7.1 Handicap Committee

7.1a Conducting a Handicap Review and Adjusting a Handicap Index

    (i) Conducting a Handicap Review.The Handicap Committee should conduct a review of a player’s Handicap Index using the procedures set out in Appendix D: Handicap Review.
    • It is strongly recommended that the Handicap Committee conduct a handicap review annually.
    • A handicap review may be conducted at the request of the player or another player at any time.
    • Before making any adjustment to a player’s Handicap Index, the Handicap Committee should carefully consider all available evidence, including:
      • Whether the player’s scoring potential has been affected by a temporary or permanent injury or illness which is significant enough to impact the player’s ability to play with or against all other players on a fair and equal basis.
      • Any handicap(s) previously held by the player.
      • Whether the player’s ability is rapidly improving or declining.
      • Whether the player is performing significantly differently in one format of play compared to another, for example between organized competitions and general play; unauthorized and authorized format of play.
      • Where it has been determined that a player’s actions are for the purpose of gaining an unfair advantage.
    (ii) Adjusting a Handicap Index. In considering all of the available evidence, the Handicap Committee must decide the most appropriate course of action for any adjustment to a player’s Handicap Index, which can be either:
    • Resetting the Handicap Index by applying an adjustment to each of the most recent 20 Score Differentials in the scoring record, to achieve the chosen Handicap Index that is determined to better reflect the player's demonstrated ability.

      • This will allow for the Handicap Index to be updated as new scores are posted.

      • If fewer than 20 scores are recorded on a player’s scoring record the adjustment is applied to all recorded Score Differentials.

      • The Handicap Committee can remove the adjustment at any time if the adjustment is determined to no longer be warranted.

    Or

    • Freezing the Handicap Index at a level selected by the Handicap Committee for a defined period of time.
      • During this period, a player’s Handicap Index will not be updated as new scores are posted unless the Handicap Committee has determined to freeze only against upward movement.
      • The Handicap Committee can remove the freeze upon the Handicap Index at any time and the scores in the player’s scoring record will be used to calculate the player’s Handicap Index.

Any adjustment to a player’s Handicap Index resulting from a handicap review must:

  • Be applied only after the player has been informed and has had an opportunity to respond to the Handicap Committee or, where appropriate, the Authorized Association.
  • Be a minimum of 1 stroke, upward or downward.
  • Only increase a player’s Handicap Index by up to 5.0 strokes above the player’s Low Handicap Index, unless there are exceptional circumstances. Such circumstances could include a player who has a long-term illness or injury preventing them from playing golf at the level previously attained.

Rule 7.1a Interpretations:

7.1a/1 – Resetting a Player’s Handicap Index by Adjusting the Most Recent 20 Score Differentials

Applying an adjustment to each of the most recent 20 Score Differentials in the player’s scoring record will ensure that the impact of the adjustment remains after the next score is submitted, gradually diluting as more scores are submitted.

As an example, a player has a Handicap Index of 10.3 and the Handicap Committee decides to adjust this to 9.3 because recent scores suggest that the player is rapidly improving.

Using this example, the Handicap Committee would apply a -1 adjustment to each of the most recent 20 Score Differentials and the impact of this adjustment on the final calculation is illustrated in the tables below:

7.1a/2 – Handicap Committee Applied Adjustment For Injured Player Must Be Based On Scores Made After Injury

The Handicap Committee should only consider adjusting a player’s Handicap Index for injury after one or more acceptable scores have been submitted after the injury occurred. In determining the level of any adjustment, the Handicap Committee should take into consideration the scores submitted after the injury and the nature and severity of the injury.

After a number of scores have been submitted and it becomes evident that the injury has caused a permanent change to the player’s ability, it may be appropriate to disregard the player’s scoring record and allocate a Handicap Index using only the scores submitted since the injury (see Rule 5.2a For Fewer Than 20 Scores).

7.1b Applying a Penalty Score

In a situation where a player fails to submit a score from an authorized format of play in a timely manner, the Handicap Committee should investigate the reason and take appropriate action.

    (i) If There is a Valid Reason For a Score Not Having Been Submitted.The Handicap Committee of the player’s home club has the authority to determine whether a player’s reason for not submitting a score is a valid reason.
    • Valid reasons for not submitting a score can include:
      • Sudden injury or illness,
      • Emergency,
      • Dangerous weather conditions, or
      • Any other reason for stopping play that is considered valid by the Handicap Committee.
    • When the home club or the Committee considers that a player has a valid reason for not completing a round, there are two options:
      • Option 1 – The score must be posted. If the player does not complete their round but has completed the minimum number of holes determined by the Authorized Association for an acceptable 9-hole or 18-hole score, the score must be posted for handicap purposes.
      • Option 2 – The score must not be posted. If the player does not complete their round and has not completed the minimum number of holes determined by the Authorized Association for an acceptable 9-hole or 18-hole score, the score must not be posted for handicap purposes.
    (ii) If There is No Valid Reason For a Score Not Having Been Submitted. The Committee has the authority to determine whether a player’s reason for not submitting a score is a valid reason.
    • Invalid reasons for not submitting a score can include:
      • Preventing a low score from causing a Handicap Index to decrease.
      • Preventing a high score from causing a Handicap Index to increase.
    • If the player’s score is identifiable and they stopped their round after having completed at least the minimum number of holes determined by the Authorized Association for an acceptable 9-hole or 18-hole score, the score should be posted for handicap purposes.
    • Where a Handicap Committee subsequently becomes aware of the score the player actually had after it has already posted a penalty score, the actual score should also be posted to the player’s scoring record. The Handicap Committee has discretion to leave the penalty score on the player’s scoring record or to remove it.
    • If the Handicap Committee concludes that a player failed to submit a score for the purpose of gaining an unfair advantage, it should consider withdrawing the player’s Handicap Index, and/or applying an appropriate penalty score (high or low depending on intent).
    • The Handicap Committee or the Authorized Association should consider disciplinary procedures for players who repeatedly fail to submit their scores or who fail to complete rounds.

(See Diagram 7.1b.)

7.1c Withdrawing a Handicap Index

The Handicap Committee, or Authorized Association, should withdraw the Handicap Index of a player who deliberately or repeatedly fails to comply with the player’s responsibilities under the Rules of Handicapping (see Appendix A: Rights and Responsibilities).

  • The withdrawal of a player’s Handicap Index should be applied only after the player has been informed and has had an opportunity to respond to the Handicap Committee, Authorized Association, or other disciplinary panel.
  • A player must be notified of the length of time their Handicap Index will be withdrawn and any additional conditions.

7.1d Reinstating a Handicap Index

Reinstatement of a player’s Handicap Index will be required after a player’s Handicap Index has been withdrawn for a period of time.

To determine the level of Handicap Index at which the player is to be reinstated, the Handicap Committee may wish to consider:

  • Reinstating the Handicap Index at a level that the Handicap Committee feels is currently reflective of the player’s demonstrated ability,
  • Allocating a Handicap Index as if the player were new to the sport, or
  • Reinstating the last recorded Handicap Index.

It is strongly recommended that, after a player’s Handicap Index has been reinstated, the Handicap Committee should monitor the player's Handicap Index closely over subsequent rounds and, where required, make appropriate adjustments.