Question on posting scores for handicaps

[ghalfaire]

I believe you should post them like you play them.  If it isn't 18 holes played in a continous sequence then it is 2 nine hole rounds.  I even think if you take more than a "hot dog" break at 9 it should be posted as 2 nine hole posts.  But then the rules seems less than definate on this so who knows?

[dkolo]

In reviewing the USGA Handicap Manual, you are required to post 9 hole scores if:

a. the course has a Course Rating and Slope for the 9 holes, and,

b. you've played at least 7 holes.

To choose not to post 9-hole scores because they might lower your handicap sounds like sandbagging to me.

To the original question, posting the two nine-hole scores could result in a slightly different result only if there's an older 9-hole score that would be combined with the morning nine.  The afternoon nine would then be retained to be combined with the player's next 9-hole score.  If it was me, I'd post it as an 18-hole score, since it was played on the same day.

For guywolf, I think you've made a reasonable choice, to keep separate handicaps, one for "regular" rounds and one for "hickory" rounds.  I'm not sure what the USGA policy might be, though.  You could consider writing them to ask, I've always had good experiences when I've done that with my own questions.

http://www.usga.org/handicapping/contact/Contact-Us/

Dave

Yeah, I think it's totally fair to characterize playing with hickory clubs as "practice rounds" and not submit them for his regular handicap.

[rkim291968]

For 18 hole course rounds, the following is from USGA rule book.

"Post a score if you play two nines even if it's the same nine, or nines from different days. Simply combine the nines into an 18-hole score. Add the nine-hole Course Ratings together and average the Slopes."

You also need to play at least 13 holes to post.

As for the posting 9 hole "course" scores, USGA has two handicap indexes.   One for 18 hole course, and another for 9 hole course.   You can't post a 9 hole course score (e.g, played an executive par 3 course) to your 18 hole course handicap. From my experience before I knew about the rule, posting a 9 hole course score to calculate one's regular HI leads to artificially lower HI.  Par 3 only course can be a lot easier than playing an 18 hole course with 10 par 4 holes.   I.e, not posting it to your 18 hole handicap system is not sandbagging.  It's the rule.

[Missouri Swede]

I believe you should post them like you play them.  If it isn't 18 holes played in a continous sequence then it is 2 nine hole rounds.  I even think if you take more than a "hot dog" break at 9 it should be posted as 2 nine hole posts.  But then the rules seems less than definate on this so who knows?

But how long is "too long"?  I once had 18 holes interrupted by a brief thunderstorm after 9 holes, and then play resumed.  Does that count for 18?  If so, how long until my thunderstorm or hot dog break is too long?

As noted before, it really only matters if you've got an "unmatched" 9 hole score waiting out there.

For 18 hole course rounds, the following is from USGA rule book.

"Post a score if you play two nines even if it's the same nine, or nines from different days. Simply combine the nines into an 18-hole score. Add the nine-hole Course Ratings together and average the Slopes."

You also need to play at least 13 holes to post.

As for the posting 9 hole "course" scores, USGA has two handicap indexes.   One for 18 hole course, and another for 9 hole course.   You can't post a 9 hole course score (e.g, played an executive par 3 course) to your 18 hole course handicap.    From my experience before I knew about the rule, posting a 9 hole course score to calculate one's regular HI leads to artificially lower HI.  Par 3 only course can be a lot easier than playing an 18 hole course with 10 par 4 holes.   I.e, not posting it to your 18 hole handicap system is not sandbagging.  It's the rule.

No, posting your 9 hole rounds is required (as shown by the USGA rule you quoted) and will be combined with another 9 hole round that is used in calculating your handicap index.  That's different than a par 3 "executive" 9 hole course--many of those are too short to have a slope and rating, and for that reason cannot be posted for the handicap index.

[rkim291968]

Originally Posted by rkim291968

For 18 hole course rounds, the following is from USGA rule book.

"Post a score if you play two nines even if it's the same nine, or nines from different days. Simply combine the nines into an 18-hole score. Add the nine-hole Course Ratings together and average the Slopes."

You also need to play at least 13 holes to post.

As for the posting 9 hole "course" scores, USGA has two handicap indexes.   One for 18 hole course, and another for 9 hole course.   You can't post a 9 hole course score (e.g, played an executive par 3 course) to your 18 hole course handicap.    From my experience before I knew about the rule, posting a 9 hole course score to calculate one's regular HI leads to artificially lower HI.  Par 3 only course can be a lot easier than playing an 18 hole course with 10 par 4 holes.   I.e, not posting it to your 18 hole handicap system is not sandbagging.  It's the rule.

No, posting your 9 hole rounds is required (as shown by the USGA rule you quoted) and will be combined with another 9 hole round that is used in calculating your handicap index.  That's different than a par 3 "executive" 9 hole course--many of those are too short to have a slope and rating, and for that reason cannot be posted for the handicap index.

Let me clarify.   The USGA rule says you cannot post a 9 hole score without combining with another 9 hole score to apply to your normal "Handicap Index" calculation.   You can post a 9 hole score to apply to "Handicap Index N."   Am I right or misinterpreting the rule?

[Missouri Swede]

Let me clarify.   The USGA rule says you cannot post a 9 hole score without combining with another 9 hole score to apply to your normal "Handicap Index" calculation.   You can post a 9 hole score to apply to "Handicap Index N."   Am I right or misinterpreting the rule?

That sounds correct.