The USGA's Course Rating System will be used as the foundation for the Rules of Handicapping and will be referred to as "The Course Rating System".
It will be used to calculate the playing difficulty of a golf course and a Slope Rating, enabling a Handicap Index to be converted into a Course Handicap.
Principle of the rule :
For a Handicap Index to be portable, it must be converted into a Course Handicap to determine the number of strokes a player receives for the golf course being played.
For equity to be achieved amongst two or more players, a player's Course Handicap must be converted into a Playing Handicap as determined by the format of play and the applicable handicap allowances.
The Course Handicap is the calculated handicap the golfer will use on the day, based on the Course (Tee Color) they select and includes the adjustment to Par.
The Course Handicap is calculated as follow : Course Handicap = Handicap Index * Slope / 113 + (Course Rating - Par)
It is a rounded number, where a decimal <0.5 will be rounded down, and a decimal ≥0.5 will be rounded up. Rounding only after calculation is completed
And, it is the number the golfer will use to record their score.
Note : Depending of format of play, handicap allowance may be also applied
Format of Play | Type of Round | No of Holes |
---|---|---|
Individual Stroke Play | Organized competition | 9 or 18 |
General play | 9 or 18 | |
Stableford - organized competition | 9 or 18 | |
Stableford - general play | 9 or 18 | |
Par / bogey - organized competition | 9 or 18 | |
Par / bogey - general play | 9 or 18 | |
Maximum Score - organized competition | 9 or 18 | |
Four-Ball Stroke Play | Organized competition | 9 or 18 |
General play | 9 or 18 | |
Stableford - organized competition | 9 or 18 | |
Stableford - general play | 9 or 18 | |
Par / bogey - organized competition | 9 or 18 | |
Par / bogey - general play | 9 or 18 |
Note :
General Play means "friendly games". The marker of the player must hold a valid handicap.
A player's maximum hole score for handicap purposes is Nett Double Bogey.