Topic - Competitions and Handicapping
Know Before You Play:
When you play in a competition, there’s a lot going on behind the scenes. Here’s what you should know about how your Handicap Index® is used and what to expect.
The Competition Committee may set entry or eligibility requirements, such as a maximum Handicap Index or Playing Handicap™. While your Playing Handicap is used for competition scoring, your full Course Handicap™—based on your current Handicap Index—is used to calculate the score posted for handicap purposes.
Handicap allowances vary by format (stroke play, match play, team formats) and will be clearly communicated. The Competition Committee selects the stroke index allocation, which determines where strokes are received. They also should announce who is responsible for the posting of scores for handicap purposes – where practical, the USGA recommends that the Competition Committee post scores. Either way, the Competition Committee must also clarify who is responsible for posting scores and whether they will be marked with a “C” for competition.
Handicap allowances vary by format (stroke play, match play, team formats) and will be clearly communicated. The Competition Committee selects the stroke index allocation, which determines where strokes are received. They should also announce who is responsible for posting scores for handicap purposes—where practical, the USGA recommends that the Committee handle score posting. In all cases, it must be clarified who is responsible and whether scores will be marked with a “C” for competition.
Helpful Hint: If you started a hole but didn’t finish it for a valid reason (such as the concession of a hole in match play), you can still post a score using most likely score (see Rule 3.3. in the Rules of Handicapping).
In multi-round competitions played over consecutive days, the Committee decides whether your Handicap Index remains unchanged—this is strongly recommended. Regardless, scores should be posted daily.
Additional Resources:
Read the Rules: