Tournament Score for Handicap?

[Meltdwhiskey]

I am in a match play tournament currently.  We have a bracket set up and for each opponent you face, you have one week to contact them, set up a time and play the match.  So it is a little out of the ordinary in that it isn't a tournament taking place all in one day or in days in a row.

So, each round I play for this thing gets reported as a tournament score, correct?

[David in FL]

I am in a match play tournament currently.  We have a bracket set up and for each opponent you face, you have one week to contact them, set up a time and play the match.  So it is a little out of the ordinary in that it isn't a tournament taking place all in one day or in days in a row.

So, each round I play for this thing gets reported as a tournament score, correct?

Correct.

Remember, if the match ends early, you post par plus any handicap strokes to which you would have been entitled for the remaining unplayed holes.

[Meltdwhiskey]

Remember, if the match ends early, you post par plus any handicap strokes to which you would have been entitled for the remaining unplayed holes.

Interesting - what if the match ended early, but then we actually finished the round anyway?  I kind of finished it on purpose so I'd have an 18 hole score to post.

[David in FL]

Interesting - what if the match ended early, but then we actually finished the round anyway?  I kind of finished it on purpose so I'd have an 18 hole score to post.

You can post the complete round as usual.  No problem.

[Big C]

Correct.

Remember, if the match ends early, you post par plus any handicap strokes to which you would have been entitled for the remaining unplayed holes.

I was unaware of this rule until a match I played last month. I beat my opponent 4 & 3. We played in and I finished 3-over on the last three holes, none of which I was entitled to receive strokes on. Thankfully, he told me what to post, or else I would have have input a score 3 shots higher.

It's a good rule and it makes perfect sense, but man did those 3 strokes do a number on my index!

[Big C]

You can post the complete round as usual.  No problem.

David, I believe this is incorrect. As I mentioned above, I believe you have to post your expected score (par plus strokes received) once the match is concluded, regardless of whether you play in.

If that is not the case, then my opponent sold me a bill of goods, and my current index is 0.3 lower than it should be!

[David in FL]

David, I believe this is incorrect. As I mentioned above, I believe you have to post your expected score (par plus strokes received) once the match is concluded, regardless of whether you play in.

If that is not the case, then my opponent sold me a bill of goods, and my current index is 0.3 lower than it should be!

Never trust your opponent.  Especially when you just beat him!

Not only is it allowable to post the final couple of holes, it's actually recommended and preferred.   Decision 5-2a/7 from the USGA handicap manual pertains:

5-2a/7. Score to Post if Match Ends in Fewer Than 18 Holes and Player Completes Round

Q: In match play, a player wins the match on the 16th hole. The player plays the remaining two holes. What score may the player post for these two holes?

A: The player should post the actual scores on the post-match holes. To post in any other manner would be at odds with the basic premise that contends that each player will try to make the best scores at every hole in every round. If the Committee believes that the player is inflating hole scores on the post-match holes, it may apply provisions of Section 8 . (See 8-4c(iv) .) (REVISED)

[Big C]

Never trust your opponent.  Especially when you just beat him!

Not only is it allowable to post the final couple of holes, it's actually recommended and preferred.   Decision 5-2a/7 from the USGA handicap manual pertains:

5-2a/7. Score to Post if Match Ends in Fewer Than 18 Holes and Player Completes Round

Q: In match play, a player wins the match on the 16th hole. The player plays the remaining two holes. What score may the player post for these two holes?

A: The player should post the actual scores on the post-match holes. To post in any other manner would be at odds with the basic premise that contends that each player will try to make the best scores at every hole in every round. If the Committee believes that the player is inflating hole scores on the post-match holes, it may apply provisions of Section 8. (See 8-4c(iv).) (REVISED)

Damn, thank you for that ruling. I feel a bit silly now!

[Dormie1360]

Damn, thank you for that ruling. I feel a bit silly now!

Don't feel too silly.  Although David is correct, at out club we post par plus strokes for holes after the match has ended.  The committee posts all club tournament scores for the player.  Although this conflicts with 5-2a/7, for us anyway, it seems to give a better indication of a player's ability.  Honest players relax after the match has ended, and often don't shoot as well, and dishonest players usually finish out with double bogeys or worse.

Although the provisions of 8-4c(iv) are there, it can be difficult to administer.

Having said that, unless your handicap committee says otherwise, follow David's guidance.