Comments on: NCGA Position on Acceptable Rounds for Handicap Purposes

By: Jim Cowan

Jim Cowan — Thu, 20 Aug 2009 00:04:40 +0000

Don, thank you for your comment. Bumping the ball should have nothing to do with the decision as to whether the “T” should be applied or not. Really, the more important decision to be made is which tournaments to apply the “T” to. Too many T’s is a bad thing, not a good thing. It dilutes the ability of the Handicap System to identify those golfers who seem to save their very best play for the most important tournaments. So figure out which tournaments are your biggies and apply the “T” to those whether you are bumping the ball or not. Thanks again – Jim Cowan

By: Don Terry

Don Terry — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 16:04:17 +0000

Jim, I am the new handicap chairman for the Rossmoor Men’s Golf Club. The pro-shop staff post all of our tournament scores. I asked them to post all tournament scores as T-scores. They refused saying that they can’t when we allow a 6″ bump. This is often allowed by the club and I am trying to get it eliminated. Can the scores be posted as T-scores when the round played allowed 6″ bumps.

Don

By: Jim Cowan

Jim Cowan — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 19:50:57 +0000

Russell, thank you for your comment. The club would need to send us details of the rounds that could not be posted (dates, scores, ratings, etc.). We have ways of getting such scores entered, even if the score posting computer balks at it. Thanks again – Jim Cowan

By: Russell Fusaro

Russell Fusaro — Sun, 28 Jun 2009 03:44:57 +0000

Our club pro plays with us in our daily game almost every day so he maintains a handicap for that reason. The problem is that he sometimes shoots rounds that cannot be posted on our machine. Whenever he goes below 65, the machine says that it cannot be entered. This month alone he shot a course record tying 61, and the other day he shot 62. Some of us think this is not fair and he is using the system to take our money. His team normaly wins so he is able to supplement his income nicely. He is extremely attentive to the other players posting their scores and will not hesitate to lock a person into a low handicap if he feels something is wrong. It has been suggested that he post the lowest score the machine will allow, but he says that would be posting an incorrect score.

By: Jim Cowan

Jim Cowan — Wed, 17 Jun 2009 20:09:23 +0000

Eddie and Cliff, thank you for your comments. It is unfortunate that anyone would play preferred lies when course conditions are good as this could have an adverse impact on the handicaps established from such rounds. Be that as it may, the Handicap System does require the posting of the scores.
Cliff, as to your second question, you should present any evidence you have of the golfer’s failure to post his low scores to the Handicap Committee of the club that the golfer is a member of. That club should a) post the scores and/or b) post a Penalty score for each and every score posting transgression. Depending on the severity of the situation, the club should consider modifying or even withdrawing the Handicap Index of the golfer. Contact us by e-mail and we can provide you with the necessary info to reach the other club. Thanks again – Jim Cowan

By: Cliff Williams

Cliff Williams — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 17:46:26 +0000

Problem one: Course has sign posted Summer Rules however they play night leauge preferred lies “winter rules”. Handicap commitee position is these are postable scores. We have several members saying they contacted ncga and they are saying to them these scores should not be posted. This is not what it shows in preferred lies section of ncga handicap guidelines or what we learned in seminars. Please ask Mr Cowan to let me know if we are correct in requiring posting of these scores thanks, Cliff Williams Handicap Chairman EMC. Problem two: We have a player from another club that has entered tournaments, night league and pro-ams. His handicap indes is 13.9 and he has shot 77 in pro-am and even par in other venues and according to his score history on your website these scores have not been posted. What remedy do we have? Another pro-am is comming up in which he is entered.

By: eddie schrock

eddie schrock — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 16:43:14 +0000

Jim, can you settle a debate for us? Our course is currently posted, “summer rules” (i.e., no adverse course conditions). Course management (not the men’s club) hosts a weekly 9-hole mini match-play game in the evenings (players play three 3-hole matches (holes 1-3; holes 4-6; holes 7-9)). In order to expedite play, management tells contestants to bump the ball. Is the 9-hole cumulative stroke score postable if the player bumps the ball?

By: Jim Cowan

Jim Cowan — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 15:32:06 +0000

Erik, thank you for your comment. There is nothing preventing you from posting such scores. Thanks again – Jim Cowan

By: Erik

Erik — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 04:56:23 +0000

I recently became an NCGA member, but I have been tracking my scores at MyScorecard.com since the beginning of the year. Can I post those scores to establish my NCGA handicap or can I only post rounds which were played after I joined. MyScorecard is recognized by the USGA offers an official USGA handicap if that matters.

By: Jim Cowan

Jim Cowan — Wed, 20 May 2009 03:26:36 +0000

Stan, thank you for your comment. You would not be able to post the scores that you have described. The Handicap System is based on the premise that you are going to try your hardest on every hole of every round to score the lowest you can. In these instances you are removing clubs from your arsenal that would/could contribute to your lowest scores on each hole. So go ahead and continue to play rounds in this manner . . . they are wonderful drills to improve your shot-making . . . but do not post the scores. In reality you are not trying to score the lowest your game has to offer, you are just working on specific parts of your game. Thanks again – Jim Cowan