USGA Makes Changes to Handicap System
The USGA already made changes to its Rules of Golf in an attempt to simplify the rules that go into effect January 1st. They have now gone back to the drawing board to revise the rules for their handicap system that will also go into effect at the start of the New Year.
“The USGA handicap system is constantly evolving to ensure that the system works for the game today and tomorrow,” said Steven Edmondson, the USGA’s managing director of handicapping & course rating, in a release. “As we examine the game domestically and globally, these revisions support the integrity and reliability that millions of players around the world expect of this system. We continue to explore substantive changes as we work toward a world handicap system in the years ahead.”
The changes will affect approximately 10 million golfers and there will be five significant changes made.
The most controversial change that will be made will be the discontinuation of solo scores counting towards your handicap. Under the new rules, a golfer will have to play a round of golf with at least one other person to verify the score in order for it to count toward their handicap. The other four changes are:
Definition of a tournament score: A greater emphasis will be placed on "significant events." The new defenition excludes fundraising events and regular league play, in favor of designated competitions such as a member/guest or club championship, local amateur tournament or national qualifying and competition.
Adjusting hole scores: This revised definition brings clarity to the rare situations where a golfer doesn not or cannot complete a hole under the Rules of Golf but the score would be accurate for handicap purposes. Examples include, but are not limited to, when a local rule is not in effect, when a golfer does not want to cause a lengthy delay, or where the situation is outside of the player’s control, such as an incorrectly marked golf course.
Posting scores when a player is disqualified: To go along with the changes to the Rules of Golf, the new handicap system is clearer about when a score is still acceptable even when a golfer is disqualified. If the disqualification breach is determined to provide an advantage for the player, the score is deemed unacceptable for handicap purposes.
Anchoring and posting: If a golfer continues to anchor their putter after the anchor ban takes effect on January 1st, their score cannot be used for their handicap.
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