Submitting a Score
Principle of the Rule:
Rule 4 covers the process for the submission of acceptable scores for handicap purposes, both to obtain an initial Handicap Index and to maintain an established Handicap Index.
Timely submission of scores by a player, or anyone else responsible or authorized to submit scores on their behalf, allows for responsive updates and provides a real-time measure of the player’s golfing ability.
This Rule also outlines the information that players are required to submit for acceptable scores and how these scores can be verified.
4.1
Information Required for Scoring Record
4.1a/1
When Par on Scorecard Differs From Par Recorded in Golf Club Terminal or Other Device Used For Submitting Scores
The Authorized Association or, at the discretion of the National Association the golf club, is responsible for adjudicating par. Therefore, in situations where a player is required to submit adjusted hole scores for handicap purposes and the correct par values for the golf course played are unclear, the player should confirm the correct par values before submitting their hole scores for handicap purposes.
4.4
Certification of a Score
4.4/1
Clarification of Meaning of Peer Review as a Method of Certification of Scores
In some jurisdictions, peer review is used as a method of verifying a player’s score or corroborating a player’s demonstrated ability. This is either instead of, or as well as, the requirement for a marker to certify the player’s score with a signature. Peer review is normally conducted by someone:
- Playing in the same group or who was present during the round, and/or
- Who is a member of the same golf club as the player.
In all cases, it must be someone who:
- Has formed a reasonable basis from which to provide support for a score that has been posted or challenge the player on any anomalies in the posted score, or
- Has knowledge of the player’s demonstrated ability and can reasonably verify or challenge the Handicap Index issued to the player.
Challenges or disputes should be raised with the player and/or reported to the Handicap Committee for consideration.
An entity that is authorized, in accordance with the structure set out by the United States Golf Association (USGA) and R&A Rules Limited (The R&A).
To implement and administer the Rules of Handicapping within its jurisdiction and to carry out the responsibilities as delegated to it by the authority through which it is authorized.
Such an entity must be a Multi-National, National or Regional Association, Federation or Union.
An organization that is permitted, through affiliation to its Authorized Association, to administer and manage the Handicap Index of those players who have designated it as their home club, in accordance with the requirements of the Rules of Handicapping.
To qualify for affiliation, a golf club may be required to satisfy certain requirements as determined by its Authorized Association.
The score that a scratch player would generally be expected to achieve on a hole under normal course and weather conditions, allowing for two strokes on the putting green (see Appendix F). The Authorized Association or, at the discretion of the National Association the golf club, is responsible for adjudicating par (see Appendix A).
The score that a scratch player would generally be expected to achieve on a hole under normal course and weather conditions, allowing for two strokes on the putting green (see Appendix F). The Authorized Association or, at the discretion of the National Association the golf club, is responsible for adjudicating par (see Appendix A).
An area of land where golf is played, made up of the following five areas as defined in the Rules of Golf:
- The general area,
- The teeing area a player must play from in starting the hole being played,
- All penalty areas,
- All bunkers, and
- The putting green of the hole being played.
Each hole may have multiple teeing areas and, for handicap purposes, a golf course is made up of a designated set of tees on each hole. As such, each set of tees (or golf course) should have a separate Course Rating and Slope Rating, including one for each gender where appropriate.
The score that a scratch player would generally be expected to achieve on a hole under normal course and weather conditions, allowing for two strokes on the putting green (see Appendix F). The Authorized Association or, at the discretion of the National Association the golf club, is responsible for adjudicating par (see Appendix A).
An individual who joins a golf club in a manner determined by club policy, which allows the player to obtain a Handicap Index.
An organization that is permitted, through affiliation to its Authorized Association, to administer and manage the Handicap Index of those players who have designated it as their home club, in accordance with the requirements of the Rules of Handicapping.
To qualify for affiliation, a golf club may be required to satisfy certain requirements as determined by its Authorized Association.
The measure of a player’s demonstrated ability calculated against the Slope Rating of a golf course of standard playing difficulty (that is, a course with a Slope Rating of 113) (see Rule 5.2).