Equitable Stroke Play

With the onset of our 2010 golf season, we might want to re-visit "Adjusting Hole Scores for Equitable Stroke Control (ESC)™".  We all want fair and honest handicap indexes and the ESC system helps with that.

ESC is an adjustment of individual hole scores (for handicap purposes) in order to make handicaps more representative of a player's potential ability. ESC is applied after the round and is only used when the actual score or the most likely score exceeds a player’s maximum number. ESC sets a limit to the number of strokes a player can take on a hole depending on Course Handicap™. Apply ESC to all scores, including tournament scores. Below is the maximum number a player can post:

Course Handicap                         Maximum Number

9 or less ...........................................Double Bogey

10-19........................................................ 7

20-29 ........................................................8

30-39 ........................................................9

Keep in mind that you use your ADJUSTED COURSE HANDICAP, not your handicap index.  Those of us who are in the 18-19 handicap index for example, will many times adjust up to a 20 or 21 course handicap.  In that case, instead of adjusting the 10 you made on a hole to a 7, you would adjust to an 8.

And don't forget, you should post scores even if you didn't complete the hole or the round (if you played at least seven holes).  There are provisions for both of these and according to the Rules of Golf, you should post those scores also.  So if you play 16 holes and decide to quit, for whatever reason, you should record your score for the last two holes based on the par score plus your handicap for that hole.  If you need help figuring it out, contact the Events Chairman Kathleen McCoy for assistance.