HANDICAP SYSTEM TERMINOLOGY

Active Season
An active season is the period of time, determined by the authorized golf association having jurisdiction in a given area, during which scores made there will be accepted for handicap purposes.

Adjusted Gross Score
Adjusted gross score is a player's gross score adjusted under USGA Handicap System procedures for unfinished holes, conceded strokes and holes not played, or not played under the principles of the Rules of Golf, or adjusted under Equitable Stroke Control. (See Section 4.)

Authorized Golf Association
An authorized golf association is a golf association that has jurisdiction and has been licensed by the USGA to issue USGA Handicap Indexes and/or USGA Course and Slope Ratings in its state, district or region through its golf clubs.

Course Handicap
A Course Handicap is the USGA's mark that indicates the number of handicap strokes a player receives from a specific set of tees at the course being played to adjust his scoring ability to the common level of scratch or 0-handicap golf. For a player with a plus Course Handicap, it is the number of artificial strokes the player gives to adjust his scoring ability to the common level of scratch or 0-handicap golf. A Course Handicap is determined by applying the player's USGA Handicap Index to a Course Handicap Table or Course Handicap Formula. (See Section 10-4.) A player's Course Handicap is expressed as a whole number of strokes.

Course Handicap Table
A Course Handicap Table is a chart that converts a USGA Handicap Index to a Course Handicap based on the USGA Slope Rating for the set of tees played. (See Sections 3-3, 8-2d and 10-4.)

Course Rating
USGA Course Rating is the USGA's mark that indicates the evaluation of the playing difficulty of a course for scratch golfers under normal course and weather conditions. It is expressed as strokes taken to one decimal place, and is based on yardage and other obstacles to the extent that they affect the scoring ability of a scratch golfer. (See Section 13.)

Eligible Tournament Score
An eligible tournament score is a tournament score made either within the last 12 months or within the player's current 20 score history.

Equitable Stroke Control
Equitable Stroke Control (ESC) is the downward adjustment of individual hole scores for handicap purposes in order to make handicaps more representative of a player's potential scoring ability. ESC sets a maximum number that a player can post on any hole depending on the player's Course Handicap. ESC is used only when a player's actual or most likely score exceeds his maximum number based on the table in Section 4-3.

Golf Association
A golf association is an organization of golf clubs governed by amateur golfers, operated under bylaws and formed for the purpose of conducting competitions for amateur golfers, and otherwise promoting the best interests and conserving the true spirit of the game of golf in a district, region, or state.

Golf Club
A golf club is an organization of at least ten individual members* that operates under bylaws with committees (especially a handicap committee) to supervise golf activities, provide peer review, and maintain the integrity of the USGA Handicap System (see Club Compliance Checklist, Section 8-2m and Decision 2/7). A golf club must be licensed by the USGA to utilize the USGA Handicap System. A club can obtain a license directly from the USGA or in conjunction with its membership in an authorized golf association that is already licensed by the USGA and that has jurisdiction in the geographic area that includes the principal location of the golf club. (See Appendix F.)

Members of a golf club must have a reasonable and regular opportunity to play golf with each other. They must be able to return scores personally, and these scores must be readily available for inspection by others, including, but not limited to, fellow members and the club's Handicap Committee.

A golf club is one of three (3) Types:
Type 1. The members of a Type 1 club are located at a single specific golf course with a valid USGA Course Rating and Slope Rating where a majority of the club's events are played and where the club's scoring records reside; or
Type 2. The members of a Type 2 club are affiliated, or known to one another, via a business, fraternal, ethnic, or social organization. The majority of the club members had an affiliation prior to organizing the club; or
Type 3. The members of a Type 3 club had no prior affiliation and a majority of the recruiting and sign up of the membership is done by solicitation to the public (e.g. newspaper, Internet).

*Note: For administrative reasons, some authorized golf associations may require a golf club to have more than the USGA minimum of ten members in order for the golf club to be a member of the authorized golf association.

Gross Score
A gross score is the number of actual strokes plus any penalty strokes taken by a player.

Handicap Committee
A Handicap Committee is the committee of a golf club that ensures compliance with the USGA Handicap System, including peer review. A majority of the Handicap Committee must be members of the club. Club employees may serve on the Handicap Committee, but an employee may not serve as chairman. Any club using the USGA Handicap System is required to have a Handicap Committee.

Handicap Differential
A Handicap Differential is the difference between a player's adjusted gross score and the USGA Course Rating of the course on which the score was made, multiplied by 113, then divided by the USGA Slope Rating from the tees played and rounded to the nearest tenth. Handicap differentials are expressed as a number rounded to one decimal place, e.g., 12.8.

Handicap Index
A USGA Handicap Index is the USGA's mark which is used to indicate a measurement of a player's potential scoring ability on a course of standard playing difficulty. It is expressed as a number taken to one decimal place, and is used for conversion to a Course Handicap. (See Section 10.)

Handicap-Stroke Hole
A handicap-stroke hole is a hole on which a player is entitled to apply a handicap stroke or strokes to his gross score. (See Sections 9-3a and 17.)

Inactive Season
An inactive season is the period of time determined by the authorized golf association having jurisdiction in a given area during which scores made there will not be accepted for handicap purposes.

Most Likely Score
A most likely score is the score a player shall post for handicap purposes when he starts but does not complete a hole or is conceded a stroke. The most likely score consists of the number of strokes already taken plus, in his best judgment, the number of strokes that 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. (See Section 4-3.)

Par
Par is the score that an expert golfer would be expected to make for a given hole. Par means errorless play under ordinary weather conditions, allowing two strokes on the putting green. (See Section 16.)

Peer Review
Peer review is the process of providing a reasonable and regular opportunity for members of a golf club to play golf with each other, and providing access to scoring records and USGA Handicap Indexes for inspection by fellow members and the club's Handicap Committee.

Penalty Score
A penalty score is a score posted by the Handicap Committee for a player who does not return a score or otherwise does not observe the spirit of the USGA Handicap System. (See Section 8-4b(iv).)

Preferred Lies (Winter Rules)
Preferred Lies (Winter Rules) is a local rule that may be adopted by the Committee in the event of adverse conditions that are so general throughout a course that improving the lie of the ball in a specified way would promote fair play or help protect the course. (See Rules of Golf, Appendix I; The USGA Handicap System manual, Section 7)

Scoring Record
A scoring record is a file composed of the most recent 20 scores posted by a player, plus any eligible tournament scores, along with appropriate USGA Course Ratings, Slope Ratings and dates.

Slope Rating
USGA Slope Rating is the USGA's mark that indicates the measurement of the relative difficulty of a course for players who are not scratch golfers compared to the Course Rating (i.e., compared to the difficulty of the course for scratch golfers). The lowest Slope Rating is 55, and the highest is 155. A golf course of standard playing difficulty has a USGA Slope Rating of 113. (See Section 13.)

Stipulated Round
The stipulated round consists of playing the holes of the course in their correct sequence unless otherwise authorized by the Committee. The number of holes in a stipulated round is 18 unless a smaller number is authorized by the Committee. The Committee may, for the purpose of settling a tie, extend the stipulated round to as many holes as are required for a match to be won. (See Rules of Golf, Definitions and Rule 2-3.)

Tournament Score
A tournament score is a score made in a competition organized and conducted by a Committee in charge of the competition. The competition must identify a winner(s) based on a stipulated round(s), and must be played under the principles of The Rules of Golf. Using the above definition as a guideline, the Committee in charge of the competition shall determine in advance if these conditions are met, and announce in advance whether the score shall be identified by the letter "T" when posted. Routine events, such as regular play days, normally are not to be designated as T-scores because they are not significant in the traditions, schedules, formats, and membership of the club. Nine-hole scores are not to be designated as T-Scores. Examples of inter-club competition scores that should be posted as tournament scores when they meet the above conditions are: team matches, competitions restricted by age, member-guest competitions, qualifying rounds for city, state and national competitions, and competitions conducted by golf associations. Examples of intra-club competition scores that should be posted as tournament scores when they meet the above conditions are: low gross-low net competitions, four-ball match- or stroke-play competitions, Stableford competitions, and club championships which are stroke or match play, scratch or with handicap.

Trend Handicap
A trend handicap is an unofficial estimate of a handicap, which may include unreviewed scores since the previous revision and might not be based on the current scoring record. The trend is not an official handicap and should not be used in formal competition. Use of trend is not recommended by the USGA.

USGA Handicap System
The USGA Handicap System is the USGA's mark which denotes the USGA's method of evaluating golf skills so that golfers of differing abilities can compete on an equitable basis.


NON-CONFORMING CLUB LIST
Ensure that you are using conforming equipment. Click here to view the most recent list of non-conforming clubs.


POST WHERE YOU PLAY
A convenience of GHIN is being able to post where you play. GHIN associations throughout the nation share a common database that allow you to post where you play and have that score routed back to your home club.

For those associations that are not on GHIN, a network is available to route scores between handicap vendors. For example, if you play in Southern California, you can post your score as a guest to the International Golf Network (IGN) and that score will be sent to GHIN and will ultimately be routed back to your club in the WSGA. Following is a list of associations that participate in the IGN:

Alberta	Arizona Men’s	Arizona Women’s
Bermuda	British Columbia	Carolinas
Delaware	Florida	Hong Kong
Louisiana	Michigan	Ontario
Philadelphia	South Carolina	Southern California
Utah	Wisconsin

THE TRUTH ABOUT SLOPE
Although Slope has been a part of the USGA Handicap System for many years, there are still many misconceptions. Golfers are unclear on how Slope effects their individual scores, why they have an Index, and how that Index becomes a Course Handicap. For help answering these questions, check out the article The Truth About Slope from the usga.org.


ACCEPTABLE SCORES

1) Match Play and Best-Ball Scores

I. Holes played and completed:
Record score for each hole played and completed.

II. Holes played, but not completed:
If you do not complete a hole, record the score you most likely would have made, You're most likely score can not exceed your maximum allowable ESC score.

III. Conceded Strokes:
When a hole is conceded, the score for handicap purposes will be the number of strokes taken, plus one for the concession OR the number of strokes you MOST LIKELY would have taken in finishing the hole--not to exceed your maximum allowable ESC score.

IV. Holes not played:
If you stop the match play round because one competitor has already won, record PAR plus any strokes you have coming on the remaining holes. You must, however, play at least 13 holes in order for the score to be posted as an 18-hole "Tournament" score.


2) Nine Hole Rounds
Non-consecutive nine-hole rounds must be posted. Two nine-hole rounds will be combined and posted to a golfer's record identified with a "C". Seven holes must be played in order for a nine-hole round to be an acceptable score for handicap purposes.


TEMPORARY TEES AND GREENS
The guidelines for posting scores when temporary greens and/or tees are in use are as follows: If the use of temporary greens and/or tees is due to course reconstruction and will last for an extended period of time, the golf club should obtain a new course rating from the WSGA Office.

If, however, the use of temporary greens and/or tees is due to seasonal turf conditions which change from day-to-day, scores should be posted for handicap purposes to the normal course rating and Slope rating if the following criteria are met: (1) the Rules of Golf can be followed during this time period (i.e., no automatic two putts, no oversized holes); (2) the effective playing length of the course remains intact (i.e., loss of yardage from temporary tees and greens offset by less than normal roll).

If the Rules of Golf cannot be followed, the score to be posted for that hole is par plus any handicap strokes to be received on that hole which is in accordance with Section 4-2 of the USGA Handicap System manual. If a majority of holes on the course cannot be played in accordance with the Rules of Golf, scores shall not be posted. If the Rules of Golf can be followed but the effective playing length is altered, please notify the WSGA Office at 206-526-8605 or 800-643-6410.


THE PITFALLS OF "WINTER RULES"
Specific guidelines regarding preferred lies policies, more commonly referred to as "winter rules," can now be found in Appendix I of The Rules of Golf. This is done in an effort to provide consistency during the inactive, or non score-posting, season. The WSGA encourages clubs to consider the following when deciding whether or not to implement "winter rules":

• Such a Local Rule conflicts with The Rules of Golf and the fundamental principle of playing the ball as it lies.
• "Winter rules" are sometimes adopted under the guise of protecting the course when, in fact, the practical effect is just the opposite — they permit moving the ball to the best turf, from which divots are then taken to injure the course further.
• "Winter rules" tend generally to lower scores and Handicap Indexes, thus penalizing players in competition with players whose scores are made without preferred lies.
• Extended or indiscriminate use of "winter rules" will place players at a disadvantage when competing at a course where the ball must be played as it lies.

In addition, the WSGA rates all golf courses in accordance with The Rules of Golf. "Winter rules", or any other Local Rules, are not taken into consideration.

The WSGA strongly discourages the use of "winter rules" or "preferred lies", except under extreme circumstances.


USGA HANDICAP FORMULA

Handicap Differentials
Handicap differentials are computed by determining the difference between the adjusted gross score (after, applying ESC) and the USGA Course Rating, multiplying the difference by 113, dividing the resulting figure by the USGA Slope rating and rounding off to the nearest tenth.

The 10 lowest differentials of the 20 most recent acceptable scores are selected and totaled. This figure is then multiplied by .096 and all numbers after the tenths digit are deleted (do not round off to the nearest tenth).

Adj. Score	USGA Course Rating	Score Minus Rating	USGA Slope Rating	Handicap Differential	Adj. Score	USGA Course Rating	Score Minus Rating	USGA Slope Rating	Handicap Differential
90	70.1	19.9	116	19.4	90	70.1	19.9	116	19.4
91	70.1	20.9	116	20.4	92	752.3	19.7	123	*18.1
94	72.3	21.7	123	19.9	85	68.0	17.0	107	*18.0
88	70.1	17.9	116	*17.4	78	68.7	9.3	105	*10.0
89	70.1	18.9	116	18.4	82	70.1	11.9	116	*11.6
90	72.3	17.7	123	*16.3	84	70.1	13.9	116	*13.5
91	72.3	18.7	123	*17.2	94	72.3	21.7	123	19.9
91	70.1	20.9	116	20.4	93	72.3	20.7	123	19.0
91	70.1	20.9	116	20.4	89	72.3	16.7	123	*15.3
86	68.7	17.3	105	18.6	88	70.1	17.9	116	*17.4

*10 lowest differentials
Total of 10 lowest handicap differentials -- 154.8
Total multiplied by .096 -- 14.861
Delete all numbers after the tenths digit -- 14.8
USGA Handicap Index equals -- 14.8

Fewer than 20 Scores Available
A USGA Handicap Index shall not be issued to a player with fewer than five scores. When at least 5 but fewer than 20 acceptable scores are available, the formula for determining a USGA Handicap Index is as follows:

1) Determine the number of handicap differentials to be used from the following table:

Differentials Available	Differentials To Be Used	Differentials Available	Differentials To Be Used
5 or 6	lowest 1	15 or 16	lowest 6
7 or 8	lowest 2	17	lowest 7
9 or 10	lowest 3	18	lowest 8
11 or 12	lowest 4	19	lowest 9
13 or 14	lowest 5

2) Select and total the appropriate number of differentials.

3) Calculate the average of the handicap differentials that were used.

4) Multiply the average by .96

5) Delete all numbers after the tenths digit (do not round off).

Example:
Based upon the 10 scores listed on the left-hand side of the Handicap Differential table above, a USGA Handicap Index would be calculated as follows:

1. Based upon 10 acceptable scores, the 3 lowest differentials are selected.
2. Total the 3 lowest differentials -- 17.4 + 16.3 + 17.2 = 50.9
3. Average the differentials -- 50.9 / 3 = 16.967
4. Multiply this average by .96 -- 16.967 * .96 = 16.288
5. Delete all numbers after the tenths digit -- 16.2
6. USGA Handicap Index equals -- 16.2