WLGA HANDICAP POLICY

GENERAL

The purpose of the World Handicap System is to make the game of golf more enjoyable by enabling golfers of differing abilities to compete on an equitable basis. The World Handicap System provides Course Handicaps (see Note 1) for players regardless of ability and adjusts a player’s Handicap Index up or down as one’s game changes. At the same time, it disregards high scores that bear little relation to the player’s potential ability and promotes continuity by making handicaps continuous from one playing season or year to the next. A World Handicap Index is useful for all forms of play. A basic premise underlies the World Handicap System, namely that every player will try to make the best score at each hole in every round, regardless of where the round is played, and that the player will post every acceptable round for peer review.

A player must earn a Handicap Index. No player has an inherent right to a World Handicap Index without providing full evidence of his ability to the Handicap Committee at his golf club. A Handicap Index shall normally be changed only as warranted by the Handicap System.

An essential element of the World Handicap System is the requirement that each golf club or golf association that issues Handicap Indexes appoint a Handicap Committee to ensure the integrity of the handicaps it issues. This Committee shall make certain that the members comply with the World Handicap System, and should issue a clear policy concerning the posting, peer auditing and adjusting of handicaps.

The policies in this document are those of the Woodmont Ladies’ Golf Association (WLGA) Handicap Committee which operates in coordination with the Woodmont Golf Club Handicap Committee. The Chair of the WLGA Handicap Committee serves on the Woodmont Golf Club Handicap Committee.  Members of the WLGA Handicap Committee include: 1) the Chair who has attended a USGA Handicap training workshop and is “qualified” to serve, 2) the Tournament Chair of the WLGA, and 3) an At-Large Member of the WLGA. The WLGA Handicap Committee members are selected each year by the Nominating Committee of the WLGA Board of Directors and voted on by the membership.

 

 

POSTING OF SCORES

Each player is responsible for ensuring that scores for all rounds are correct and posted (even for non-WLGA related rounds) into the GHIN system in accordance with World Handicap System procedures including those regarding Maximum Hole Score (see Note 2) for Handicap Purposes and how to post for incomplete rounds. Scores may be posted on an Internet connected device.

It is the player’s responsibility to read and understand the World Handicap System policy for posting scores and to post scores as soon as possible after completion of their round and before midnight (local time) on the day of play.

Information regarding World Handicap System  rules of handicapping is online at:
https://www.usga.org/handicapping/roh/2020-rules-of-handicapping.html 

 

PEER REVIEW OF HANDICAPS

A main tenant of the World Handicap System is “Peer Review”.  Peer review is the ability of golfers to gain an understanding of any player's potential ability and to form a reasonable basis for supporting or disputing a score that has been posted.

There are two essential elements of peer review:

  1. Members of a golf club must have a reasonable and regular opportunity to play together.
  2. Access must be provided to scoring records, as well as to a Handicap Index list, for inspection by others, including, but not limited to, fellow club members. 

Any member of the Woodmont Ladies’ Golf Association may bring written concerns to the WLGA Handicap Committee if they have issues with score(s) posted by a member of our association.  These situations will remain confidential until the WLGA Handicap Committee has time to investigate and respond to both members.

COMMITTEE AUDIT OF HANDICAPS

The WLGA Handicap Committee will randomly audit WLGA members’ handicaps.  It is the intent of the committee to audit each player’s handicap at least once per year. 

 

HANDICAP ADJUSTMENTS

A player’s Handicap Index may be adjusted if the player does not turn in all acceptable scores or otherwise does not observe the spirit of the World Handicap System, or the policies of the WLGA.  The WLGA Handicap Committee shall determine the amount of adjustment.

Since the GHIN system updates daily, failing to post scores or late posting of scores has an immediate impact.

If a player fails to post an acceptable score within one week after completing the round, the WLGA Handicap Committee can take action according to the following:

  1. On the first offense, the member will be given a written warning and, if the score has not been posted, will be requested to post the score. If the score is not posted within a week, a penalty score equal to the lowest handicap differential (computed using score, course rating and slope of the tee from which the round was played) from the player’s 20 most recent rounds will be posted by the WLGA Handicap Committee.
  2. For a second offense, the member will be given a written warning and will be requested to post the score.  A penalty score equal to the lowest handicap differential (score, course rating and slope) from the player’s 20 most recent rounds will be posted by the WLGA Handicap Committee.
  3. For the third offense the member will be given a written warning and an opportunity to appear before the handicap committee to explain extenuating circumstances.  If the member fails to give a satisfactory justification, the WLGA Handicap Committee will modify the player’s handicap as deemed appropriate. 
  4. For the fourth offense the member will be given written notification and an opportunity to appear before the WLGA Board of Directors to explain extenuating circumstances. Further action, up to and including withdrawal of the player’s Handicap Index will follow.

A player whose Handicap Index has been withdrawn will be precluded from participating in events (both WLGA and non-WLGA) requiring a Handicap Index.

If a player’s Handicap Index is withdrawn, she will be notified of the length of time of the withdrawal and any additional conditions.

 

 

Impact on WLGA Competition:

    • If an unposted score will impact a player’s Handicap Index for an upcoming tournament, if the player does not post the score prior to the tournament, in addition to actions 1 – 3 above, the WLGA Handicap Committee may post the score prior to the tournament.
    • If it is discovered that a player competed in a WLGA event with an incorrect handicap caused by failing to post a score in a timely manner, the results from that event may be deemed invalid by the WLGA Handicap Committee.

If a player manipulates her scoring record to influence her Handicap Index, the Handicap Committee and / or WLGA Board of Directors may adjust or withdraw his World Handicap Index, depending on the severity of the offense.

 Examples of manipulating scores include the following:

  • Posting erroneous scores, not posting scores or repeatedly posting scores late
  • Stopping play before 9 holes are completed to specifically avoid posting a 9 or 18 hole score
  • Not recording and posting match play scores (Team Play, Match Play League)
  • Not adjusting hole scores according to Rule 3.1 World Handicap System Rules of Handicapping
  • Playing “practice rounds” or rounds in which scores are not kept to avoid posting a score
  • Picking up before holing a ball or skipping holes to avoid posting a score
  • Deliberately reporting more or fewer strokes than taken or deliberately taking extra strokes to inflate a score
  • Posting unacceptable rounds (i.e. Ineligible formats, solo rounds, etc.)
  • Repeatedly ignoring the USGA Rules of Golf 

The WLGA Handicap Committee may decide to adjust a player’s handicap for a permanent or temporary injury or illness which is significant enough to impact the player’s ability to play with or against all other players on a fair and equal basis.

The WLGA Handicap Committee reserves the right to further reduce or override the reduction of the Handicap Index of a player whose Handicap Index has been reduced under Rule 7.1 of the World Handicap System Rules of Handicapping if there are extenuating circumstances.

In any situation where the WLGA Handicap Committee believes that an adjustment to a player’s handicap is warranted, it will do so under the guidelines as outlined in Rule 7 of the World Handicap System Rules of Handicapping.

 

 

After considering all of the available evidence, the WLGA Handicap Committee will decide the most appropriate course of action for any adjustment to a player’s Handicap Index, which can be either:

  • Resetting the Handicap Index by applying an adjustment to each of the most recent 20 Score Differentials in the scoring record, to achieve the chosen Handicap Index that is determined to better reflect the player's demonstrated ability.  This will allow for the Handicap Index to be updated as new scores are posted.
      • If fewer than 20 scores are recorded on a player’s scoring record the adjustment is applied to all recorded Score Differentials.
      • The WLGA Handicap Committee can remove the adjustment at any time if the adjustment is determined to no longer be warranted.

 - OR -

 

  • Freezing the Handicap Index at a level selected by the WLGA Handicap Committee for a defined period of time.
      • During this period, a player’s Handicap Index will not be updated as new scores are posted unless the WLGA Handicap Committee has determined to freeze only against upward movement.  The player should continue to post scores for rounds played during the freeze.
      • The WLGA Handicap Committee can remove the freeze upon the Handicap Index at any time and the scores in the player’s scoring record will be used to calculate the player’s Handicap Index.

 

 

 

Any adjustment to a player’s Handicap Index resulting from a handicap review must:

  • Be applied only after the player has been informed and has had an opportunity to respond to the WLGA Handicap Committee or, where appropriate, the Authorized Association.
  • Be a minimum of 1 stroke, upward or downward.
  • Only increase a player’s Handicap Index by up to 5.0 strokes above the player’s Low Handicap Index, unless there are exceptional circumstances. Such circumstances could include a player who has a long-term illness or injury preventing them from playing golf at the level previously attained.

 

The Committee Chair in charge of a competition working in conjunction with the WLGA Handicap Committee may reserve the right to:

  • Adjust the Playing Handicap of an entrant in a tournament where there is evidence that the player’s Handicap Index does not reflect their demonstrated ability or for any other reason it deems appropriate.
  • The WLGA Handicap Committee and Tournament Chair have the right to review player’s handicaps for rapid improvement that cannot be measured by the current World Handicap System.  For example, a player has a 16.5 index; recent play in tournaments and regular play is a 12.5; system would lower to a 14.5 which is not reflective of her 12.5 potential to play.  The WLGA Handicap Committee and Tournament Chair will decide if the 12.5 is appropriate index to apply for the event.
  • Determine that when course conditions are exceptionally poor, the submission of scores for handicap purposes should be suspended.

 

Note 1:  See “Definitions” section of the USGA Rules of Handicapping as follows: https://www.usga.org/handicapping/roh/rules-of-handicapping.html

Note 2:  See Section II, Rule 3 “Adjustment of Hole Scores” of the USGA Rules of Handicapping as follows:                          https://www.usga.org/handicapping/roh/rules-of-handicapping.html

 

The WLGA Handicap Committee

January 2025