It is your responsibility each week to know your current handicap index. Under the WHS, your handicap will update each day at midnight if a score has been posted or edited. JWGA will update handicaps for our play days every Friday unless the Handicap Committee determines otherwise.
1. Handicaps will be adjusted weekly and each player is responsible for verifying her handicap index and course handicap in accordance with the revision date established for that event
2. All JWGA scores will be posted by Golf Genius after a round is completed and before midnight. All non-JWGA scores should be posted regardless of venue to ensure the score will be used for the Playing Conditions Calculation (PCC).
3. Multi-club members must designate one club as their home club for handicap purposes. This means that ALL scores regardless of where played must be reflected in one place.
4. Members who joined JWGA after 10/1/85 must play to a Course Handicap of 25 or less. The Course Handicap limit for those who joined prior to 10/1/85 is 30.
Handicap FAQ
Q. What scores are acceptable for handicap posting purposes?
A. Almost all scores are acceptable because of the basic premise of the USGA Handicap System™ which states that every player will try to make the best score at each hole in every round, regardless of where the round is played, and that the player will post every acceptable round for peer review. Therefore, all of the following are acceptable scores:
When at least seven holes are played (7-13 holes are posted as a 9-hole score; 14 or more are posted as an 18-hole score)
Scores on all courses with a valid Course Rating™ and Slope Rating®
Scores in all forms of competition: match play, stroke play, and team competitions where each player plays her own ball
Scores made under The Rules of Golf
Scores played under the local rule of “preferred lies”
Scores made in an area observing an active season
Please visit Section 5-1 of the USGA Handicap System manual for further reference.
Q. How does a player post a score if conceded a stroke or does not finish a hole?
A. If a player does not finish a hole or is conceded a hole; record the most likely score for handicap purposes. A most likely score should have an “X” preceding the number. For example, player A is just off the green in two strokes and player A’s partner just holed out for a two on a par 3; therefore, player A decides to pick up. Player A determines the most likely score would have been to chip on and one putt; therefore, player A will record an X-4 on the scorecard (two strokes already taken plus 2 more strokes to complete the hole). Player A does not automatically put down the Maximum Hole Score. First player A determines the most likely score and then checks to see if the most likely score is above the maximum hole score limit. In this case, player A has a Course Handicap of 18 and under the maximum hole score (net double bogey) her maximum score is six. Recording X-4 is not above the maximum score limit and therefore, X-4 is the score that must be posted for handicap purposes.
Q. How do I post a score if a hole is not played or not played under the principles of The Rules of Golf?
A. For handicap purposes, the player must recorded a score of par plus any handicap strokes normally received for the holes not played or holes not played in accordance with The Rules of Golf. These scores should have an “X” preceding the number. For Example, player A is not able to play holes 16, 17, and 18 due to darkness. Player A has a Course Handicap of 12 and holes 17, 17, 18 are a par 5, 3, 4, and are allocated as the number 4, 16, 10 handicap holes respectively. Therefore, player A will record and X-6, X-3, X-5 on holes 17, 17 and 18 respectively.
Posting Guidelines
1. All JWGA members shall use the USGA Handicap System.
2. The following scores must be posted according to the USGA Handicap System:
* When at least 7 holes are played: 7-13 holes are posted as 9 hole scores; 14 or more are posted as 18-hole score
* Scores on all courses with a valid Course Rating and Slope Rating
* Scores in all forms of competition – match play, stroke play, team competitions such as Four Ball Stroke Play, Best Ball of Foursome, etc.
* Scores made under The Rules of Golf,
* Scores played under the local rule of “preferred lies”
* Scores made in an area observing an active season
See Section 5-1 of the USGA Handicap System Manual (www.usga.org) for further information.
3. Maximum Hole Score: A score for any hole must be reduced to a specified number of strokes over par for handicap purposes only as follows.
The maximum hole score for each player will be limited to a Net Double Bogey, calculated as follows: Par + 2 +/- handicap strokes a player receives based on their Course Handicap. Each player is responsible for adjusting her score in accordance with the Net Double Bogey formula before it is posted for handicap purposes.
4. When a hole is conceded, the score for handicap purposes shall be the most likely score she would have made, not to exceed the Net Double Bogey formula total.
5. If a player starts but does not complete a hole, she shall record the score she most likely would have made, not to exceed the Net Double Bogey maximum.
6. The JWGA endorses the USGA position on “preferred lies” and “winter rules” (App I – USGA Rules of Golf) and recommends such a local rule not be used except under extremely adverse and temporary conditions.
7. When a JWGA course has more than 5 temporary tees and/or greens, the scores are not acceptable for handicap purposes..
8. For more detailed information, consult the current USGA Handicap System and Golf Committee Manual. Copes are for sale through the USGA.