Dear Molly: A friend told me that he read the max over par was 2 when trying to establish a GHIN handicap. I entered my scores using this method. I later learned the correct method is a max of 3 over. Can I go back in and adjust my lower scores when I was using 2 over as the max?—CGA E-Club Member
Where would we golfers be without our friends? Playing by ourselves, maybe, or with three people with whom we’d otherwise not hang out for an hour, much less four? Lucky you, having someone who cares!
But using his information, your handicap might be a little lower than it should be. Aaron Guereca, the CGA’s managing director, club and facility services (but I just call him the ratings and handicap guru), tells me the max to post on a hole when you’re first establishing your handicap is +5. That’s a 10 on a par-5, 9 on a par-4 and 8 on a par-3.
That’s for your first 54 holes, or three 18-hole rounds. I’m thinking your pal was sort of on track for the holes after that, when the universal maximum is net double bogey per hole. He just forgot about the “net” part of that.
Here’s how that works if you apply the rule yourself: Convert your Handicap Index to the course handicap on the day you’re playing and from the tees you’ve chosen. Then, look at the handicap number on the scorecard for each hole to determine how many strokes you’re getting. Add that plus 2 and you’ll have your net double bogey.
For instance, if you’re a 19 on the golf course, you’re going to get two strokes on the No. 1 handicap hole (usually the hardest hole on the front nine, though a very few courses use even numbers to rate the front because the back is considered more difficult). So you will add 4 strokes to the par to get your net double bogey. On all the other holes, you’re going to get one stroke; you’ll add 3 strokes to the pars on those holes to calculate your max.
Now you know why the CGA and USGA are recommending that you post your actual, preadjusted scores hole by hole in the GHIN app! Do this and you can post a 10 or any high number on a hole and the app will automatically adjust to give you net double bogey. This is the easiest route to accuracy and saves wear on the world’s golf pencils.
So, did you make a mistake? In most clubs, you just touch base with the handicap chair and request the change. In E-Club, you can just pick up the phone and call the CGA at 303.366.4653. Ask for the handicap department.
Do you have a question about golf etiquette, golf relationships or the culture of golf in Colorado? Email it to Molly McMulligan, the CGA’s on-the-course advisor on how to have more fun on the golf course. Her creator, researcher and writer is golf journalist and CGA member Susan Fornoff.
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