getting a handicap after 15 years with out one.

[bjgolfer]

How long does the USGA keep your scores and handicap??? I am going to get one again now that I am playing again. I had one long time ago and was wondering if it just picks up where I left off or do I start from scratch.

 

Also if you start from scratch, how many rounds does it take to establish one??

 

thanks

brad

[jjj912]

The handicap is based on the lowest 10 scores out of the last 20 scores. However, they will give you a handicap when you have 5 scores entered.

 

Here's what they do for players who haven't maintained a handicap for a while:

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6-1/1. Procedure for Player who Discontinues Play for Lengthy Period and Then Resumes Play

 

Q: A player with an established Handicap Index discontinues play for a lengthy period, and then resumes play. Should the player use the last Handicap Index on resumption of play or establish a new Handicap Index?

 

A: The player does not have a Handicap Index until the next scheduled handicap revision. The player’s club Handicap Committee may issue a Handicap Index (M) sooner if at least five scores exist in the scoring record.

 

If the scoring record of the player is unavailable when resuming play, the player has no Handicap Index until five scores have been posted and a handicap revision passes.

-----

 

I'm not exactly sure what it means. It doesn't answer the question very clearly. I think it's saying that you don't have a handicap and would start from scratch, but I don't know.

[blisgal]

You need to play 5 rounds before you get a handicap. Don't forget about Equittable Stroke Control.

Nobody likes to play against the "bouta" player. You know the guy who says I shoot 'bouta' 50 for 9 holes and then goes out and pars 9 holes. Be fair.

[JeffreySpicoli]

You need to play 5 rounds before you get a handicap. Don't forget about Equittable Stroke Control.

Nobody likes to play against the "bouta" player. You know the guy who says I shoot 'bouta' 50 for 9 holes and then goes out and pars 9 holes. Be fair.

 

Won't he need to establish a handicap before he can apply ESC?

[jjj912]

Good question. I don't know. I applied ESC to my first six scores. I already knew about what my handicap was so I looked up that number in the ESC table and went from there. If you don't know about what your handicap is, I suggest using the one for a 40 handicapper.

 

Thinking about my own handicap for a moment. I've got just six scores so far and just recently got a handicap index for the first time. I guess my next question is do I keep applying the ESC I was using for the first six scores or should I use the ESC based on my newly minted index? I expect the index to rise substantially because the single score that is being used to compute the index was made on a short par 58 course and I play it disproportionately better than I do a par 72 course.

[JeffreySpicoli]

jjj912, you made me look it up!

 

From the USGA Handicap Manual:

 

4-3. Equitable Stroke Control

All scores for handicap purposes, including tournament scores, are subject to the application of Equitable Stroke Control (ESC). This mandatory procedure reduces high hole scores for handicap purposes in order to make handicaps more representative of a player's potential ability.

 

A handicap determined from scores to which ESC has not been applied may not be termed a Handicap Index.

 

ESC is used when a player's actual or most likely score exceeds a maximum number, based on the table below, for the player's Course Handicap from the tees played. (For nine-hole Equitable Stroke Control table, See Section 10-5c.)

 

 

Example: A player with a Course Handicap of 6 has a maximum number of par plus two strokes (double bogey) for any hole. A player with a Course Handicap of 13 has a maximum number of 7 for any hole regardless of par. A player with a Course Handicap of 42 has a maximum number of 10 for any hole.

 

A player without an established Handicap Index must use the maximum Handicap Index of 36.4 for men, or 40.4 for women, converted to a Course Handicap, to determine a maximum ESC number.

 

There is no limit to the number of individual hole scores on which an Equitable Stroke Control reduction may be made.

 

Example: The round of a player with a Course Handicap of 23 includes individual hole scores of 9, 10, and 11. ESC reduces each hole score to the applicable maximum of 8. The player's adjusted gross score enters the scoring record for handicap purposes 6 strokes less than had ESC not been applied (9-8) + (10-8) + (11-8) = 6.

 

In consulting the Equitable Stroke Control table, a player uses the Course Handicap derived from that player's actual Handicap Index, disregarding any strokes added or subtracted because of a condition of competition, a handicap allowance, players competing from different tees, or men and women from the same tees. (See Sections 3-5, 9-3c, and 9-4.)

 

Example 1: A player with a Handicap Index of 35.4 and a Course Handicap of 39 might enter a competition in which the conditions of the competition establish a maximum Handicap Index limit of 25.4, which would yield a Course Handicap of 28. When applying ESC, that player uses the Course Handicap of 39.

 

Example 2: A player with a Course Handicap of 30 might play in a four-ball stroke play competition in which the handicap allowance is 90 percent, or 27 strokes. When applying ESC, that player uses the Course Handicap of 30.

 

Example 3: A player with a Handicap Index of 25.4 and a Course Handicap of 28 might enter a competition in which players are competing from different tees. The difference between the higher-rated set of tees (a USGA Course Rating of 73.0) and the lower-rated set of tees (a USGA Course Rating of 71.2) is 2 strokes (73.0-71.2=1.8 rounded to 2). From the course with the USGA Course Rating of 73.0, the player would receive two additional strokes, which would give the player a Course Handicap of 30 (see Decision 3-5/1 for the only exception). However, when applying ESC, the player uses a Course Handicap of 28.

 

Example 4: A player with a Handicap Index of 25.4 and a Course Handicap of 28 is in a tournament where the player shot a score of 92 without applying ESC. The player turns in the score of 92 for the tournament, but must include any ESC adjustments when posting for handicap purposes.

 

Under no circumstances must the procedures of this section be used by a player to manipulate a Handicap Index. The Handicap Index of a player who uses this section for such a purpose must be adjusted or withdrawn by the Handicap Committee under Section 8-4.

 

Emphasis is mine.