Adjusted Score

For each stroke-play round, a player's score is entered hole by hole.  The gross score is the total of the 18 hole scores.  The adjusted score is obtained by comparing each hole score with the player's equitable stroke control (ESC) for that hole and reducing it to the ESC, if it is larger.

Handicap Differential

The handicap differential is computed using the adjusted score, the USGA rating and the slope for the tees the player used.

           differential = (adjusted score - rating) x 113 / slope

The result, which can be either positive or negative, is rounded to the nearest tenth.

Handicap Index

For a player with six or more differentials, the handicap index is 90 percent of the average of the three lowest differentials rounded to the nearest tenth.  With four or five differentials the index is 80 percent of the average of the two lowest differentials and, with two or three differentials, it is 75 percent of the lowest differential.  The maximum handicap index is 36.4 for men and 40.4 for women.

The USGA uses 96 percent of the average of the lowest 10 of the last 20 differentials.  Since we only use scores from our eight stroke-play outings each year, it would take, at least, two and a half years to accumulate 20 scores.  The average would, therefore, not be a good measure of the player's current ability.

Handicap Computation

The actual handicap used for each round depends on the rating and slope of the course being played and the tees the player hits from.

           handicap = (handicap index * slope / 113) + rating difference

The "rating difference" is the difference between the rating of the player's tees and the "middle" tees.

For four-ball match-play, that result is multiplied by 0.85.

Normally, men play from the middle tees and women from the forward tees. However, any man may choose to play from either the back, middle or senior (if in use) tees and any woman may choose any of the four sets of tees. The set of tees selected must be consistent throughout the entire season, including match-play events. The selection of tees is to be made at the member's first outing of the season.

New Players A "new member" is one who has not turned in a valid 18 hole score card in any NIHGA stroke-play event during the previous two seasons.  This includes former as well as active/inactive members with NIHGA handicaps who did not play during the prior season.  No handicap index is computed until a new member has submitted scores from two NIHGA outings.

If the player has an established USGA handicap index, from a golf club or an internet handicap provider (Yahoo or other), we accept it for use until the player has recorded two NIHGA scores.  The team captain will be responsible for submitting a copy of the USGA handicap documentation to the handicapper.  After the player's second outing, the NIHGA handicap will be used.  A new player who does not submit a USGA handicap index will receive a zero handicap for his/her first two rounds.

 
 Please, send any questions to Norm Ficken at norm@norm.hostned.com

 
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