USGA GHIN – Adjusting the
Course Score Card
Player A
Player B
S
C
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R
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C
A
R
D
PAR
Hole Handicap
Tee Box Slope &
Rating
For Scratch Golfer
Understanding the Course Score Card
Score Card: The document where a player’s score for each hole is entered in stroke or match play. It may be in paper or electronic form. It will provide the player detailed information about each hole based upon the Course Tee Box Slope and Rating played for a “scratch” golfer.
Course Tee Box Slope: A numeric value that measures a course’s relative difficulty playing from these tees under normal conditions for a “scratch” golfer.
Course Tee Box Rating: The score expected of a “scratch” golfer playing from these tees under normal conditions.
Understanding the Course Score Card
PAR: The score expected for a “scratch” golfer to make for a given hole. Par means expert play under ordinary weather conditions, allowing two strokes on the putting green.
Hole Handicap: A numeric value from 1 to 18 that measures a hole’s relative difficulty playing from these tees under normal conditions for a “scratch” golfer. The hole with a Handicap Index of 1 is the hardest hole while the hole with 18 is the easiest hole on the course.
What is a Course Handicap?
A course handicap is the number of handicap strokes a player receives, before handicap allowances, from a specific set of tees as determined by the Slope Rating and the difference between Course Rating and Par (see Rule 6.1 Course Handicap Calculation).
There are two ways to calculate a Course Handicap, but you must be keeping an active USGA GHIN Handicap Index for these options:
Calculating a Course Handicap
An 18-hole Calculated Course Handicap:
Course Handicap = (Your Handicap Index x (Course Tee Box Slope / 113)) +
(Course Tee-Box Rating – Par)
A 9-hole Calculated Course Handicap:
Course Handicap = (Your Handicap Index x (9-hole Course Tee Box Slope / 113)) + (9-hole Course Tee Box Rating – 9-hole Par)
Finding Your Course Handicap Using the USGA GHIN App
Select Tee Box
Select the Course
Number of Holes
Calculated Course Handicap
Course Handicap = (Your Handicap Index x (Course Tee-Box Slope / 113))
+ (Course Tee-Box Rating – Course Par)
Course Tee Box Slope = 119
Course Tee Box Rating = 71.6
Course Par = 72
Player A = (19 x (119 / 113)) + (71.6 – 72)
Player B = (25 x (119 / 113)) + (71.6 – 72)
Player | USGA Handicap Index | Calculated Course Handicap |
A | 19 | 19.6 |
B | 25 | 25.9 |
Course Handicap is the number of handicapped strokes you will receive based on the Course Tee Box Slope and Rating you plan to play as determined by your USGA Handicap Index applied to the calculation above.
Player New Target Score
Target Score = (Calculated Course Handicap + Course Tee Box Rating)
Player A = 20 + 71.6
Player B = 26 + 71.6
Player | USGA Handicap Index | Calculated Course Handicap | Target Score (PAR) |
A | 19 | 20 | 92 |
B | 25 | 26 | 98 |
Target Score is the score expected based upon “your calculated course handicap” playing from these tees under normal condition. It’s your New PAR.
Applying the Course Handicap to Applicable Holes
Player | USGA Handicap | Calculated Course Handicap | Target Score (PAR) |
A | 19 | 20 | 92 |
B | 25 | 26 | 98 |
For Player A – has a Course Handicap of 20. The top two hardest handicapped holes on the course will get two (2) handicap strokes. The remaining 16 holes will get one (1) handicap stroke for a total of 20 handicap strokes.
For Player B – has a Course Handicap of 26. The top eight hardest handicapped holes on the course will get two (2) handicap strokes. The remaining 10 holes will get one (1) handicap stroke for a total of 26 handicap strokes.
For a golfer that has a Course Handicap of 15, the top 15 hardest handicapped holes of the 18-hole course will get one (1) handicap stroke applied. The remaining three holes have zero (0) handicap strokes applied.
Hole Net Par = Par of the hole + Any handicap stroke(s) that the player receives on that hole
Player A - PAR
Player B - PAR
N
E
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P
A
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Hole Handicap
Player | USGA Handicap | Course Handicap | Target Score |
A | 19 | 20 | 92 |
B | 25 | 26 | 98 |
6
4
5
5
5
5
4
6
6
5
5
4
6
5
6
5
4
6
46
46
92
Hole
Net
PAR
6
4
6
5
6
5
4
7
6
49
6
6
4
6
5
7
5
4
6
49
98
Player A
Player B
1
1
1
1
1
2
1
1
1
2
1
1
1
1
1
2
2
2
1
2
1
2
1
1
1
1
1
1
2
1
1
1
1
2
2
1
20
26
Handicap Strokes
Per Hole
Net Par = Par of the hole + Any handicap stroke(s) that the player receives on that hole
Maximum Hole Score with a Handicap Index
A score equal to the par of a hole plus two strokes and adjusted for any handicap strokes applied on that hole. A net double bogey is a player’s maximum hole score for handicap purposes (see Rule 3.1b After a Handicap Index Has Been Established). Calculation is as follows:
Max Hole Score = Par of the hole + Any handicap stroke(s) that the player receives on that hole + 2 Strokes
(Net Double Bogey = Net Par + 2)
Maximum Hole Score without a Handicap Index
For a player submitting their first scores to obtain an initial Handicap Index, the maximum score for each hole is limited to par + 5 strokes. (See Rule 3.1a Before a Handicap Index Has Been Established) For example –
Player A - PAR
Player B - PAR
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H
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C
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Max Hole Score
(Net Double Bogey)
Player | USGA Handicap | Course Handicap | Target Score |
A | 19 | 20 | 92 |
B | 25 | 26 | 98 |
6
4
5
5
5
5
4
6
6
5
5
4
6
5
6
5
4
6
46
46
92
Net
PAR
6
4
6
5
6
5
4
7
6
49
6
6
4
6
5
7
5
4
6
49
98
Max Hole Score = Net Par + 2 Strokes
Player A - MAX
Player B - MAX
8
8
6
6
7
8
7
7
7
8
7
7
6
6
8
9
8
8
7
8
7
8
6
6
8
8
7
7
8
9
7
8
6
6
8
8
64
64
134
128
67
67
Player A - PAR
P
L
A
Y
E
R
A
S
C
O
R
E
C
A
R
D
New Max Hole Score
(Net Double Bogey)
6
4
5
5
5
5
4
6
6
5
5
4
6
5
6
5
4
6
46
46
92
New Net
PAR
8
6
7
7
6
8
6
8
7
6
8
64
128
MODIFIED SCORECARD BASED UPON YOUR CALCULATED COURSE HANDICAP
Player A - MAX
7
7
8
7
7
7
8
64
For Scratch Golfer