Topic - Most Likely Score
Know Before You Play:
Sometimes in formats like match play or four-ball stroke play, you may start a hole but not finish it – perhaps your opponent concedes a putt, or you can’t improve on your partner’s score. In these cases, you can still post a score for handicap purposes using most likely score. This score includes the strokes you've already taken (including penalty strokes), plus the number of strokes you most likely would have needed to finish the hole from your position.
To estimate your most likely score, use the guidelines in the Rules of Handicapping, and ask yourself: “What would most likely happen from here?” For example, if you’re lying 4 on the green with a 15-foot putt remaining, it’s reasonable to assume you’d two-putt – making your most likely score a 6.
One important note: your most likely score can’t exceed your maximum hole score for handicap purposes, known as net double bogey. If you post scores hole-by-hole, your score posting app will automatically apply that limit.
Additional Resources:
- Quick Read Flipbook - Player Reference Guide on the Rules of Handicapping