3.2 When a Hole is Not Played

3.2a Reason for Not Playing One or More Holes

There are various reasons why a round is not completed or one or more holes are not played during the round. Valid reasons might include:

• Fading light or weather preventing the continuation of play,
• Player injury or illness,
• A match finishing before the final hole,
• The course being played has fewer than 9 or 18-holes because:

  • A hole (or holes) has been declared out of play by the Committee for maintenance or reconstruction purposes, or

  • The Committee has organized a competition over a non-standard number of holes, for example during the winter months.

• Any other situations considered reasonable by the Committee.

If it is determined that the player does not complete a round or does not play one or more holes for an invalid reason, the score is not acceptable for handicap purposes. Invalid reasons might include:

• Weather that does not prevent the continuation of play.

• Not playing a particular hole on a golf course because the player knows it usually causes them difficulty and they are likely to return a high hole score.

• Not playing the final holes on a golf course in order to avoid submitting a high score (if playing badly) or a low score (if playing well).

• Any other situations considered unreasonable by the Committee.

If the Handicap Committee determines that the player’s actions were for the purpose of gaining an unfair scoring advantage, it may consider posting a penalty score to the player’s scoring record (see Rule7.1 Handicap Committee).

3.2b Score to Record When One or More Holes Not Played

A score from an incomplete round or when one or more holes have not been played may only be used for handicap purposes if, among other things:

• The round has been played over at least the minimum number of holes required for either a 9-hole or an 18-hole score to be acceptable (see Rule 2.2 Minimum Number of Holes Played for Score to be Acceptable), and

• The reason for not completing the round was valid (see Rule 3.2 When a Hole is Not Played).

Where the Handicap Committee determines that one or more holes has not been played for a valid reason, a 9-hole or 18-hole Score Differential will be created using their expected score for the hole or holes not played.

Notes:

1. If the player’s reason for not playing one hole or more holes is considered invalid, the score is not acceptable for handicap purposes, but the Handicap Committee may consider posting a penalty score to the player’s scoring record (see Rule7.1 Handicap Committee).

2. If the outcome of a competition has been decided before all holes have been completed and the player decides to play any of the remaining holes, the actual scores for those remaining holes should be recorded.

3. A hole is considered to have been played if it has been started.

Rule 3.2b Clarifications:

3.2b/1 – Procedure for Calculating a Score Differential using an Expected Score The calculation of an expected score is automated and is used to attribute a statistical value against any hole or holes not played within an acceptable 9-hole or 18-hole round so that a 9-hole or 18-hole Score Differential can be calculated, subject to other provisions set out within the Rules of Handicapping. The procedure for calculating a Score Differential using an expected score can be summarized as follows: An expected Score Differential for the hole or holes not played is calculated, based on a given Handicap Index and a course of standard difficulty. A Score Differential for the holes played is calculated using the player’s actual scores and the rating value of the holes played. The Score Differential from the holes played is combined with the expected Score Differential to produce either a 9-hole or 18-hole Score Differential. 3.2b/2 – Use of Net Par for a Hole Not Played In certain circumstances, and only when approved by the Authorized Association, a score of net par can be used for a hole or holes not played, in place of the expected score. Examples of situations where a score of net par would be acceptable include: When the player is required to submit an adjusted gross score, including scores for any holes not played, or When one or more holes are out of play due to construction or maintenance, which affects all players over a period of time. 3.2b/3 - Designation of Holes Not Played Where one or more holes have not been played during the round and the player is not required to submit an adjusted gross score, the player must submit hole-by-hole scores and designate which holes were not played as prescribed by the Authorized Association. This is to ensure that all of the procedures set out within the Rules of Handicapping can be carried out accurately, including the calculation of the expected score for the hole or holes not played.