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Michigan Women's Golf Association |
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Michigan Women’s Golf Association
Handicaps and Indexes
All
You Need to Know About Posting Scores,
MWGA - A Driving Force In Women's Golf! Visit our web site at www.MWGolf.org Email: Handicap@mwgolf.org
Created by:
Table of Contents
Welcome to the MWGA
All MWGA members receive a GAM membership, which includes the USGA & GAM Alliance Membership Program and membership into the GAM/USGA handicap system as an MWGA member.
The information in this booklet can be found on the MWGA website, www.mwgolf.org, under Posting Scores.
Understanding Indexes and Handicaps
Why should I get an official USGA Handicap Index? A USGA Handicap Index allows players of varying abilities to play golf with each other on equal footing. It represents a player’s potential playing ability. In addition, the MWGA, GAM, USGA, and other tournaments require that a competitor have a USGA Handicap Index to participate.
How can I get and maintain a Handicap Index? As a member of MWGA, you belong to GAM and can establish your index through us for no additional fees. To establish your official USGA Index, you will need to post a minimum of five 18-hole scores (ten 9-hole scores, or equivalent number of nine and eighteen hole scores). Of course, the more scores you post, the more representative your index. To maintain a current index, you should continue to post all adjusted gross scores (scores must be adjusted for unfinished holes and ESC, see definitions on page 3 and procedures on page 2) for rounds played under the Rules of Golf. You will have immediate access to your updated records from the handicap menu on the GAM website at www.gam.org.
What is the difference between an index and a handicap? Many people are confused by the terms index and handicap. · Your USGA Index is the measurement of your potential ability on a course of standard playing difficulty. · Your Course Handicap uses your index along with the slope rating from the tees being played and the slope rating of a standard course (113) to determine the number of handicap strokes you receive on that particular golf course. Example: if you have a USGA Index of 19.4 and are playing on a course with a slope of 122, your course handicap would be 21. Use the Conversion Tables found at all GAM member courses or take your:
USGA
Index
´
Slope Rating
¸
113 = Handicap
Using the example above: 19.4 ´ 122 ¸ 113 = 21 1 Definitions
Adjusted Gross Score is the player’s gross score adjusted for unfinished holes, conceded strokes, holes not played or not played under the Rules of Golf and Equitable Stroke Control (ESC).
Course Rating (CR) is the evaluation of playing difficulty of a course, by gender, for a scratch golfer under normal conditions and is based on yardage and other obstacles. Equitable Stroke Control (ESC) is the downward adjustment of individual hole scores for handicap purposes in order to make handicaps more representative of a player's potential ability. ESC sets a maximum score that a player can post on any hole depending on that player's Course Handicap. ESC is used only when a player's actual or most likely score exceeds the maximum number based on the following table. Players posted scores must be adjusted to conform to ESC.
Example: A player with a 24 Course Handicap scores a 98 for an 18-hole round. Scores on all holes except two were an 8 or less. On one hole she scored a 10 and on another hole she scored a 9. The player must adjust these two scores to 8's and will report her adjusted gross score for the round as 95. Handicap Differential is the difference between a player’s adjusted gross score and the USGA Course Rating of the course on which the score was made, multiplied by 113, then divided by the Slope Rating.
(Gross Score – CR) x 113 ¸ SR = Handicap Differential (rounded to one decimal place)
Slope Rating (SR) is the measurement of the relative difficulty of a course, by gender, for players who are not scratch golfers. Trend Index is an estimate of your handicap index using scores posted that are not effective until the next posting period. 2 Proper Way to Post Scores
Use the Proper Course Rating (CR) and Slope Rating (SR) · Ratings are generated for men and women based on a set of tees. If you are playing tees not rated for your gender, you must adjust the SR and CR based on the yardage you actually played. To do this take the ratings for your gender that is closest to the yardage you played. Calculate the difference between the rated yardage and the actual yardage, then apply this difference to the Women’s Ratings Adjustments table (page 5-7) to determine what you should add or subtract from the CR and SR from the rated tee for your gender. · Women cannot simply use the men’s rating when a women’s rating does not exist. The rating adjustment must be used.
Adjust Gross Scores for ESC and Unfinished Holes You should post all adjusted gross scores played under the Rules of Golf and within the guidelines listed below. In Michigan, we have an active season that runs from about April 1 to about October 31 (see the current year revision schedule for the exact dates). You should post your scores any time you play between those dates or when you play in another state during their active season. Here are some guidelines for posting scores to your handicap record:
· Adjust your gross scores for Equitable Stroke Control (ESC), as shown on page 2. · Post your adjusted gross scores when you play at least 13 holes in an 18-hole round or at least 7 holes in a 9-hole round. On the holes that you did not play, you should take par plus any handicap strokes that you were entitled to take. · Post a score even if you pickup on holes or are conceded holes. For handicap purposes, record your most likely score preceded by an “X”. The score should not exceed your ESC limit. · Post your adjusted gross scores from all courses that have a USGA Course and Slope Rating for your gender. Use the Women’s Ratings Adjustments table if you do not play from the rated tees. If a course does not have a current rating, you should not post those scores. · Post your adjusted gross scores from any form of competition where the majority of holes are played under the Rules of Golf.
Post Scores Online or Mail to MWGA Handicap Director Scores are to be posted through the Internet using the GAM website, www.gam.org (see page 8 for instructions.) Use your GAM Member Username and Password. If you cannot post at home or work on the Internet, scores can be reported to the MWGA Handicap Director or posted from computers available at most courses and at MWGA tournaments. For more information, email Handicap@mwgolf.org, see the NEWSLINX, or go to www.mwgolf.org then select Posting Scores. 3 How Is My Handicap Index Calculated? The USGA Handicap Formula involves a mathematical formula that takes your score and course difficulty into account. Refer to the Definitions on page 2 to understand the following terms. Your Handicap Index is calculated by using up to the last 20 differentials, taking the average of the eligible differentials, then multiplying by .96.
1)
Calculate the differentials for up to your last 20 scores. Only your lowest handicap differentials are used to create your Index.
3) Multiply the average by .96.
Example 1: A player has a combination of 9-hole rounds and 18-hole rounds equating to five 18-hole scores posted:
Calculate the differential for each one. According to the table above, for 5 scores, the 1 lowest differential is taken, then multiplied by .96. The result, rounded to one decimal point, is the player’s Index.
Example 2: A player has twelve 18-hole rounds posted
Calculate the differential for each one. According to the table above, for 12 scores, the 4 lowest differentials are taken, then multiplied by .96. The result, rounded to one decimal point, is the player’s Index.
Example 3: A player has more than twenty 18-hole rounds posted Calculate the differential for the last 20 rounds played. According to the table above, for 20 scores, the 10 lowest differentials are taken, then multiplied by .96. The result, rounded to one decimal point, is the player’s Index. 4
Women’s Rating Adjustments
Posting a Score from an Unrated Set of Tees on a Rated Course
References
for more detailed information:
Review in
particular: 2) see the GAM (www.gam.org), USGA (www.usga.org) or MWGA (www.mwgolf.org) web sites The information in this booklet can be found on the MWGA web site, www.mwgolf.org, select Posting Scores, or email handicap@mwgolf.org. 7 Establishing and Maintaining Your Index
When you play a round of golf, remember to: To post scores online go to www.gam.org, then: 1) Select “Member Login” 2) Enter your “username” and “password” (if you don’t remember your login info, email handicap@mwgolf.org) 3) Select “View Handicap/Post Score” 4) Select “Post Score” then follow the instructions You may post 9 or 18 hole scores from leagues, tournaments, or from any round of golf where you played your own ball under the Rules of Golf within the last 12 months. If you are establishing a new index, you need a MINIMUM of five 18-hole scores or ten 9-holes scores or a combination which when combined is equivalent to five 18-hole rounds. You also have the option to mail or email your scores to the MWGA Handicap Director. She will post your scores for you. See the insert of dates and reporting format. The Handicap Director should receive scores by the Saturday before the revision date to allow her time to get them entered before the next update. All scores should be posted, including MWGA tournament scores. The MWGA Handicap Director will verify and adjust, as necessary, tournament scores posted by members. To participate in MWGA Tournaments your USGA Index must be current. Please report scores for rounds played during each posting period. See the GAM Handicap Revision Schedule for the posting periods and season dates. The schedule can be found on the GAM website www.gam.org , the MWGA website at www.mwgolf.org and on the insert mailed with this booklet. If you play out of state, during that state’s active season, those scores should be posted. All scores are posted to the system when you enter them. Any scores reported for a previous revision period will be used to update your current index. Scores reported for the current revision period will update your Trend Index, then on the Tuesday following the update period your official index will be updated. Anyone missing two consecutive posting periods is subject to a 15% reduction to their index. 8 |
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