Handicap News and Information
FAQs
Below are some common FAQs related to
For detailed information on handicap information, visit the USGA Handicap page or the NCGA Handicap page.
How to I obtain a Handicap Index?
Once our Membership Chair assigns you a GHIN number, you can use that number to post your rounds of golf. Post 54 holes of golf, any combination of 9 and 18 holes, and you’ll have an index!
Where do I post my rounds?
Rounds are posted to the NCGA app or the USGA app. During the pandemic, most clubs made the kiosks unavailable. Some courses have reintroduced these and are available for posting.
Can I post 9 hole rounds? Can I post if I play alone?
Absolutely you can post 9 hole rounds. Most courses will have a rating and slope for front and back 9. When you post two 9 hole rounds, these will be combined and denoted with an “N”. Unfortunately, if you play alone, that is not considered a postable round. All the more reason to ask a friend to join!
What is the maximum I can post on a hole?
The most you can post on any hole is a net double bogey. The net double bogey is determined by adding any handicap strokes to two over par on a given hole. If you are playing as an 18 handicap, you can post 3 over par on every hole. If you are playing as 7 handicap, you can post three over par on the seven most difficult holes.
The NCGA app shows that a “soft cap” has been placed on my index. What did I do?
One aspect of the World Handicap System is to prevent handicaps from increasing too rapidly. To prevent this, a soft cap is placed on your index when you reach 3 strokes over your 12 Low index. This restricts upward movement to 50% of any differential. Once you reach 5 strokes over your LI, a hard cap will be placed on your index.
There is a little cloud and “-1” next to the round I posted yesterday. What does that mean?
The World Handicap System allows for changes to be made to the course rating based on posted scores on the day you played, known as a Playing Conditions Correction (PCC). There is an expected spread of scores on any given day. If those scores skew higher or lower, the course rating may be adjusted to reflect how the course played that day. Note that you must post your scores on the day you play to have them included in the calculation, however, they will be subject to the PCC even if posted late.
Metropolitan Golf Club Local Rules
The rules below are local rules adopted by the Board of the Metropolitan Golf Club to be employed during play at Metropolitan Golf Course. These are in addition to the rules of golf as set forth by the USGA and Royal and Ancient Golf Club (R&A).
A. Rule 13-4 Stones in Bunkers
Stones in bunkers are movable obstructions (Rule 24-1 applies).
B. Rule 14-3 Distance-Measuring Devices
A player may obtain distance information by using a device that measures distance only. If, during a stipulated round, a player uses a distance-measuring device that is designed to gauge or measure other conditions that might affect his play (e.g. gradient, wind speed, temperature, etc.), the player is in breach of Rule 14-3, for which the penalty is disqualification, regardless of whether any such additional function is actually used. Cell phones are not allowed as a measuring device.
C. Rule 20 Lifting, Dropping and Placing
Regarding hole #2 and #6 lateral water hazards on left side of fairway, if the player chooses relief (under Rule 26-1c) with penalty and two club lengths from the point the ball crosses the hazard puts the ball in the cart path immovable obstruction (Rule 24-2), the player may assume the nearest point of relief is on the fairway side of the cart path.
D. Rule 24-2 Immovable Obstructions Close to Putting Green (such as sprinkler heads)
Relief from interference by an immovable obstruction may be taken under Rule 24-2.
In addition if a ball lies through the green and an immovable obstruction on or within two club-lengths of the putting green and within two club-lengths of the ball intervenes on the line of play between the ball and the hole, the player may take relief as follows:
The ball must be lifted and dropped at the nearest point to where the ball lay that (a) is not nearer the hole, (b) avoids intervention and (c) is not in a hazard or on the putting green
E. Rule 25-2 Aeration Holes
Through the green, a ball that comes to rest in or on an aeration hole may be lifted, without penalty, cleaned and dropped, as near as possible to the spot where it lay but not nearer the hole that avoids the situation.
G. Rule 26-1 Water Hazards Ball Played Provisionally
If there is doubt whether a ball is in or is lost in the water hazard, the player may play another ball provisionally under any of the applicable options in rule 26-1 as follows:
If the original ball is found outside the water hazard, the player must continue play with it.
If the original ball is found in the water hazard, the player may either play the original ball as it lies or continue with the ball played provisionally under rule 26-1.
If the original ball is not found or identified within the five-minute search period, the player must continue with the ball played provisionally.
Playing bunkers as Ground Under Repair (GUR)
During the past year, a lot of changes have been made to the way we play a round of golf, from not touching the flag stick, to not raking bunkers, to having to drink behind a dumpster in the parking lot post-round.
At Metropolitan Golf Course, the decision was made to play all bunkers as Ground Under Repair or GUR. What are the rules to GUR and how do you play from a bunker under such conditions.
Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.
The diagram to the left shows well the concept of taking full relief prior to the additional one club length relief. This is an often misunderstood rule and allows the player more relief than they typically are aware.
How do holes rank against each other for different tournaments?
Here’s a chart showing the relative difficult of each hole over the last three tournaments. As expected, Hole #14 plays the most difficult pretty consistently, while Hole #16 plays pretty easy.