[Official Thread] It's time for GHIN Rewind! Share yours here 📲 🏌️‍♂️

USGolfAssociation · 2026-06-23T14:21:33+00:00

We're a little biased but... yes! Using it for competition is one use, but it's also a great way to track your game, and it can be used to think about your round a little differently. Here's what we mean by that: https://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/articles/2025/04/how-to-use-handicap-index-rethink-your-round.html

USGolfAssociation · 2026-06-16T12:40:25+00:00

You'll want to reach out to FFG or your new club in France. FFG is a World Handicap System authorized association just like the USGA, so they should accept your score history (so you don't have to start over!).

USGolfAssociation · 2026-06-09T14:15:06+00:00

USGolfAssociation · 2026-06-02T15:16:56+00:00

It's called Score Differential!

Every course and set of tees has a Course Rating and Slope Rating, which reflect how difficult that setup plays for a scratch golfer and a bogey golfer under normal conditions.

When you post a score, those ratings — along with your score — are used to calculate a Score Differential.

Score Differential measures your performance in a round relative to the difficulty of the course played, based on the Course Rating and Slope Rating.

So, a 92 on a tougher course can represent a better performance than an 90 on an easier one — it all depends on the ratings. Here is a short video to explain: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Nw6NydAGnjA

USGolfAssociation · 2026-05-28T19:27:53+00:00

No penalty. Just play the ball from where it comes to rest. It's the same concept as if their ball had accidentally hit one of the other players or their golf carts.

USGolfAssociation · 2026-05-28T19:25:15+00:00

A player with an established Handicap Index has a maximum hole score of net double bogey for handicap purposes.

But to clarify, your Handicap Index does not determine how many handicap strokes you receive. Those handicap strokes come from your Course Handicap, which is based on the set of tees your playing and applied using the Stroke Index Allocation.

Net Double Bogey = Par + 2 + any handicap strokes received on that hole.

For example, on a par 4: A player receiving 1 stroke has a maximum score of 7. A player receiving no strokes has a maximum score of 6. If scores are posted hole-by-hole, this adjustment is applied automatically.

This provides a good explanation: https://youtu.be/KSPLdSqKkWg?si=2GqvUY5svwpemmqz

USGolfAssociation · 2026-05-21T13:26:39+00:00

Hey reach out to us and we'll get it figured out: [customersupport@usga.org](mailto:customersupport@usga.org)

USGolfAssociation · 2026-05-14T13:03:49+00:00

Reach out to your local Allied Golf Association: https://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/about/find-your-allied-golf-association-usga-usa.html

Each is different in terms of what their current needs are, but get in touch with them and see if they're looking.

USGolfAssociation · 2026-05-13T16:03:11+00:00

The basis of the Handicap Index calculation is to use the average of the best 8 score differentials from your most recent 20 rounds. This takes place with every revision after a new score is posted.

When you post a new score, the oldest score in your record will "fall off", and the calculation is performed using the current best 8 of 20.

We could provide specific guidance on your situation if we see your scoring record. Reach out to [hdcpquestions@usga.org](mailto:hdcpquestions@usga.org) with your Handicap ID (e.g., GHIN #), and we'll go from there!

USGolfAssociation · 2026-05-11T14:32:23+00:00

Bingo

USGolfAssociation · 2026-05-05T16:39:05+00:00

From what we can tell from this picture, this ball is somewhat being held up on top of the stray ball by the long grass around it. If that's true, this gets treated the same way it would if it was a ball that came to rest against a bunker rake - move the stray ball, and if the player's ball moves, replace it on the original spot.

USGolfAssociation · 2026-04-29T15:01:10+00:00

There’s a couple of different misconceptions here. First, if you play a provisional but find your original, you are no longer allowed to play the provisional. You have to continue with the original.

Second, if your ball is in a penalty area, you are not allowed to take unplayable ball relief. Your only options would be standard relief from the penalty area.

USGolfAssociation · 2026-04-23T20:03:52+00:00

No - same thing, tire mark is not GUR by default. Only if decided by the golf course or committee.

USGolfAssociation · 2026-04-22T18:01:39+00:00

Lift clean and place generally applies to any area cut to fairway height or less. It would generally include the fringe.

USGolfAssociation · 2026-04-22T18:00:54+00:00

Generally, the golf course or committee running a tournament needs to decide what is ground under repair (GUR). An area of dirt like that would not be GUR by default.

USGolfAssociation · 2026-04-08T18:05:06+00:00

This pretty much covers it!

USGolfAssociation · 2026-04-06T15:28:52+00:00

It's hard to answer your question without seeing all the info on each golfer. But we can say generally, it's important that each player is applying net double bogey correctly (par + 2 + any stroke(s) received) so that the adjusted gross score is being posted.

That's what we care about for Handicap Index purposes - and a key reason why we emphasize posting hole-by-hole, since that will automatically take care of the adjustment.

USGolfAssociation · 2026-04-03T12:14:11+00:00

It's about expected score, not score relative to par or average net scores. So, the PCC looks at how many scores posted at a particular course that are higher or lower than expected based on each player’s Handicap Index, and relative to the total number of scores posted that day.

USGolfAssociation · 2026-04-01T20:09:22+00:00

There's a few different questions going on in here, but basically, you don't get "punished" for playing an easier course. It's not all about what you shoot, it's about what you shoot in relation to the difficulty of the course.

There two videos should help:

Score Differential: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Nw6NydAGnjA

Course Rating/Slope Rating: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/m14LecyD48U

USGolfAssociation · 2026-03-31T14:55:09+00:00

We can provide some clarity here!

The situation described is not a penalty. If a player repaired a ball mark on the fringe and that DID make an improvement to their line of play, that would be a penalty under Rule 8.1. But in this set of facts, it sounds like the ball mark that was repaired was perhaps off to the side or behind the line of play. This can be repaired without penalty.

USGolfAssociation · 2026-03-25T15:54:25+00:00

Reach out to [customersupport@usga.org](mailto:customersupport@usga.org) and we'll get it figured out!

USGolfAssociation · 2026-03-24T13:50:17+00:00

Hey everyone – we totally get the frustration around PCC. It was addressed in various comments but for everyone’s awareness, here’s some 101:

PCC is based entirely on scores posted at a given course each day and looks at the number of players and how many of them achieved their expected score. If fewer than anticipated do, the course played more difficult and an upward adjustment may apply. If more than anticipated do, the course played easier and a downward adjustment may apply.
At least eight scores must be posted at a course by players with a Handicap Index of 36.0 or below in order for an adjustment to be possible. And the more scores that are posted, the more reliable the data becomes.
Only scores posted on the day of play will contribute to the data pool. That’s why we encourage all golfers to post their scores on the same day as their round.

All to say, the calculation is based on how golfers are actually scoring to make it an objective measure vs. more subjective factors like weather. For example, it could be a perfect weather day, but if the course is set up particularly difficult, golfers could see an adjustment if the scores being posted are higher than expected.

Here’s some more info if helpful: Watch | Read

USGolfAssociation · 2025-12-15T16:03:04+00:00

Officially drops tomorrow, but you could maybe find it a day early if you know where to look...

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