Handicap Committee
Getting Started
- The Role of the Handicap Committee
The Handicap Committee within the golf club is responsible for all aspects of the USGA Handicap System, including the computation of each member’s Handicap Index. The Handicap Committee must verify that all acceptable scores are reported for handicap purposes, and that recorded scores are available for peer review. In addition, the Handicap Committee has the authority to make the determination if course conditions are so poor that score posting should be suspended. If score posting is suspended for an extended period, the golf club must obtain approval from its authorized golf association.
The Handicap Committee must be responsible for maintaining players’ records, including prominently displaying a Handicap Index list. Current scoring records of all players in the club from the most recent revision must be available to all members and others as noted in the definition of Peer Review. It is preferable for only one committee member to be responsible for players’ records and keeping the Handicap Index of each member up-to-date. If mathematical computations are made by a computer or computation service, the Handicap Committee still has the responsibility of reviewing the data entered into and received from the computer or computation service and applying all other procedures of the USGA Handicap System.
Starting from Scratch
- Handicap Committee Composition
- How many on committee (cross-representation of membership)?
Recommendation: Handicap Committee should be composed of members and chaired by a member. The golf professional staff should serve on the committee as an ad-hoc member as an expert in the game and its procedures.
- Handicap Committee Chairman
The position of handicap chairman requires a substantial amount of time and a basic knowledge of the USGA Handicap System. The more information the handicap chairman gives the members, the more cooperation the chairman is likely to receive
- How many & what role/title of officers
- Tenure & “Timing Out”
- Initial decisions to be discussed and codified
- How often will the handicap committee…
- Meet
- Review indexes
- Do decisions made on a handicap need to be a majority of quorum (recommended) or unanimous consent
- What constitutes a quorum
- How will the HC treat missing rounds?
General Guidance: If a player fails to post an acceptable score as soon as practical after completion of the round, the Handicap Committee should post the score and/or a penalty score and ratings equal to the lowest Handicap Differential in the player’s scoring record. However, if the score not returned is unusually high, the Handicap Committee should enter the score and/or a penalty score and ratings equal to the highest Handicap Differential in the player’s scoring record.
- What is a reasonable timeframe to post scores?
- Will scores assigned by the Handicap Committee be adjusted if a newly recorded score is not contested by playing partners
- How will the handicap committee treat flagged/contested scores?
- Handicap Revisions
All matters relating to revising handicaps of players should factor in the procedures of the authorized golf association which governs the dates for which all clubs must revise handicaps.
- How will those slated for adjustment be notified (letter, email)
- How far in advance will those slated for an adjustment be notified?
- What is the process of appealing an adjustment
- Are appeals to be submitted in writing?
- Can adjusted player request an in-person meeting with Handicap Committee?
- How quickly will the Handicap Committee be required to review an appeal?
- What happens until the appeal is heard?
- Once an appeal been reviewed the adjustment stays in place until the next review
- How to Record
- Incomplete rounds
- Practice Rounds
- Scores and Placement in team events? (For Birdie customers – Will TPS points be awarded for winning/placement in teams events?)
- Other
Once the club has discussed and come to a decision regarding these matters, the outcomes should be codified and documented. The Handicap Committee Guide should be published and shared with the membership.
- Communicating with Club Membership
- How will the Club communicate to members the role and the schedule of the Handicap Committee?
It is advisable to send a notice to members before the season starts in order to outline the USGA Handicap System, to stress the importance of reporting all acceptable scores and to report the Handicap Committee’s policies. The members may be advised of such matters as the following:
- The stated role of the Handicap Committee
- The members comprising the Handicap Committee and the identification of Officers
- Instructions on how scores are to be posted
- How non-reported scores will be managed
- How long will players be required to post scores before a penalty score is assigned.
- What is the rationale to be employed in assigning a penalty score
- How adjustments to a player’s index will be managed
- Inform players of the process of appealing a ruling of the Handicap Committee and the obligations of the Handicap Committee in reviewing an appeal
- What tools/services the Handicap Committee will employ to assist in carrying out the purpose/role of the Handicap Committee (ie: Cap Patrol)
- Cap Patrol Related matters
- Distinguishing between a home and away scores
- How performance in club-sponsored tournaments/events will factor into handicap
- The scheduled dates of meetings of the Handicap Committee (the Handicap Committee reserves the right to conduct additional sessions or meet off schedule if determined to be in the best of the club and/or in service to the role of the Handicap Committee.