of the ball, the difficulty of the green and the ability of the player.

If the ball lies more than 20 yards from the hole:

Add 3 or 4 additional strokes, depending on the position of the ball, the difficulty of the green and the ability of the player.

P.S.  On days outside league day please remember that as a player you are expected to submit scores for handicap purposes as soon as possible after the round is completed and before midnight local time. And once again, it is highly recommended that your post your score hole-by-hole.