Effective January 1, 2025, the USGA Handicap Review tool will be the only authorized tool to recommend an adjustment to a Handicap Index®. More details about the Handicap Review procedure can be found in Appendix D of the Rules of Handicapping.
About Handicap Review
One of the requirements for a golf club to be authorized to use the World Handicap System™ in the United States is to have a Handicap Committee or Handicap oversight individual. The Handicap Committee plays a vital role in the successful administration of a player’s Handicap Index, ensuring that it represents the player’s demonstrated ability. One of the ways to accomplish this is by conducting a Handicap Review for members and adjusting a Handicap Index upward or downward when appropriate.
Description and timing of the New USGA Handicap Review Tool
To support the Handicap Committee in these responsibilities, the USGA is pleased to provide a new data-driven Handicap Review tool available exclusively to authorized golf clubs. It will be used to identify players who are consistently scoring above/below their expected scoring range or have other abnormalities within their scoring record over a defined period of 12 months. In these instances, a recommended adjustment to the player’s Handicap Index will be provided. The recommended adjustment from the USGA should be applied by the Handicap Committee unless they determine otherwise based on other knowledge or evidence that they may have about the player and their demonstrated ability.
The new USGA Handicap Review tool will be rolled out in a phased approach. The launch date for Phase 1 was Wednesday, August 7, 2024. Below is a brief description of Phase 1:
· A Handicap Review is limited to a single player at a time.
· Handicap Review can be run for any active member of a club whether or not the club is designated as the Home Club of the player.
· The Handicap Committee can choose to “apply” or “deny” the recommended adjustment.
· Additional data points are provided for a Handicap Committee to use at its discretion – see toolkit for list and descriptions.
· A history of Handicap Review actions will be retained.
Phase 2, which will run the full Handicap Review procedure for all players on a club’s roster, is planned for fall 2024. More details about Phase 2, as well as details about future iterations of the USGA Handicap Review tool, will be communicated by your Allied Golf Association.
Benefits to the Golf Club
The role of the Handicap Committee is made easier when equipped with a tool to identify when the calculated Handicap Index is no longer reflective of a player’s demonstrated ability. Used appropriately, this tool is designed to ensure that players are treated fairly and consistently from golf club to golf club.
Use of the New USGA Handicap Review Tool
We strongly encourage you to read the USGA Handicap Review Introduction Packet which provides more detail about how to use the new USGA Handicap Review tool. The packet includes Questions and Answers, Data Points, as well as a distinction between the USGA Handicap Review tool and other software. In addition, it is important for the club to consider the importance of player notification – that is, the player must be informed of the USGA Handicap Review process, when the Handicap Index adjustment becomes effective, and the timeframe for any appeals.
Feedback Form
Your feedback on the new USGA Handicap Review tool is encouraged. Please fill out the form at the provided link which will help define future improvements and enhancements. CLICK HERE FOR THE FEEDBACK FORM.
