Author: Handicap Committee

Exceptional Tournament Score Probability

USGA Handicapping Manual 2008-2011

Appendix E – Exceptional Tournament Score Probability Table

Net Differential hdcp. 0-5 hdcp. 6-12 hdcp.13-21 hdcp. 22-30 hdcp. 30+
0 5 5 6 5 5
-1 10 10 10 8 7
-2 23 22 21 13 10
-3 57 51 43 23 15
-4 151 121 87 40 22
-5 379 276 174 72 35
-6 790 536 323 130 60
-7 2349 1200 552 229 101
-8 20111 4467 1138 382 185
-9 48219 27877 3577 695 359
-10 125000 84300 37000 1650 874

The values in the table are the odds of shooting a net differential* EQUAL TO OR BETTER THAN the number in the left column.

*A net differential is the subtraction of a player’s Handicap Index from the Handicap Differential for a particular tournament score. This becomes a negative value when the player scores much better than the player’s Handicap Index.

Example: A player with a Handicap Index of 10.5 shoots a 74 from a set of tees with a USGA Course Rating of 71.2 and a Slope Rating of 126.

74 – 71.2 = 2.8 x 113 / 126 = 2.5 Handicap Differential

2.5 – 10.5 = – 8.0 Net Differential

From the chart, the odds are 4,467 to 1 of this occurring.

Did I Play to My Handicap?

By Eric Lahman, Coordinator, Handicapping & Course Rating

To acquire a better understanding of the USGA Handicap System ™ , wouldn’t it be nice to know what “Playing to Your Handicap” means and whether you should do this every time? The system is built around the concept of Course Rating ™ , which impacts us all even though its definition ties to a “scratch” golfer. When you are given handicap strokes, you receive the number of strokes necessary to play to the level of a scratch golfer. If the scratch golfer is supposed to shoot the Course Rating, then those handicap strokes relate to the Course rating as well.

We use the phrase “target score” regarding playing to your Handicap. How is a target score determined? First, go through the normal process of converting a Handicap Index to a Course Handicap. Then add that Course Handicap to the Course Rating. For example, a player with a USGA Handicap Index of 16.3 decides to play a course with a USGA Course Rating of 68.9 and a Slope Rating of 129. That player converts the 16.3 to a Course Handicap of 19 (using Course Handicap Tables or “Conversion Charts”), then adds 19 to 68.9, for a total of 88 (rounded). If the player shoots 88, that player has played to his or her Handicap.

So playing to your handicap is not exclusively a matter of whether you have hit the ball well or the number of putts you had, but a measurable number. It is NOT how your net score relates to par.

How often should a player do this? Recognize that your worst scores are not truly utilized in the calculation of a Handicap Index; only the best 10 scores are utilized and the worst 10 are disregarded, then the best 10 are averaged. This ratio tells us playing to a handicap happens less than half of the time. Including all of the handicap formula, the resulting probability is that playing to your handicap happens only once out of four to five rounds. The USGA isn’t out to discourage you, but in order to maintain a semblance of equitable competition for players with differing skills in varying formats, we have determined this probability as the best choice for our formula. If we used all scores, those players with higher handicaps would see their values increase significantly, while those with lower values would not increase as much. This would tip the balance of the system heavily toward higher handicap players. We believe there should be an incentive toward improving one’s game.

We can’t all be scratch golfers, but we can set a target to strive for to play to our handicap – and we can determine what that means. And don’t get discouraged if you only play to your handicap 20-25 percent of the time.

Member Score Posting Policy

Poplar Creek Golf Club Zero Tolerance Policy

Our Zero Tolerance Policy “Effective on February 15, 2003 and revised January 1, 2008 states, The Handicap Committee will continue frequent audits of score posting by members of the Poplar Creek Golf Club.

Any player found to be in violation of any of the following items will be subject to review by the Disciplinary Committee:

a. Failure to post an acceptable score as soon as practicable after completion of a round or waiting until after the new handicap is calculated for the following month before posting previous months scores;

b. Posting erroneous scores;

c. Stopping play after 6 holes to avoid posting scores

If a player only completes 6 holes no posting is required. Completing 7 to 12 holes requires posting a 9 hole score and completing 13 or more holds requires posting an 18 hole score. Use Equitable Stroke Control when posting;

d. Repeatedly playing more than one ball to avoid posting scores;

e. Not adjusting hole scores under USGA Equitable Stroke Control Rules;

Handicap  Maximum Number on Any Hole
9 or less Double Bogey
10 through 19 7
20 through 29 8
30 through 39 9
40 or more 10

 

f. Deliberately reporting more or fewer strokes to actually scored;

g. Deliberately taking extra strokes to inflate a score;

h. Playing multiple tees during a round and not posting a score;

i. Repeated violations of the USGA Rules of Golf in tournament play.

If the Disciplinary Committee votes that penalty action is required the matter will be forwarded to the Board of Directors for review and determination of penalties to be incurred by the player. Penalties incurred could range from probation to removal of the player from the club roster depending on the findings in the Disciplinary Committee’s report. The player will be notified by mail of the Board’s decision and has a right to appeal the decision at the next Board of Director’s meeting.