The United States Golf Association (USGA) has announced three
major modifications to the USGA Handicap System™, effective Jan.
1, 2008. The most significant revision clarifies the definition
of "peer review" to specify the information that must be
provided in connection with a scoring record. As a result of
these changes, peer review will become more sensitive to
privacy-related concerns.
The new definition of "peer review" mandates two types of
scoring records - a general scoring record that provides basic
information to those involved in peer review; and a complete
scoring record that provides more detailed information to a
club's handicap committee, fellow club members and officials in
charge of any outside competition where a golfer plans to
compete.
General scoring records will not show the date (day) and course
on which a round of golf was played. The name of the course
where a round was played is only recommended as part of the
complete scoring record. For both types of records, however, the
six most recent revisions to a player's Handicap Index® are
required.
"Certain portions of the scoring record are essential for peer
review to flourish, and we have painstakingly worked to
determine what is necessary in various situations," said USGA
President-elect Jim Vernon, who brought this topic to the
attention of the Handicap Committee for review in 2005 in his
role as committee chair.
The second significant change to the Handicap System allows
authorized golf associations to set handicap revision periods
during an inactive "winter" season. The change addresses golfers
who live most of the year in a northern state but travel to a
warmer climate during the winter months where they play numerous
rounds of golf. Previously, the Handicap Index for such players
was not updated during the winter months. This modification was
adopted following two years of successful testing of the concept
with several northern golf associations.
Finally, the USGA will simplify the procedure for combining
nine-hole scores. To attain an 18-hole score, nine-hole scores
should now be combined in the order that they are played,
regardless of the score type. Previous language that made it
difficult to combine and post nine-hole scores has been
eliminated.
The USGA Handicap System is revised on a schedule that coincides
with revisions to the Rules of Golf, meaning that the next round
of policy changes would be approved and become effective Jan. 1,
2012.
Peer Review
"Peer review" is the ability of golfers to gain an understanding
of a player's potential ability and to form a reasonable basis
for supporting or disputing a score that has been posted.
There are two essential elements of peer review:
1. Members of a golf club must have a reasonable and regular
opportunity to play together (see Decision 2/8).
2. Access must be provided to scoring records, as well as to a
Handicap Index list, for inspection by others, including, but
not limited to, fellow club members. There are two forms of
scoring record display:
General - A General scoring record must provide the six most
recent revisions of the player's Handicap Index, along with
scores, score types, ratings, differentials and dates (month and
year only) relating to the most recent handicap revision. This
must be made available to those involved in peer review.
Complete - A Complete scoring record must provide the six most
recent revisions of the player's Handicap Index, along with
scores*, score types, ratings, differentials and dates (month,
day and year) relating to the most recent handicap revision.
This must be made available to fellow club members, the club
handicap committee and competition officials of any competition
in which the player is going to participate.
* The course name for each score should appear in any "Complete"
scoring record display, and must be included for a Type 3 club. |
