Have you noticed that your handicap index has gotten much lower after the last revision and wondered why it now has the letter R next to it? First off, congratulations! The R stands for "reduced index" which means that you must have played some great golf during two or more tournament rounds.

A tournament round is identified by your club's handicap committee and is signified with the letter T when posting the round's score. If the second lowest tournament score’s differential is at least three strokes lower than your current handicap index you are eligible for a handicap reduction. Sometimes golfers just tend to play better during tournaments for a number of reasons but golfers must remember that their handicap index is a reflection of their potential playing ability. You always want to be trying to play your best.

The reduction is used as a safety net for those players that sandbag before a tournament in order to inflate their handicap index. The game of golf is about honesty and integrity which is why this automatic method of calculating your index was devised by the USGA. Don’t feel as if you have been penalized by having your index reduced, instead realize that you have the potential and ability to be a better player.

For a more in depth description of how this all works, take a look at section 10-3 of the USGA Handicap System Manual. Please also visit www.fsga.org for more of your handicapping questions.