“The purpose of the USGA Handicap System is to make the game of golf more enjoyable by enabling players of differing abilities to compete on an equitable basis…. Two basic premises underlie the USGA Handicap System, namely that each player will try to make the best score at every hole in every round, regardless of where the round is played, and that the player will post every acceptable round for peer review. The player and the player’s Handicap Committee have joint responsibility for adhering to these premises.” (From the 2019 USGA Handicap System Manual.[1])
Posting guidelines
- Scores must be posted for all acceptable rounds played during the active season of the course played. Handicap Indexes are updated daily year round, including during the inactive season.
- Post the same day. Or ASAP.
- Post hole-by-hole.
- Maximum hole score for handicap posting[2] is net double bogey. (Don’t need to know or worry about this if posting hole-by-hole as software will automatically adjust the hole score.)
- Holes with temporary tees or greens that significantly altered the length of a hole are considered not played.
- A regular length hole is considered “played” if it was started.
- For holes started but not finished – for example match play holes conceded – post the most likely score on that hole (not to exceed net double bogey). See these guidelines.
- Post a 9-hole score if exactly 9 holes were played.
- If between 10 and 17 holes were played, post hole-by-hole, skipping the holes not played. GHIN software will calculate the expected score differential. (This is new as of 2024. The resulting posted score will look odd, but the differential will be correct.)
- Scores from JPMGC stroke play tournaments will be posted on the player’s behalf.
- Match play tournament scores, including four-ball[3], should be posted by the player. See After the match on the Match Play page,
The Handicap Committee will occasionally adjust a handicap to better reflect a player’s ability.
Active Season
- Scores should only be posted from rounds played during the active season in the area where the round was played.
- WA Golf handicap active season is March 1st through November 14th.
- Scores made in Washington during this period should be posted. (The significant date is the date the round was played, not the date it is posted.)
- Scores in other areas of the country (or world) should be posted if the round was played during that location’s active season.
Reference
GHIN (USGA Golf Handicap Information Network) – used to post scores.
[1] The manual was replaced in 2020, but this is still the best summary available.
[2] This is only for the score to be posted. For the score that counts in competitions, there is no maximum.
[3] Four-ball is sometimes called “best-ball”, see rule 23.1 for details.