Local Guidance for Rule 1 – Purpose and Authorization; Obtaining a Handicap Index (includes Appendix A

Local Guidance for Rule 1 – Purpose and Authorization; Obtaining a Handicap Index (includes Appendix A – Rights and Responsibilities)

Authorization

The USGA has the exclusive right to implement and administer the Rules of Handicapping and the Course Rating System™ under the World Handicap System™ within the United States and its territories, including the computation and issuance of each Handicap Index®. All Handicap Index calculations are performed solely from the USGA Centralized Computation Service and distributed through Allied Golf Associations (AGA), where the USGA has delegated certain rights and obligations for handicap administration and oversight within defined territories.

Handicap Committee and Club Responsibilities Checklist for Authorized Golf Clubs

For a club to be authorized, it must comply with the following items to help ensure they are properly following the Rules of Handicapping. Clubs that have not completed the authorization requirements will not be permitted to use the Rules of Handicapping and the Handicap Index of its members will be set to NH (No Handicap).

If a club is called into question regarding any policies not in compliance with the Rules of Handicapping, the AGA with administration and oversight responsibilities will contact the club directly. The USGA will aid the AGA as needed during the discovery phase. If the AGA is not able to persuade the club to change its policies in order to obtain compliance or meet other conditions, the AGA will advise the club in writing that, without authorization, the club may not use any part of the World Handicap System (including the Course Rating System) and its marks, including the handicap calculation formula or use of the Course Rating™ and/or Slope Rating™ in an alternative handicap calculation for its members.

Authorized Golf Club Requirements

A golf club, which may or may not be associated with a golf course or facility, is a group of at least ten active individual members on the handicap roster. A golf club is required to have a Handicap Committee to supervise golf activities, provide peer review, as well as apply and maintain the integrity of the Rules of Handicapping.

Members of a golf club should have a reasonable and regular opportunity to play golf with each other and reside in a geographic proximity to facilitate this, with members generally within a 100-mile radius of the principal location of the golf club.

Authorization for a club to use the WHS is overseen by the local AGA. To ensure proper handicap administration and oversight, as well as practical knowledge of the Rules of Handicapping, exists at the local level, each authorized golf club must complete an education requirement within six months of the beginning of every revision of the WHS or upon onboarding, an annual assessment, and have at least 10 active members at each quarterly checkpoint. Failure to meet these requirements will result in the Handicap Index of the members of the golf club to be displayed as NH (No Handicap).

Educate and Communicate the Rules of Handicapping to Members

How well players comply with the Rules of Handicapping depends, to a large extent, on how well their responsibilities are communicated to them and their understanding of the potential consequences of not fulfilling those responsibilities. An effective Handicap Committee will continually provide the education and information the players need.

The Handicap Committee should concentrate its education efforts on the key features of the Rules of Handicapping that are most relevant to players, so that they understand:

which scores are acceptable.
the timeframe for submitting scores for handicap purposes.
how to calculate a maximum hole score for handicap purposes.
how to post scores when fewer than 18 holes are played.
how to convert the Handicap Index into a Course Handicap.
the concept of handicap allowances for different formats of play.
where to find the scoring record.
how the Handicap Index is calculated.
the Handicap Committee’s ability to post penalty scores.
the process of a handicap review.

This can be achieved through the golf club’s website, newsletters or policies and procedures document. The Handicap Committee might also consider holding a member’s information meeting as part of the overall communication and awareness process.

AGAs should be able to supply clubs with a range of materials to support this effort, including PowerPoint slides, videos, posters and/or pamphlets.

The Handicap Committee should be accessible to answer members’ questions and should contact their AGA if they are unsure about how to proceed.

Establish a Handicap Committee

In addition to the definition of the Handicap Committee within the Rules of Handicapping, it is recommended the Handicap Committee be comprised of at least three members with an odd number of members to aid when voting occurs. The Handicap Committee should be chaired by a member of the golf club. An employee is encouraged to serve on the Handicap Committee or participate in an advisory role; however, it is preferable not to have the employee serve as chair.

The Handicap Committee should develop a policies and procedures document for members of the club wishing to establish and maintain a Handicap Index (see Sample Letters).

Home Club Designation

Each player must have a home club designation. The purpose of the designation is to define which club and AGA have oversight responsibilities of the player’s scoring record. The Handicap Index of a player will be updated at 12:00 midnight local time based on the location of the AGA that the home club is affiliated. If a player is a multi-member (member of more than one club, regardless of AGA affiliation) each club’s Handicap Committee has access to the scoring record to correct any errors or omissions. Additionally, each club’s Handicap Committee can adjust the player’s Handicap Index. It is strongly encouraged that all clubs are notified and consulted before any adjustment is made. If there is a disagreement in the administration of a player’s Handicap Index, the player’s home club and AGA on record will have final authority on such matters.

The player can work with their club and/or AGA to designate the home club. The player must be an active member of the club for it to be designated as the home club. A player must not designate a home club for the purpose of obtaining a Handicap Index based on whether the club may give them an unfair advantage.

Handicap Index Based on Dominant Hand

A player must establish a Handicap Index playing from the player’s preferential side of play, known as the dominant hand. For example, if the Handicap Index is established playing left-handed, the player must continue to play left-handed and post all acceptable scores.

A player may not have a Handicap Index while playing both left-handed and right-handed concurrently. A basic premise of the Rules of Handicapping is that a player is trying to make their best score and to post every acceptable score. This includes selecting the best play for each stroke, so unless a ball is positioned requiring a deviation from the dominant side of play, the player must attempt to make the best shot for each stroke using the dominant side of play.

If a player is forced to discontinue play from the dominant hand in which the Handicap Index was established due to an injury or switches the dominant hand when learning the game, and begins play from the opposite side, the original Handicap Index must be archived, and a new scoring record must be established. The Handicap Committee should work with the AGA to remove the original Handicap Index and scoring record from further access.

Inactive Season

The Handicap Committee must confirm the club is observing the active/inactive season as determined by the AGA having jurisdiction in its area (Active and Inactive Season Schedule). Scores made at any golf course observing an inactive season are not acceptable for handicap purposes. The inactive season dates exist to address how seasonal weather can impact the conditions of a golf course. A Course Rating and Slope Rating is issued for each set of tees at a golf course, both are based on effective playing length and difficulty under “normal” conditions. In many parts of the country, there are certain months when facilities remain open but are unable to maintain regular course conditions because of weather or staffing. If scores were acceptable for handicap purposes during these times, the Handicap Index of players could be unfairly distorted.