Jump to content
IGNORED

Handicap and max score on hole


SamCreamer
Note: This thread is 3966 days old. We appreciate that you found this thread instead of starting a new one, but if you plan to post here please make sure it's still relevant. If not, please start a new topic. Thank you!

Recommended Posts

Hey,

I played with my friends the other day at their private club. According to oobgolf.com, I'm a 19.2 handicap so I put 19 on the score card. One of my friends told me that if I'm under a 20 handicap then the maximum score I can get on a hole is 7. We played this way and I don't think I actually would have ever had more than a 7 but can someone who knows more about this than me please confirm or deny this rule? I believe my friend entirely but I just don't know if it's a local rule or something that many people go by.

Thanks,

Sam

Link to comment
Share on other sites


Originally Posted by SamCreamer

Hey,

I played with my friends the other day at their private club. According to oobgolf.com, I'm a 19.2 handicap so I put 19 on the score card. One of my friends told me that if I'm under a 20 handicap then the maximum score I can get on a hole is 7. We played this way and I don't think I actually would have ever had more than a 7 but can someone who knows more about this than me please confirm or deny this rule? I believe my friend entirely but I just don't know if it's a local rule or something that many people go by.

Thanks,

Sam

What your buddy is talking about is called equitable stroke control (esc).  It sets a maximum number of strokes that an individual can report on any given hole for handicap reporting purposes only. It's based on your course handicap, not your handicap index.  Your course handicap varies by course based on the slope rating of that course.  On an easier course, your 19.2 index may be result in a course handicap of 19, but on a tougher course, it may very well be 20, or even higher.  That's important, because the thresholds for your esc change in 10 stroke intervals.

Here's the esc chart:

Course Handicap Maximum Score
0-9 Double Bogey
10-19 7
20-29 8
30-39 9
40 or more 10

As you can see, at a course handicap of 19, your buddy is right, the highest score you can report for handicap is 7, at a 20 course handicap, it would be 8.

Again, this is for handicap reporting only , and has no bearing on what you actually shoot.  So, if your esc maximum is 7, and you shoot 90, you shot 90, even if you had an 8 on one hole.  But, when you enter that round into GHIN, you adjust it to 89.

You can read more about the entire USGA handicap process here......amaze your friends!

http://www.usga.org/Rule-Books/Handicap-System-Manual/Handicap-Manual/

In David's bag....

Driver: Titleist 910 D-3;  9.5* Diamana Kai'li
3-Wood: Titleist 910F;  15* Diamana Kai'li
Hybrids: Titleist 910H 19* and 21* Diamana Kai'li
Irons: Titleist 695cb 5-Pw

Wedges: Scratch 51-11 TNC grind, Vokey SM-5's;  56-14 F grind and 60-11 K grind
Putter: Scotty Cameron Kombi S
Ball: ProV1

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

Originally Posted by David in FL

What your buddy is talking about is called equitable stroke control (esc).  It sets a maximum number of strokes that an individual can report on any given hole for handicap reporting purposes only.  It's based on your course handicap, not your handicap index.  Your course handicap varies by course based on the slope rating of that course.  On an easier course, your 19.2 index may be result in a course handicap of 19, but on a tougher course, it may very well be 20, or even higher.  That's important, because the thresholds for your esc change in 10 stroke intervals.

Here's the esc chart:

Course Handicap

Maximum Score

0-9

Double Bogey

10-19

7

20-29

8

30-39

9

40 or more

10

As you can see, at a course handicap of 19, your buddy is right, the highest score you can report for handicap is 7, at a 20 course handicap, it would be 8.

Again, this is for handicap reporting only, and has no bearing on what you actually shoot.  So, if your esc maximum is 7, and you shoot 90, you shot 90, even if you had an 8 on one hole.  But, when you enter that round into GHIN, you adjust it to 89.

You can read more about the entire USGA handicap process here......amaze your friends!

http://www.usga.org/Rule-Books/Handicap-System-Manual/Handicap-Manual/

Ah I understand now, thank you. So this was not my home course but 19.2 is my handicap index... What do I do if I've never played a course before?

Link to comment
Share on other sites


Originally Posted by SamCreamer

Ah I understand now, thank you. So this was not my home course but 19.2 is my handicap index... What do I do if I've never played a course before?

Here's a calculator that will allow you to calculate your course handicap for any course that you play, based on your handicap index and the course's slope rating.  Just plug the two in, and your course handicap will pop up.  That's what you all use when you and your buddies are playing a net, handicapped game, as well as for determining your esc scores for any given hole.

http://www.usga.org/handicap/slope_calculator/index.asp

As an aside, in the interest of speeding up pace of play, unless you're playing a stroke-play match/tournament, pick up and move on once you've hit your esc score.

In David's bag....

Driver: Titleist 910 D-3;  9.5* Diamana Kai'li
3-Wood: Titleist 910F;  15* Diamana Kai'li
Hybrids: Titleist 910H 19* and 21* Diamana Kai'li
Irons: Titleist 695cb 5-Pw

Wedges: Scratch 51-11 TNC grind, Vokey SM-5's;  56-14 F grind and 60-11 K grind
Putter: Scotty Cameron Kombi S
Ball: ProV1

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Awards, Achievements, and Accolades

Note: This thread is 3966 days old. We appreciate that you found this thread instead of starting a new one, but if you plan to post here please make sure it's still relevant. If not, please start a new topic. Thank you!

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now


  • Want to join this community?

    We'd love to have you!

    Sign Up
  • TST Partners

    TourStriker PlaneMate
    Golfer's Journal
    ShotScope
    The Stack System
    FlightScope Mevo
    Direct: Mevo, Mevo+, and Pro Package.

    Coupon Codes (save 10-15%): "IACAS" for Mevo/Stack, "IACASPLUS" for Mevo+/Pro Package, and "THESANDTRAP" for ShotScope.
  • Posts

    • Day 76 - Pretty sore today, so I opted for putting over my Stack session. Primary focus was on starting line, as my putting has been pretty poor this year. 
    • Been a bit of delay in updates but I needed to come back east as my mom's health has taken a serious turn for the worse. In a 3 day span we learned she had a tumor to she has stage 4 cancer and stopped eating and drinking for the most part. She has had a rough 3 months but certainly didn't think we'd be at the point of setting up hospice for her. My mom was never into any sports really other than following the Red Sox because my dad was a big fan. She always cared about what we were involved in including asking about how golf went.  I have kept up with my 5 minutes of daily practice and will go to the gym here in NH tomorrow morning. Despite the somber nature of this trip my family has commented more than a few times about my weight loss so it's important to me to keep it up. I know my mom always wanted us happy in whatever we did so I'll continue with my fitness journey keeping that in mind. 
    • Day 109- Putting drills on a putting green for 20 minutes. 
    • Day 252: did a stack session. Did some slow rehearsal swings during breaks. 
    • Day 82: 3/18/24 Tried a Stack session but could not certify my warmup. Finished with indoor chips and putting. 
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

Welcome to TST! Signing up is free, and you'll see fewer ads and can talk with fellow golf enthusiasts! By using TST, you agree to our Terms of Use, our Privacy Policy, and our Guidelines.

The popup will be closed in 10 seconds...