Recently, one of our members decided to quit in the middle of a game on Tuesday. She took a 10+ on the 6th hole, then said she was finished. I think she was having a bad day at golf rather than not feeling well.
We would like to give our members future notification about the rule and ruling. Should she be given 10+'s for the remaining holes?
Thank you,
Lulu
Dear Lulu,
In order to post a nine-hole score, a golfer must play at least seven holes. In order to post an 18-hole score, a golfer must play at least 13 holes. The golfer you are asking about played only six holes; she is not permitted to post that score.
The procedure for posting scores for unfinished rounds is as follows:
1. If you play 13 or more holes, post an 18-hole score.
2. If you play at least seven holes and no more than 12, post a 9-hole score.
3. For those holes not played, record par plus the number of handicap strokes you are entitled to based on your Course Handicap®. Here is an example to help you understand this procedure:
Daisy’s Course Handicap is 26. She leaves the golf course after completing 15 holes, so she will post an 18-hole score. Hole #16 is a par 4 and is the #5 handicap hole; #17 is a par 3 and the #12 handicap hole; #18 is a par 5 and the #4 handicap hole. Daisy’s handicap entitles her to par plus one stroke on handicap holes #9-18, and par plus two strokes on handicap holes #1-8. Accordingly, she should record her score on the holes not played as follows:
#16: 6 (par plus 2)
#17: 4 (par plus 1)
#18: 7 (par plus 2)
If you are uncertain what is meant by “handicap hole,” take a look at a
scorecard. You should notice a line called “Handicap,” with numbers that are
odd on one nine and even on the other. A player with a 12 Course Handicap would
receive a stroke on handicap holes #1-12 in a net tournament. If Daisy were
playing in a net tournament with full handicap, her 26 handicap would give her
two strokes on the handicap holes listed #1-8, and one stroke on handicap holes
#9-18.
If your organization plans to assume the responsibility of posting scores for players who do not complete their round, then you should notify them that you will be posting nine-hole scores if they complete at least seven holes and no more than 12, and 18-hole scores if they complete at least 13 holes. You will record par plus the handicap strokes they are entitled to for each of the holes not played.
Everyone has a bad round now and then. You can remind players that unusually high scores will not affect their handicaps, since handicap calculations are based on the best ten scores of the last 20 rounds played. Those high scores will just fritter away into the wind every two or four weeks, depending on how often handicaps are revised by your handicap service.
Linda
Copyright © 2009 Linda Miller. All rights reserved.
