7.1a Conducting a Handicap Review and Adjusting a Handicap Index

    (i) Conducting a Handicap Review.The Handicap Committee should conduct a review of a player’s Handicap Index using the procedures set out in Appendix D: Handicap Review.
    • The Handicap Committee has discretion to conduct a handicap review at any time. However, it is strongly recommended that the Handicap Committee conducts a review at least annually, for all members who have designated that golf club as their home club.
    • A handicap review may also be conducted at the request of the player or another player at any time.
    • Before making any adjustment to a player’s Handicap Index, the Handicap Committee should carefully consider all available evidence, including:
      • Whether the player’s scoring potential has been affected by a temporary or permanent injury or illness which is significant enough to impact the player’s ability to play with or against all other players on a fair and equal basis.
      • Any handicap(s) previously held by the player.
      • Whether the player’s ability is rapidly improving or declining.
      • Whether the player is performing significantly differently in one format of play compared to another, for example between organized competitions and general play; unauthorized and authorized format of play.
      • Where it has been determined that a player’s actions are for the purpose of gaining an unfair advantage.
    (ii) Adjusting a Handicap Index. In considering all of the available evidence, the Handicap Committee must decide the most appropriate course of action for any adjustment to a player’s Handicap Index, which can be either:
    • Resetting the Handicap Index by applying an adjustment to each of the most recent 20 Score Differentials in the scoring record, to achieve the chosen Handicap Index that is determined to better reflect the player's demonstrated ability.

      • This will allow for the Handicap Index to be updated as new scores are posted.

      • If fewer than 20 scores are recorded on a player’s scoring record the adjustment is applied to all recorded Score Differentials.

      • The Handicap Committee can remove the adjustment at any time if the adjustment is determined to no longer be warranted.

    Or

    • Freezing the Handicap Index at a level selected by the Handicap Committee for a defined period of time.
      • During this period, a player’s Handicap Index will not be updated as new scores are posted unless the Handicap Committee has determined to freeze only against upward movement.
      • The Handicap Committee can remove the freeze upon the Handicap Index at any time and the scores in the player’s scoring record will be used to calculate the player’s Handicap Index.

Any adjustment to a player’s Handicap Index resulting from a handicap review must:

  • Be applied only after the player has been informed and has had an opportunity to respond to the Handicap Committee or, where appropriate, the Authorized Association. The player must have recourse to an appeals procedure, if requested.
  • Be a minimum of 1 stroke, upward or downward.
  • Only increase a player’s Handicap Index by up to 5.0 strokes above the player’s Low Handicap Index, unless there are exceptional circumstances. Such circumstances could include a player who has a long-term illness or injury preventing them from playing golf at the level previously attained.

Rule 7.1a Clarifications:

7.1a/1 – Resetting a Player’s Handicap Index by Adjusting the Most Recent 20 Score Differentials

Applying an adjustment to each of the most recent 20 Score Differentials in the player’s scoring record will ensure that the impact of the adjustment remains after the next score is submitted, gradually diluting the impact of the adjustment as more scores are submitted.

As an example, a player has a Handicap Index of 10.3 and the Handicap Committee decides to adjust this to 9.3 because recent scores suggest that the player is rapidly improving.

Using this example, the Handicap Committee would apply a -1 adjustment to each of the most recent 20 Score Differentials and the impact of this adjustment on the final calculation is illustrated in the tables below:

7.1a/2 – Basis of Handicap Committee-Applied Adjustment For a Player Impacted by Illness or Injury

The Handicap Committee may consider adjusting a player’s Handicap Index if their ability has been impacted by a prolonged period of ill health, injury or temporary disability. Such an adjustment can only be made after one or more acceptable scores have subsequently been submitted. In determining the level of any adjustment, the Handicap Committee should take into consideration the scores submitted compared to their previous Handicap Index and the nature and severity of the player's condition.

After a number of scores have been submitted and it becomes evident that the player's condition has caused a permanent change to their ability, it may be appropriate to disregard the player’s scoring record and allocate a Handicap Index using only the scores submitted since the illness, injury or temporary disability occurred (see Rule 5.2a For Fewer Than 20 Scores).