Handicaps from Different Tees Policy

 

USGA Decision 3-5/1: Players Competing From a Different Course Rating™ or Tees A Course Handicap represents the number of strokes needed from a specific set of tees to play to the level of a scratch golfer; i.e., to the USGA Course Rating.

 

• The calculation of a Course Handicap only includes a player’s Handicap Index® and the Slope Rating® of the tees being played.

 

• When a USGA Course Rating difference exists among competitors, they are playing to different benchmarks, and an adjustment equal to the full difference in USGA Course Rating must be made in order for the competition to be equitable.

 

• Players competing from two different tees: Player A is competing from the Blue tees (71.0) and Player B is competing from the White tees (69.0). Since the USGA Course Rating difference is two strokes, Player A must add two to the Course Handicap calculated from the Blue tees. As an alternative, Player B may deduct two from the Course Handicap calculated from the White tees, as the overall effect would be the same

 

Example: Player A (TI: 10.2) is playing Player B (TI: 8.0) on the North. Player A has elected to play the forward (white) tees. Player B is not eligible to move forward and is playing the blue tees. The blue tees are rated 72.3; the white tees are rated 70.5. The difference in rating between blue and white is 72.3 – 70.5 = 1.8 The course Player A is playing is 1.8 strokes easier than the course the Player B is playing. Player A’s handicap from the white is 12; Player B’s handicap from blue is 10. In order to compensate for the different courses, Player A’s handicap is reduced by 1.8 to 10.2; rounded to 10. Thus, in the match Player A and Player B are playing even.