Article Archives
If you have Handicap Questions please contact our Handicap Director, Kay Robinson- Posting Winter Rules, by Mary Kate Kemp, USGA Assistant Director, Course Rating and Handicapping.
- Handicapping Refresher, by Sharon Ziegler, Former Handicap Membership Director, PWGA.
- The Human Element, The Golf Journal, a USGA Publication.
- Guidelines for Posting Tournament Scores, Sharon Ziegler, Former Handicap Membership Director, PWGA.
The fundamental principle of playing the ball as it lies means that winter rules, or preferred lies, are outside The Rules of Golf. Being a hearty bunch, though, golfers often play during and just after inclement weather, when course conditions can be less than ideal. As a result, some clubs employ a local rule, allowing golfers to improve the lie of their balls to promote fair play or to protect the course.
The question is should rounds played under these circumstances be posted for handicapping purposes? The answer is yes; such rounds must be posted during the active season because the use of preferred lies or winter rules doesn’t negate a score for handicapping purposes.
On the other hand, rounds played in the in active-season (defined by the state orregional golf association) are notacceptable for handicap purposes, because maintaining course difficulty related to the ratings issued is difficult, if not impossible, during this time of year.
The use of preferred lies has pitfalls besides being outside the rules. It tends to lower handicap indexes, thus penalizing golfers in competition with players whose scores are made without preferred lies. Extended use of winter rules also place players at a disadvantage when competing at a course where the ball must be played as it lies.
Since we are well into the golf season now might be the time to review a few things we went over at the beginning of the year.
The question of conceded putts and incomplete holes is frequently asked. In stroke play, a player is required under Rule 3-2 to hole out at every hole. However, in some special forms of stroke play (see Rules 31-32) there are instances where holing out is not a requirement. When a player fails to hole out, in either stroke play or match play, the Handicap System requires data that is reflective of what transpired that will help in predicting potential ability. Section 4-1 of the USGA Handicap system Manual states: "If a player starts but does not complete a hole or is conceded a stroke, he shall record for handicap purposes the score he most likely would have made. The most likely score consists of the number of strokes already taken, plus, in his best judgment, the number of strokes that the player would need to complete the hole from that position more than half the time."
Another problem seems to be how to score if you take a "Mulligan." You do not add a stroke to your score. Mulligans are not recognized under the Rules of Golf but in some instances if it is used on a single hole, for handicap purposes, the hole score made with the mulligan is tossed out and replaced with a hole score that is not considered out of the ordinary for the player, based on your Course Handicap. The player's score becomes par, plus any handicap strokes the player should receive, on the hole in question. A player with a Course Handicap of eighteen receives a stroke on every hole, so that particular player's hole score would be par plus the one stroke, or a bogey.
Another instance to use "par plus strokes" would be if you have a temporary tee box and the yardage has been adjusted in any way. Contact your local association and arrangements will be made to have the hole re-rated.
If you haven't sent for your Uncle Snoopy books from USGA do so now. You may request them from USGA, P.O. Box 708, Far Hills, New Jersey 07931-0708. The letter must be on your club letter-head (you can create one if you don't have any) and state how many you want and that you do not intend to sell them.
Now for the latest. As you are all aware now the new software for the handicap system has been issued. Some clubs are up and running smoothly, others are not but the glitches are being ironed out. Posting scores is quite simple, just read the top of the screen and do what it tells you. You have the option to review the posting before hitting the final enter key and make changes if you make an error. Once all the problems are taken care of the program will be wonderful to use and quite simple.
Don't forget to visit our website at www.golfpwga.org for the latest look and information.
"Happy Golfing"
Sharon Ziegler
Golf is a game of honor. Players are expected to call penalties on themselves. The other competitors in a tournament "protect the field" by monitoring each other in a group and, at the end, placing an attesting signature on a scorecard. In that vein, "peer review" is the method by which players attest to the ability of those in a club, through monitoring playing and posting of scores.
The game's code of honor means that even a hint of cheating or dishonesty can tarnish an individual. Every golfer has experienced the uncomfortable moment of asking, or being asked, whether a ruling was administered properly or the right score was reported for a hole. But we are less frequently questioned on whether a round was posted correctly for handicap purposes, or posted at all. Such serious infractions cannot be ignored, lest they challenge the sense of honor as it applies to handicapping.
Perhaps the most serious challenge to an amateur is being summoned to answer a handicap committee's intention to adjust the player's handicap index. These meetings are the last step of peer review. Many players would be surprised to learn they have no inherent right to have a USGA handicap index and that it can be revoked with just cause.
As in the U.S. legal system, each golfer is innocent until proven otherwise. The proceedings can have the appearance of a courtroom cross-examination with the committee as jury and judge. Some golfers may claim the proceeding is the result of a vendetta, but handled properly an appearance before a handicap committee is an opportunity to present information that determines a player's proper index.
These meetings are conducted at the club level; the USGA sets handicap policy, but gives clubs the latitude to administer those policies. Why would the USGA not directly control each case? There are more than 16,000 courses in the USGA's jurisdiction. Its mission is to create a system that can be implemented everywhere.
Once a golf club is established, a handicap committee is required to oversee the handicap system. It is one of the most important bodies at the club level, accountable for ensuring the game is played on a fair and equitable basis. While having a club employee sit on the committee is important, the chairman should be a member of the club. This is not just for show or policy; a peer will make a better police force than an employee.
Section 8-4b of the USGA Handicap System cites five circumstances that make it necessary for a committee to make adjustments to an index. Most people would consider three of these benign: a player improving faster than periodic calculations will reflect potential scoring ability; a temporary disability, such as recent surgery; and numerous away scores changing an index.
The other two provisions under Section 8-4b, however, are strongly worded: failure to post scores and player manipulation of rounds. These provisions allow a committee to post the score or penalty score for an individual who fails to post. It allows adjustment or withdrawal of a handicap index for stopping play before the end of a round to avoid posting; repeatedly playing more than one ball to avoid a valid score; deliberately reporting more or fewer strokes than taken; or taking extra strokes to inflate a score.
Before the meeting, the committee will gather all information, including statements of other players. Before any adjustment under Section 8-4b, a committee must give the player the opportunity to present evidence. Although no studies have been conducted, empirical data indicates that more than 50 percent of these meetings end with a handicap committee reducing a player's index. But a significant number are not altered.
Handled properly, an appearance before a handicap committee is an opportunity for a player to present information that attests to his or her index. It is the reason each club needs a strong and vigilant committee, to safeguard golf's code of honor.
Recently, after the completion of our area workshops, it became apparent a recommendation regarding the posting of T-Scores was needed.
According to the USGA Handicap System and The Rules of Golf, "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 principles of the Rules of Golf.
Using the above definition as a guideline, the committee in charge of the competition shall determine in advance if these conditions are met, and announce in advance whether the score shall be identified by the letter "T" when posted.
Routine events, such as regular playdays, are not normally to be designated as T-Scores because they are not significant in the traditions, schedules, formats and memberships of the club. Nine-hole scores are not to be designated as T-Scores.
Examples of intra-club competition scores that should be posted as tournament scores when they meet the above conditions are: low gross - low net competitions, four-ball match or stroke - play competitions, Stableford competitions, and club championships which are stroke or match play, scratch or with handicap.
Examples of inter-club competition scores that should be posted as tournament scores when they meet the above conditions are: team matches, competitions restricted by age, member-guest competitions, qualifying rounds for city, state, and national competitions, and competitions conducted by golf associations.
The Pacific Women's Golf Association recommends that all our member clubs follow these guidelines in selecting which competitions shall be posted as "T-Scores", the final decision being made by their committee at the local level.
Thank you
Sharon Ziegler
