Section 5 SCORES
Definitions
Within each section, all defined terms are in italics and are listed alphabetically in Section 2 - Definitions.
Fair handicapping depends upon full and accurate information regarding a player's potential scoring ability as reflected by a complete scoring record. Every player must be responsible for returning all acceptable scores, as defined in this section. For handicap purposes, all Section 4 adjustments, including Equitable Stroke Control, must be applied to all scores, including tournament scores.
a. Scores To Post
To post a 9-hole score, the player must play 7 to 12 holes, and at least 7 holes must be played under the Rules of Golf. To post an 18-hole score, the player must play at least 13 holes under the Rules of Golf. (See Decisions 5-1a/3 through 5-1a/5.)
b. Scores on All Courses
Adjusted gross scores from all courses with a USGA Course Rating and Slope Rating made during an active season, both at home and away, must be posted by the player along with the appropriate USGA Course Rating and Slope Rating. (See Decision 5-1b/1.)
c. Scores in All Forms of Competition
Scores in both match play and stroke play must be posted for handicap purposes. This includes scores made in match play, in multi-ball, or in team competitions in which players have not completed one or more holes or in which players are requested to pick up when out of contention on a hole. (See Section 4 and Decision 5-1c/1, 5-2a/5, 5-2a/7.)
d. Disqualification
A player who is disqualified from a competition, but has an acceptable score, must record an adjusted gross score for handicap purposes using Section 4-2.
Example 1: Player fails to hole out under Rule 3-2.
Example 2: Player fails to sign scorecard under Rule 6-6b.
Example 3: Player refuses to apply a Rule in stroke play which affects the rights of another player under Rule 3-4.
However, if the breach is determined to provide an advantage for the player (i.e., Rules 1-2, 1-3, subsequent offenses to Rule 14-3, etc.) the score is not acceptable for handicap purposes (See Section 5-1e (vii)).
e. Unacceptable Scores
Scores made under the following conditions are not acceptable for handicap purposes and must not be entered in the player's scoring record:
(i) When fewer than seven holes are played;
(ii) When made on a golf course in an area in which an inactive season established by the Authorized Golf Association is in effect;
(iii) When, as a condition of the competition, the maximum number of clubs allowed is less than 14, or types of clubs are limited as, for example, in a competition that allows only iron clubs;
(iv) When scores are made on a course with no USGA Course Rating or Slope Rating;
(v) When a player uses non-conforming clubs, non-conforming balls, or non-conforming tees; or when a player incurs a second breach of Rule 14-3.
(vi) When a player plays alone;
(vii) When a player ignores one or more Rules of Golf and fails to post an adjusted hole score as required under Section 4-1 and 4-2, or fails to record the appropriate penalty for a breach of rule. For example, if a player anchored the club while making a stroke during a round and did not record a penalty for doing so (See Rule 14-1b), the score would not have been played under the Rules of Golf and therefore would not be acceptable for handicap purposes.
a. General
Posting scores in person immediately following the round at the course where the round is played is the preferred way to expose scores to peer review. This method of posting should be used whenever possible. The place for returning scores from all courses should be convenient to make it as easy as possible for players to record every round played. The posted scores for the day must be immediately available to all members for peer review. (See Decision 5-2a/1.)
For handicap purposes, the following information must be returned, as soon as practical prior to the next revision so that a scoring record is up-to-date (See Decision 5-2a/2):
(i) Player's name or identification number;
(ii) Date played;
(iii) Course Name*;
(iv) USGA Course Rating and Slope Rating of the tees played;
(v) Adjusted gross score;
(vi) Score type.
Total scores may be returned and need not be recorded hole-by-hole. The Handicap Committee may require the returning or attesting of scorecards periodically in order to assist in its responsibilities, but this requirement must not be used to affect the acceptability of a score. A score is acceptable for handicap purposes regardless of whether a scorecard accompanies it. (See Decisions 5-2a/3 and 5-2a/4.)
b. Posting a Score When a Complete Round is not Played
If 13 or more holes are played, the player must post an 18-hole score. If 7 to 12 holes are played, the player must post a nine-hole score. In either case, scores for unplayed holes must be recorded as par plus any handicap strokes that the player is entitled to receive on the unplayed holes. (See Section 4-2 and 5-1a .)
Example: A player with a Course Handicap of 30 stops playing after 16 holes because of darkness. Hole 17 is a par 3 and is the number 18 handicap-stroke hole. The player will record 3 (par) plus 1 handicap stroke for an X-4 on hole 17. Hole 18 is a par 4 and is the number 12 handicap-stroke hole. The player will record 4 (par) plus 2 handicap strokes for an X-6 on hole 18.
c. Posting Nine-Hole Scores
To be acceptable for handicap purposes, nine-hole scores must meet the following conditions:
(i) The course must have a nine-hole USGA Course Rating and Slope Rating;
(ii) At least seven holes must be played. (See Section 5-1a.)
There is no restriction on the number of nine-hole scores posted to a player's scoring record. Even if a player plays a majority of nine-hole rounds, the player can still use a Handicap Index (See Section 10-2) rather than a Handicap Index (N). (See Section 10-5 for computation of a Handicap Index (N).) (See Decision 5-2c/1.)
d. Treatment of Nine-Hole Scores
Once posted, a nine-hole score will be treated as follows:
(i) Nine-hole scores must not be designated as T-Scores;
(ii) When two nine-hole scores are combined, the USGA Course Rating is the sum of each nine-hole USGA Course Rating and the Slope Rating is the average of the Slope Rating of the two nines (if the average is .5, it is rounded upward to the next whole number);
(iii) Two nine-hole scores combined to create an 18-hole score should be designated with the letter C (e.g., 85C).
(iv) Nine-hole scores are combined in the order that they are received into the player's scoring record from any club or from any combination of nines, regardless of score type. For example, a front nine middle tee score could combine with a front nine back tee score made on any course.
An 18-hole score created by the combination of two nine-hole scores will display the date and course name (if applicable) of the latest nine hole score (e.g., April 29 and May 4 = May 4).
A nine-hole score will be retained for combination with another nine-hole score until it is older than the 20th oldest 18-hole score in the scoring record. Nine-hole scores will be combined in the order they are received in the player's record, and not necessarily by date.
e. Posting a 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 Rules of Golf. The competition can be match play or stroke play. The USGA recommends that the Committee in charge of the competition should post all tournament scores.
The Committee (preferably the Handicap Committee, in consultation with the Committee in charge of the competition) must determine in advance if these conditions are met, and announce in advance whether the score must be identified by the letter "T" when posted.
f. Committee Posting a Score For a Player
If a player fails to post a score, the Handicap Committee may post the score without the player's authorization. (See Section 8-4b.) After a competition, the Committee in charge of the competition may post the scores of all competitors. The Committee must notify the players that it will post the scores in order to prevent scores from being posted by both the players and the Committee.
g. Posting a Score from an Unrated Set of Tees on a Rated Course
Authorized Golf Associations issue a USGA Course Rating and Slope Rating for the most commonly played sets of tees. If a USGA Course Rating and Slope Rating from a selected set of tees are not available for the appropriate gender, the player may apply the following procedure on a temporary basis:
• Locate the nearest set of rated tees for the appropriate gender;
• Determine the yardage difference between the set of tees being played and the rated set of tees;
• Using the following table, find the range that includes the yardage difference;
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Add the resulting table values to the ratings of the nearest set of tees rated for the appropriate gender if the unrated tees are longer than the rated tees, or subtract the resulting values if the unrated tees are shorter than the rated tees.
This method may also be used if a player plays a combination of tees. The player first determines the total yardage played and then applies the above procedure.
If the Committee in charge of a competition has used a combination of tees for a competition course, this procedure may be used. This procedure is not a substitute for a formal USGA Course Rating and Slope Rating.
For a nine-hole adjustment, the proper procedure is to use the actual yardage difference for the adjustment to the USGA Course Rating, and double the yardage difference to find the appropriate Slope Rating adjustment.
Example 1: A woman plays from the middle tees, that are not rated for women. The women's USGA Course Rating from the forward tees is 71.6, and the Slope Rating is 119. The middle tees are 396 yards longer than the forward tees. She enters the 387 to 404 yard range, and this corresponds to adding 2.2 to the USGA Course Rating and 5 to the Slope Rating of the forward tees. She will post her score with a USGA Course Rating of 73.8 (71.6 + 2.2) and a Slope Rating of 124 (119 + 5).
Example 2: A man plays nine holes from the forward tees, that are not rated for men. The men's nine-hole USGA Course Rating from the middle tees is 34.8, and the Slope Rating is 117. The forward tees are 195 yards shorter than the middle tees. He enters the 187 to 208 yard range to subtract 0.9 from the USGA Course Rating and the 385 to 406 yard range (195 x 2 = 390) to subtract 4 from the Slope Rating of the middle tees.
He will post his score with a USGA Course Rating of 33.9 (34.8 - 0.9) and a Slope Rating of 113 (117 - 4).
Note 1 : If a player plays a course that does not have the necessary men's or women's USGA Course Rating and Slope Rating, the player should notify the Authorized Golf Association that has jurisdiction in that area.
Note 2 : If the yardage difference is more than 1,250 yards for women or 802 yards for men, the player finds one-half of the yardage difference on the table, doubles the corresponding numbers, and applies the procedure above. For example, if a man plays a yardage difference of 1,400 yards, he doubles the values for 700 yards from the table, and adds 6.4 (3.2 x 2) to the USGA Course Rating and 16 (8 x 2) to the Slope Rating.