This month we provide a refresher on the essential rules of score entry procedures when submitting a score on the HNA handicap system. We also reveal an amazing promotion that could save you a lot of money on your next overseas flights.
Registering / Opening a round before play
It is a condition of the World Handicap System that for a handicap score to be entered into the system, the round must be registered (opened) on the HNA system before play begins.
Scores where the round is opened after play are flagged and reported to your club’s Handicap Committee for further investigation. Every golfer’s percentage of rounds opened before play is reflected in the player’s scoring records and on the App.
A round can be opened before play on the club terminal (there is one at every club), on the free HNA mobile App, on the HNA website or through the club’s system.
Entering Scores and the Late Score Entry Penalty
Golfers are requested to please enter their scores as soon as possible after the completion of the round, and before midnight, on the day of play. This is important for the Playing Conditions Calculation, which is calculated for each tee, at each course, overnight.
The HNA system automatically applies a late score entry penalty of the lowest differential in the player’s last 20 scores for any score entered more than 24 hours after midnight on the day of play, and a “p” will be displayed next to the differential in the system.
Players who are playing two days in a row and have failed to enter the previous day’s score before midnight will not have a valid Handicap Index the following day and should therefore be excluded from playing in any competition.
Entering Foreign Rounds
All foreign rounds played in an authorised format must be entered into the HNA system. Only Southern African courses are on the HNA system, so the round can be entered either via the HNA App or website while travelling or, on the player’s return to the country, via the Club terminal.
This is done by selecting “Open Round” and then “Foreign Round”, then by entering the name of the course and the Course Rating and the Slope Rating of the tee.
Any Playing Conditions Calculation (PCC) applicable for the tee played on the day the round was played should be added to the player’s Adjusted Gross Score when entering the round on the HNA system. There is no penalty for a late score entered for a foreign round.
Unfinished Rounds due to weather, Match Play or other circumstances
If fewer than 9 holes have been played, then the score cannot be entered on the HNA system and you must submit a No Return, which will nullify the round. If, however, you have played 9 holes, then you must enter a 9-hole score.
If you played more than 9 but fewer than 14 holes, you need to add one additional stroke for the first unplayed hole, and then enter Net Par (par plus any Course Handicap Strokes you would have received) for the remaining holes on your scorecard.
If you have played 14 holes or more, then please add Net Par for the remaining holes on your scorecard, and add it up as you would do normally for an 18-hole Adjusted Gross Score. For more detail on incomplete rounds, please see Section 12 of HNA’s Handicap FAQs.
Note: If you are unsure of what to do, you can simply select “Hole by Hole” scores on the Score Entry section of the HNA App or Terminal and then enter the Gross Scores for the holes you have completed, and then press “Enter Score”. The system will prompt you to confirm this is an “Incomplete Round”, and if you then select “Yes”, it will automatically apply par plus your handicap strokes for the remaining holes and enter your Adjusted Gross Score into the system.
Quote of the Month
“The worse you’re performing, the more you must work mentally and emotionally. The greatest and toughest art in golf is ‘playing badly well.’ All the true greats have been masters at it.” – Jack Nicklaus.
