As I am sure you are aware, the subject of handicaps comes up once tournament play begins at WCC.  In years past, we as a club have not been posting a lot of our events in the system as tournament scores.  According to the USGA, all inter-club and intra-club events (including match play, four-ball match play, and member-guest) should be posted as tournament events.  Therefore, effective immediately, ALL Tournament Play, including the Crystal, will be scored and recorded as tournament play. 

One of the challenges has been communicating on how to correctly score a hole or event due to unfinished holes and conceded strokes.  Under Section 4-1 of the USGA Handicap System, a player who starts, but does not complete a hole or is conceded a stroke must record for handicap purposes the most likely score.  The most likely score may not exceed the player’s Equitable Stoke Control Limit,  this score should be preceded by an “X” on the scorecard.   There is no limit to the number of unfinished holes a player may have in a round, provided that failure to finish is not for the purposes of handicap manipulation. 

                                                                                                                                              

                  Course Handicap                                              Maximum number on any hole

                        9 or less                                                           Double Bogey

                        10 – 19                                                                        7

                        20 – 29                                                                        8

                        30 – 39                                                                        9

                        40 or more                                                                  10

Example 1:  A and B are partners in a four-ball match play competition.  On a hole on which neither player receives a handicap stoke, A lies two, 18 feet from the hole.  B lies two, 25 feet from the hole.  B holes the putt for a 3.  A picks up on the hole, because A cannot better B’s score.  A records X-4 on the scorecard because 4 is A’s most likely score. 

Example 2:  A and B are playing a match.  On a hole on which neither player receives a handicap stroke, A has holed out in 4; B has a 30-foot put for a 5.  B has lost the hole, and picks up.  B records X-6 on the scorecard because 6 is B’s most likely score.

Example 3:  A and B are playing a match.  On a hole on which neither player receives a handicap stroke, A is one foot from the hole, laying 4.  B is 10 feet from the hole, laying 3.  B putts and misses.  They both concede a half.  Both players record X-5 on the scorecard because that is their most likely score.

There has also been some confusion regarding holes not played or unfinished holes.  The rules of golf clearly state that if a player does not play a hole (altogether), the score recorded must be par plus any handicap strokes the player is entitled to receive on that hole.  This hole score, when recorded, should be preceded by an “X”. 

Example:  A player with a Course Handicap of 10 receives a handicap stroke on the first 10 allocated handicap-stroke holes.  If the player does not play the sixth allocated handicap-stroke hole which is a par 4 because of construction, the player must record a score of par plus one for handicap purposes, or X-5.

Should you have any questions, please contact Brad Manthey at 502.523.2741.

Of course, the Golf Shop Staff would also be happy to help.