Hi Linda,
I was recently playing a 27-hole course where each 9 was handicapped 1-9. I owed my opponent 3 strokes and we were playing match play.
With the two hardest holes getting a stroke, where does the 3rd stroke get allocated?
He argued that he should get 1/2 a stroke on both 2nd hardest holes where I argued that would then be giving him 4 strokes for any push.
My understanding of the rules is that “Common sense should be used to ensure that handicap strokes are used as an equalizer and should be available where it most likely will be needed by the higher handicapper player in order to obtain a halve on the hole.”
With giving 1/2 a stroke there’s no opportunity to halve the hole.
The only solution I could think of was to see which 9-hole was rated/sloped harder and allocate it there.
Thanks for your help.
Lou from New York
Dear Lou,
I generally refrain from answering handicap questions, as there is not a universal handicap system throughout the world. However, being that you are from the U.S., and I am familiar with the USGA Handicap System, I will answer your question. I believe this knowledge will be useful to golfers whose countries follow the USGA system.
Section 17 of the USGA Handicap Systemmanual covers the allocation of handicap strokes. 17-4 states:
Strokes should be allocated to each nine holes separately 1 through 9. When two nines are combined for a handicap competition, the odd stroke-hole allocations should be on the nine holes considered the first nine, and the even stroke-hole allocations should be on the second nine.
This recommendation (note the use of should, not must) to put the odd stroke-hole allocations on the front nine means that if you have to give or receive an odd number of strokes to your opponent, the extra stroke will be given on the front nine (the first nine you play). In your scenario, your opponent would receive two strokes on the front nine (the #1 and #2 allocated handicap holes) and one on the back nine (the #1 handicap hole).
Linda
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