To provide equity when competitors are playing from 2 or more sets of tees with different Pars, adjustments are made to the Playing Handicaps of some players. These adjustments are used solely to determine competition results and do not affect the player’s Scoring Record or Handicap Index calculation.
Playing Handicap = (Course Handicap x Handicap Allowance) + Adjustment
The adjustments reflect the difference in the scores that would be returned when “Playing to Handicap” and depend on the format being played.
Individual competitions (from April 2024)
- Stableford & Par/Bogey
No adjustments are required and scores are determined using the Pars appropriate to the gender of the player. - Medal & Match Play
Players competing from a set of tees with a higher Par receive additional strokes equal to the difference between the Pars. - Gross Score (Scratch)
Players competing from a set of tees with a higher Course Rating receive an adjustment equal to the (rounded) difference between the Course Ratings. The adjustment is applied as a reduction to the player’s gross score.
Team competitions (from April 2024)
When players use their own ball (e.g. Individual, Better-ball, AM-AM, Waltz, Texas Shamble):
- Adjustments are made as for individual Competitions above
- Stableford and Par/Bogey scores are determined using the Pars of the tees they are playing from
In Texas Scrambles and in formats when players use the same ball (e.g. Foursomes, Greensomes):
- A single tee set must be chosen for scoring purposes (the shorter course is recommended)
- Course Handicaps for all players are calculated using the Par of the chosen tee set
- No further adjustments are required in the calculation of Playing Handicaps
- Stableford and Par/Bogey scores are determined using the Pars of the chosen tee set
See Appendix N for further information and example calculations.
