5.7 Low Handicap Index

The Low Handicap Index represents the demonstrated ability of a player over the 365-day period preceding the day on which the most recent score in their scoring record was played and provides a reference point against which the current Handicap Index can be compared.

A Low Handicap Index is established once a player has at least 20 acceptable scores in their scoring record.
Once a player has established a Low Handicap Index, it is re-evaluated every time a new acceptable score is submitted and must be displayed in the player’s scoring record.
A newly-determined Low Handicap Index is considered in the processing of the player’s next acceptable score whenever the next round is submitted. A player’s Low Handicap Index may become more than 365 days old in the period between two rounds being played.
Where a Handicap Committee-applied adjustment reduces a player’s Handicap Index, the adjusted Handicap Index resets the Low Handicap Index to the adjusted Handicap Index, unless a lower Handicap Index is still eligible (See Rule 7.1a Conducting a Handicap Review and Adjusting a Handicap Index).
Where a Handicap Committee-applied adjustment increases a player’s Handicap Index, the Committee should consider resetting the player’s Low Handicap Index to the same value as the adjusted Handicap Index.

Rule 5.7 Interpretations:

5.7/1 – Circumstances When a Player’s Low Handicap Index Becomes More Than 365 Days Old

Rule 5.7 states that a player’s Low Handicap Index may become more than 365 days old in the period between two rounds being played. As a result, a Low Handicap Index that is more than 365 days old may still be considered in the calculation of a player’s Handicap Index.

For example:

After submitting a score on 1 January 2021, a player’s Handicap Index calculates at 12.3. Their Low Handicap Index at the time is 10.6, established on 1 March 2020.

When the player submits their next score on 1 April 2021, the Low Handicap Index of 10.6 will still be considered in the calculation of their updated Handicap Index even though it is more than 365 days old. This is because the 365-day timeframe precedes the date on which the most recent score on the player’s scoring record was played, which in this case is the period between 1 January 2021 and 1 January 2020. Once their updated Handicap Index is calculated, the new Low Handicap Index will be found within the 365-day period between 1 April 2021 and 1 April 2020.

5.7/2 – Circumstance When the Low Handicap Index is the Current Handicap Index

After submitting a score on 1 April 2021, a player takes a break from golf and does not submit another score until 1 July 2022. In calculating the player’s updated Handicap Index, the player’s Low Handicap Index in the 365 days preceding 1 April 2021 is used as a reference point.

The player then plays another round on 1 August 2022, and the 365-day period preceding 1 July 2022 is used to locate the player’s Low Handicap Index, but no other scores have been submitted during that timeframe. Therefore, in this situation, the player’s current Handicap Index becomes their Low Handicap Index.