Important Message from Handicap & Rules Committee

From the Golf and Handicap/Rules Committees:

Review and Most Likely Score

Hello PMGC Members,

We have certainly been fortunate over the past six weeks of the Covid-19 pandemic crisis that our course has remained open for play (with virus mitigation restrictions) which has allowed us to get out of the house and enjoy the outdoors and occasional rounds of golf with our golfing friends. Although the computers for posting our scores have been removed from both locker rooms, we do continue to post our scores into the USGA GHIN system in a timely manner from our smart phones, tablets, and home computers by using the GHIN app or going to www.ghin.com on the web.

Most of our members are posting their scores using the GHIN application on their phones as soon as they finish playing their rounds, and we thank you for being so prompt in doing so. As you probably know, the new World Handicap System went into effect this past January and one of its new features is that handicap indexes are updated late every night, so players must post their scores into the system as soon as possible after completing their round. Prior to this year handicap indexes were updated just twice monthly, on the 1^st and 15^th, but now they are updated every day. However we have noticed that some of our members are not posting their scores accurately, and by doing so they may end up with inaccurate handicaps. Therefore, the Golf and Handicap/Rules Committees are asking your help in correcting this problem as outlined below.

First, we would like to initiate better Peer Review with regard to posting scores. The USGA stipulates in its Rules of Handicapping manual that “a score submitted for handicap purposes must be made available for peer review as soon as possible after completion of the round.” Furthermore, “the Handicap Committee should ensure a submitted score is posted to the player’s scoring record as soon as possible.” In order to better comply with these requirements we are now asking that within each group one person be designated as “official scorekeeper” and at the conclusion of each round the scorekeeper reviews the score he has with each player. This way, there should be no discrepancies when a player posts his or her score.

Next, we should discuss Most Likely Score as set forth in Section 3.3 of the handicapping manual and do our best to adhere to this requirement. Most Likely Score comes into consideration when a player starts a hole but does not putt or hole out to complete the hole. This may occur in a variety of situations such as in match play format where your opponent wins the hole before you have a chance to putt out, in better ball when you are out of the hole, or when you pick up to speed up play. What score should the player who picked up record? The USGA now says if the player’s ball lies on the green and is no farther than five feet away from the hole the player should record a score by adding 1 stroke to the number of strokes he has already taken. If his ball is beyond five feet from the hole but 20 yards or less he should “add 2 or 3 strokes, depending on the position of the ball, the difficulty of the green or its surrounds, and the ability of the player.” If the ball lies beyond 20 yards from the hole, the player should “add 3 or 4 strokes, depending on the position of the ball, the difficulty of the green, and the ability of the player.” So these are judgment calls or estimates but know that this is the correct USGA method of scoring when you pick up.

Lastly, please keep in mind that when posting into the GHIN system, the highest score you may post on any one hole is Net Double Bogey which is double bogey plus any handicap strokes you are entitled to, based upon your Course Handicap.

We hope this refresher on correct scoring procedures is helpful to each of you. Please adhere to them and be sure to designate a “scorekeeper” for your group each time you play.

Stay safe and healthy, and enjoy our wonderful course whenever you play!