If you have ever played in a member-guest or are playing in another club golf competition this fall, you’re likely familiar with four-ball match play and have used common phrases like “that’s good” and “you’re on your own.” And even though each golf club might run their competitions a bit differently, by understanding those phrases from a Rules of Handicapping™ and score-posting perspective, you’ll have no issues keeping an accurate Handicap Index®.
Before we get into how to handle those two scenarios, it’s important to call out the defined term within the Rules of Handicapping that helps match-play scores remain acceptable for handicap purposes - most likely score.
Most likely score when picking up your ball
The definition of most likely score is implied with the term: It’s the number of strokes taken (including penalty strokes), plus the number of strokes you would most likely require to complete the hole from wherever you pick up.
So, if you lag your 20-foot birdie putt to tap-in distance and your opponent says, “That’s good,” you can pick up and record a par for handicap purposes – since you would most likely make that putt.
With that said, the use of most likely score can extend beyond tap-in range. So, if your partner chips in for birdie and you have 12 feet left for par, since you can’t improve the team’s score for the hole, you can pick up and use your most likely score from there as well. This time, your most likely score would be a bogey since you would most likely take two putts from that distance to hole out.
Now, let’s move on to the “You’re on your own” scenario… which translates to “I am playing the hole so poorly that I’m picking up and relying on my partner’s score for the hole.”
You might wonder – can most likely score be used from off the green as well?
The answer is yes – and there are guidelines within the Rules of Handicapping to help determine your most likely score in those scenarios. However, keep in mind that your most likely score cannot exceed your net double bogey limit – and if you’re really struggling on a particular hole, it’s likely that net double bogey will be applied.
Remember – even if your score doesn’t count for your team, you still have an acceptable score for handicap purposes.
What if the match ends before all holes are played?
Many member-guest competitions feature 9-hole matches, and since at least 9 holes must be played for a score to be acceptable, if the match ends before the final hole and you return to the clubhouse without playing the remaining hole(s), that score would not be acceptable for handicap purposes. If you do play the remaining holes, record your actual scores so that your score can contribute towards your Handicap Index.
If 18-hole matches are played and the match ends before the final hole, if you play the remaining holes, you’ll simply record your actual scores. However, if you return to the clubhouse without playing the remaining holes and the match lasted between 10-17 holes, your score must be posted hole-by-hole so that an 18-hole Score Differential™ can be determined for your round. As long as at least 9 holes were played with a corresponding 9-hole Course Rating™ and Slope Rating®, you have an acceptable score for handicap purposes.
For more information on adjusting hole scores, see Rule 3 of the Rules of Handicapping.