Rules Of When To Enter Scores And Give Putts

Rules of when to enter scores and give putts

Wednesday, 1 December, 2021 Golf News

Handicaps News
November 2021

Dear Golfer,
This month we look at scores entered for handicap purposes and discern between those that are acceptable and unacceptable.

Acceptable scores

The World Handicap System (WHS) aims to provide golfers with plenty of opportunity to submit scores for handicap purposes, encouraging golfers to play more often and ensuring their Handicap Index is reflective of their demonstrated ability.

A score is acceptable for handicap purposes, and must be entered on the HNA system, if the round has been played under the following conditions:

In an authorised format of play (Rule 2.1a) over the minimum number of holes required for either a 9-hole or an 18-hole score to be acceptable (Rule 2.2).
In the company of at least one other person, who must also act as a marker.
By the Rules of Golf (Rule 2.1b).
On a golf course with a current Course Rating and Slope Rating, where length and normal playing difficulty is maintained at a consistent level.

Match Play scores

As part of the WHS, all Match Play scores, including competition Match Play scores, must be entered into the HNA system, in the same way as all Better Ball and Stroke Play scores have to be entered.

In competition Match Play, players often walk off after the game is over. In this case, players can enter their Adjusted Gross Scores for the holes played on a hole-by-hole basis on the HNA App, the HNA Terminal or via the HNA website. Then, once you press “Enter Score” after playing, for example, 14 holes, the system will prompt you with a message saying, “You are about to submit an incomplete round."

If you then press 'Enter', the system will allocate par plus or minus any Course Handicap Strokes you would have had on the remaining holes. This is the same as when you have to stop and walk off the course when the game is halted due to weather or some other issue.

The alternative to entering the score on a hole-by-hole basis and letting the system complete your remaining holes is that you can enter an Adjusted Gross Score with the total of what you scored up until the match ended, and then add par plus or minus any Course Handicap Stokes for the unfinished holes.

Where possible, players should always putt out and complete the hole. If, however, you do not finish a hole, here are some guidelines for the score you must record on that hole:

If you are on the green and within 1.5 metres of the hole, record 1 extra shot.
If you are between 1.5 metres and 20 metres from the hole, record 2 or 3 strokes, depending on the difficulty of the green and the player’s ability.
If you are more than 20 metres, then add 3 or 4 strokes, depending on the difficulty of the green and the player’s ability.
The number of strokes most likely to have been achieved should not exceed the maximum allowed on each hole.

Unacceptable scores

It is important to note that not all rounds of golf produce valid scores for handicapping purposes. For example, you are not allowed to submit scores into the handicap system in the following circumstances:

If you are playing on your own (with no marker).
If you are being coached while playing the round or you play with more than one ball at a time.
If you play in a format where you do not play your own ball for the whole round, such as Scramble.
When the number or type of golf clubs to be used is restricted
When you play with non-conforming equipment.
When you don’t play the minimum required number of holes – i.e. fewer than 9 holes.
When you play an unauthorised format of play – i.e. Foursomes etc. (Rule 2.1a).
When you don’t play according to the Rules of Golf (Rule 2.1b).

Your chance to win in the OUTsurance December Monthly Mug

If you are playing golf this Saturday (4 December), why not enter our free OUTsurance Monthly Mug? It's limited to just 500 players and you could win some cool prizes across different categories, including lucky draws.

What's more, all participants will be entered into the Grand Prize pool, where one lucky winner will win a Fancourt Golf Escape worth over R17 000.

To enter, simply join the OUTsurance Monthly Mug in the Public Events section (December) on the HNA App. Then, simply enter your hole-by-hole scores on the day.

Find out all you need to know about the OUTsurance Monthly Mug here.

Congrats to last month's winners:
A Division – Kwan Young Kim (The Country Club Johannesburg), 43 pts
B Division – Jacobus Booyse (Woodhill Country Club), 42 pts
C Division – Mark Veitch (Irene Country Club), 40 pts
Leading Gross – Erwee Botha (Randpark Golf Club), 68
Leading Senior – Johan Rothman (Durbanville Golf Club), 43 pts
Leading Junior – Graham Sole (Southbroom Golf Club), 39 pts

Please don’t hesitate to contact us at editor@handicaps.co.za if you have any handicap-related queries or questions.

Quote of the Month
“One reason golf is such an exasperating game is that a thing we learned is so easily forgotten, and we find ourselves struggling year after year with faults we had discovered and corrected time and again." – Bobby Jones.

Swing easy!
The Handicaps Team

Rules of when to enter scores and give putts

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