| USGA Adopts Changes In Handicap System Procedures For 2008
Far Hills, N.J. -- The United States Golf Association (USGA) has
announced three major modifications to the USGA Handicap System™,
effective Jan. 1, 2008. The most significant revision clarifies the
definition of "peer review" to specify the information that must be
provided in connection with a scoring record. As a result of these
changes, peer review will become more sensitive to privacy-related
concerns.
The new definition of "peer review" mandates two types of scoring
records - a general scoring record that provides basic information
to those involved in peer review; and a complete scoring record that
provides more detailed information to a club's handicap committee,
fellow club members and officials in charge of any outside
competition where a golfer plans to compete.
General scoring records will not show the date (day) and course on
which a round of golf was played. The name of the course where a
round was played is only recommended as part of the complete scoring
record. For both types of records, however, the six most recent
revisions to a player's Handicap Index® are required.
"Certain portions of the scoring record are essential for peer
review to flourish, and we have painstakingly worked to determine
what is necessary in various situations," said USGA President-elect
Jim Vernon, who brought this topic to the attention of the Handicap
Committee for review in 2005 in his role as committee chair.
The second significant change to the Handicap System allows
authorized golf associations to set handicap revision periods during
an inactive "winter" season. The change addresses golfers who live
most of the year in a northern state but travel to a warmer climate
during the winter months where they play numerous rounds of golf.
Previously, the Handicap Index for such players was not updated
during the winter months. This modification was adopted following
two years of successful testing of the concept with several northern
golf associations.
Finally, the USGA will simplify the procedure for combining
nine-hole scores. To attain an 18-hole score, nine-hole scores
should now be combined in the order that they are played, regardless
of the score type. Previous language that made it difficult to
combine and post nine-hole scores has been eliminated.
The USGA Handicap System is revised on a schedule that coincides
with revisions to the Rules of Golf, meaning that the next round of
policy changes would be approved and become effective Jan. 1, 2012.
Peer Review
"Peer review" is the ability of golfers to gain an understanding of
a 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 (see Decision 2/8).
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.
There are two forms of scoring
record display:
General - A General scoring record must provide the six most recent
revisions of the player's Handicap Index, along with scores, score
types, ratings, differentials and dates (month and year only)
relating to the most recent handicap revision. This must be made
available to those involved in peer review.
Complete - A Complete scoring record must provide the six most
recent revisions of the player's Handicap Index, along with scores*,
score types, ratings, differentials and dates (month, day and year)
relating to the most recent handicap revision. This must be made
available to fellow club members, the club handicap committee and
competition officials of any competition in which the player is
going to participate.
* The course name for each score should appear in any "Complete"
scoring record display, and must be included for a Type 3 club
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