However, the USGA Handicap System doesn’t want to eliminate a round that contains seventeen holes of valid scores if a “mulligan” was played on a single hole. So, for handicap purposes, the hole score made with the mulligan is tossed out and replaced with a hole score that is not considered out of the ordinary for the player, based on his Course Handicap. The adjustment for that hole becomes par, plus any handicap strokes the player should receive, as per Section 4-2 of the USGA Handicap System Manual (‘Holes Not Played or Not Played Under the Rules of Golf’).

For example, a player with a Course Handicap of eighteen receives a stroke on every hole, so the hole in which a mulligan was used would be par plus the one stroke, or a bogey.

Important to note: A score must NOT be posted to a USGA Handicap Index if a majority of the holes are not played under the principles of the Rules of Golf. In an 18-hole round, a majority would be 10 or more holes.

You’re playing a game with your buddy, and he wants to play the back tees (course / slope rating is 72.0/135) and you want to play the middle tees (course / slope rating is 70.0/126). Let’s assume that after converting your Handicap Indexes to the respective slopes on your two tees, you both wind up with Course Handicaps of 12. You’re ready to enjoy an equitable game, right?

WRONG!

Slope by itself doesn’t equalize the game when two sets of tees are in play. Because your buddy is playing a harder set of tees, and in essence a different golf course, as indicated by the course rating of 72.0, you will need to do one more adjustment, which is to give him – yes, as hard as it might be to accept, it’s a fact – TWO STROKES (the difference in the ratings, which is 72.0 – 70.0 = 2).

This procedure, described in Section 3-5 of the USGA Handicap System, must be completed for men vs. men from two different sets of tees, women vs. women from two different sets of tees, and women vs. men from the same set of tees. It is a Rule of Golf and cannot be waived.

Remember – the Handicap System is compiling data as a predictor of your scoring habits. If all scores not made in 100% compliance with the Rules of Golf were tossed out, there would be far fewer scores to post – and thereby little evidence to support a Handicap Index. So, we need to be able to post scores even when we don’t finish a hole, or, for that matter, when we don’t finish a round.

While most golfers are familiar with the USGA Handicap System’s Equitable Stroke Control (ESC) procedure indicating what maximum score they are allowed on any given hole, and also are aware of the “Par Plus” method of deriving a hole score, fewer seem to be knowledgeable about the third way to adjust. In conversations with golfers, I find that most are either using their ESC maximum number, or par plus any handicap strokes allowed as all-inclusive methods of adjusting scores for handicap purposes. The little-known (or perhaps little understood!) “Most Likely Score” adjustment is the only type that brings the golfers own good judgment into the end result. It’s also the only type of adjustment that uses the golfer’s actual strokes taken.

Any time a player starts, but does not complete a hole or is conceded a stroke, they must record for handicap purposes their most likely score. Most likely score is a judgment that the player must make based on their own game. It consists of the number of strokes already taken, plus the number of strokes needed to complete the hole from that position more than half the time. Your playing partner cannot help you to come up with this number! You must assess each situation in which you do not finish the hole based on what you can reasonably expect to score. (Section 4-1, USGA Handicap System Manual 2008-2011).

A good example of this is in match play.  While the Rules of Golf do not insist that you keep a scorecard in match play, the Handicap System is a good reason to carry a card – if only to help you keep track of your strokes and so that you can calculate the proper score to post.

Let’s say you are playing a par 4-hole where you do not get any strokes.  Your competitor sinks his double-bogey putt from 30 feet for a six. You are on the green in 3 but are still 25 feet from the hole.  Your competitor unwisely concedes the hole allowing you to pickup.  You won the hole in the competition, but what score do you record for handicapping purposes?  That’s where you must assess the situation.  What is the likelihood that you’d sink that 25-footer for a par?  Most likely you would at least take two strokes to get the ball into the hole so you should record a five. 

But, what if it was a severe downhill putt and there was little likelihood that you could get the ball to stop within 3-feet.  You are assessing the situation and thinking that you have a 1-100 chance of keeping it close and that you’d be thrilled if you could walk away with a 2-putt.  In this case 3-putts would be more likely, so then you’d record a 6.  And in the case that you were only 2 feet from the hole when it was conceded; well then you might record a 4. 

From match play to stroke play, every situation is different. You must use your judgment to determine which rules of the Handicap system apply.  In this instance, the rules regarding ESC would NEVER apply when you start a hole and don’t finish it (unless your most likely score happens to exceed your ESC score).

Two important points about Most Likely Score: 1) there is no limit to the number of unfinished holes a player may have in a round, and 2) your Most Likely Score cannot exceed your ESC limit. If you find your Most Likely Score is higher, you must make a downward adjustment and record your ESC maximum number of strokes for that hole. The USGA is allowing the player a judgment call whenever you start a hole but don’t complete it, so let’s exercise that right!

The general consensus of opinion was no as the competition was not played under the rules of Golf due the number of clubs being carried. As far as I can tell the maximum number of clubs that can be carried is limted to 14; there is no minimum. Is there some other reasosn why these scores should not be posted ?

1 My adjusted score as (ESC - course handicap) as measured against par for the course (e.g 72) or
2 My adjusted score as (ESC - course handicap) as measured against course rating (e.g 68.1) ?

Louis Flores