Incomplete rounds
At this time of year, many rounds are interrupted by thunderstorms or heavy rain, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that your score is invalid. Here’s what to do if you’re unable to complete your round:
If a player completes 13 or more holes, they must post an 18-hole score. If 7 to 12 holes are played, the player must post a nine-hole score. In either case, scores for unplayed holes must be recorded as par plus any handicap strokes that the player is entitled to receive on the unplayed holes.
Example: A player with a handicap of 24 stops playing after 16 holes because of lightning. Hole 17 is a par three with a stroke of 18. The player will record a gross score of four on this hole (3 + one handicap stroke). Hole 18 is a par four with a stroke of six. The player will record a gross score of six on this hole (4 + two handicap strokes).
Players who have completed fewer than seven holes should submit a ‘No Return’ (NR). This will essentially cancel out the round. In other words, it will have no effect on your handicap.
Registered Rounds: Opening rounds
Some golfers have brought to our attention that their clubs are not correctly set up to swipe handicap cards in order to open certain rounds. This may be because the player is playing in a sponsored day or is part of a big group booking – and the result is that the player’s Registered Round Score is affected adversely.
The handicap system has always catered for clubs to open a round on the system when the golfer registers at the club prior to playing. There are numerous ways to open a round, and clubs that are experiencing problems in this regard should contact HNA for technical help in setting up the facilities.
For more information on registered rounds scores, please consult the Section 16 of the Handicaps FAQ or check out our Registered Rounds newsletter.
If you have any other handicap-related questions, please visit our Frequently Asked Questions page.
Quote of the Month
“Golf is so popular simply because it is the best game in the world at which to be bad.” ~ A. A. Milne