I am concerned that some players are not following the USGA guidelines for posting scores. Your Handicap Index will not accurately reflect your true potential if all acceptable scores are not posted. And if you are playing in a tournament with an inaccurate Handicap Index, then the competition is not fair. Above all else, it is important to me that the JustGolf tournaments be as fair as I can possibly make them.
Any competitor in a JustGolf tournament who has a good round in relation to his handicap should have an excellent chance of winning a net prize. This opportunity will only present itself if all competitors are posting all their acceptable scores. I am reprinting below a column I wrote for my rules blog (Ask Linda: Golf Rules You Can Understand) in 2009 about posting scores. Please read it, and please get into the habit of posting all acceptable scores right after your round.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Ask Linda #142-To post or not to post
http://lindamillergolf.blogspot.com/
Dear Linda,
I have been having some arguments with my buddies over which scores to post and which you cannot post. Rather than bore you (and embarrass ourselves) with our disagreements, would you please review what types of scores we are required to post, and which scores we may not post?
Thanks,
Lou
Dear Lou,
Everything you ever wanted to know about posting scores can be found in “Section 5-Scores” in The USGA Handicap System manual, which can be accessed online via the following link:
http://www.usga.org/Rule-Books/Handicap-System-Manual/Handicap-Manual
For your convenience, I will summarize the parts of Section 5 that explain which scores are acceptable to post and which are not.
Post these scores
1. If you play 13 or more holes, post an 18-hole score. For the holes that are not played, count par plus any handicap strokes you would be entitled to on those holes.
2. If you play between 7 and 12 holes, post a 9-hole score.
3. Post all scores from every course that has a USGA Course Rating and Slope Rating®, both home and away, during the active season (see Ask Linda #15-post winter scores). Don’t forget to record the course and slope rating for the course you played when you post away scores.
4. Scores made in match play must be posted, even though you pick up when a putt or a hole is conceded. Record your most likely score in those situations. For example, if you are left with a 30-foot putt, add two strokes to your score; if you are within reach of the green, add three strokes to your score (one pitch and two putts).
5. Scores in stroke play competitions must be posted, even though you may have picked up on several holes because your partner had a better score.
6. Record all scores when you are playing under the Rules of Golf.
7. If you have been disqualified from a tournament, but you have an acceptable score, you must post it. An example would be a player who has been disqualified for not signing a scorecard.
Do not post these scores
1. You play less than 7 holes.
2. You play during the inactive season (see Ask Linda #15-post winter scores).
3. You don’t play your own ball (e.g., scramble, alternate shot, Scotch Chapman).
4. You don’t play according to the Rules of Golf (e.g., you play a practice round with two balls). Note that if you are playing preferred lies, you are playing by the Rules and you must post that score.
5. You play in a tournament where the number of clubs permitted is less than 14, or the type of club is limited (e.g., irons only).
Lou, please remember to apply Equitable Stroke Control (ESC)® to your score before you post. If your Course Handicap (CH) is 9 or less, the maximum score you are permitted to record for any given hole is double bogey; if your CH is 10-19, your max is 7; 20-29, max is 8; 30-39, max is 9; 40 or more, max is 10.
The USGA has provided golfers with a handicap system that allows golfers of varying abilities to have an even competition. What golfers must do to insure that this system works properly is post every acceptable score immediately after the round or as soon thereafter as possible.
Linda
Copyright © 2009 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
