April 15, 2008

Dear Members,

My name is Paul Zito and I am the new Handicap Chairman at Ellington Ridge and also a member of the Golf Committee.  My goal and the goal of the Handicap Committee is to get every golfer to post their golf scores in accordance with the USGA guidelines. 

Listed below are a few excerpts from the USGA Handicap System Handbook.  I hope everyone has an enjoyable year at Ellington Ridge.

The purpose of the USGA Handicap System is to make the game of golf more enjoyable by enabling players of differing abilities to compete on an equitable basis.

Fair handicapping depends upon full and accurate information regarding a player's potential scoring ability as reflected by a complete scoring record.

Every player must be responsible for returning all scores.

Posting scores when a complete round is not played - If 13 or more holes are played, the player must post an 18-hole score. If 7 to 12 holes are played, the player must post a nine-hole score. In either case, scores for unplayed holes must be recorded as par plus any handicap strokes that the player is entitled to receive on the unplayed holes.

Example: A player with a Course Handicap of 20 stops playing after 16 holes because of darkness. Hole 17 is a par 3 and is the number 16 handicap-stroke hole. The player will record 3 (par) plus 1 handicap stroke for an X-4 on hole 17. Hole 18 is a par 4 and is the number 2 handicap-stroke hole. The player will record 4 (par) plus 2 handicap strokes for an X-6 on hole 18.

Posting scores on all courses - Adjusted gross scores from all courses with a USGA Course Rating and Slope Rating made during an active season, both at home and away, must be posted by the player along with the appropriate USGA Course Rating and Slope Rating.

Posting scores in all forms of competition - Scores in both match play and stroke play must be posted for handicap purposes.

Unfinished holes and conceded strokes - A player who starts, but does not complete a hole or is conceded a stroke must record for handicap purposes the most likely score. 

There is no limit to the number of unfinished holes a player may have in a round, provided that failure to finish is not for the purpose of handicap manipulation.

Example: A and B are playing a match. On a hole on which neither player receives a handicap stroke, A is one foot from the hole, lying 4. B is 10 feet from the hole, lying 3. B putts and misses. They both concede a half. Both players record X-5 because that is their most likely score.

If a player fails to post a score, the Handicap Committee may post the score without the player's authorization.

Good Golfing,

Paul Zito, Handicap Chairman