A: The “R” indicates that a golfer is being reduced due to exceptional tournament scores. The reduction is an automatic part of the index calculation. Eligible tournament scores stay in a stored tournament file for a year from the date they were posted or within the scoring record. Each month, the computer looks at what the golfer’s calculated (10-2) Handicap Index is. If there are at least two tournament differentials in the file at 3.0 points below the calculated index, then the golfer may become reduced. The calculation also takes into account the total number of tournament games the golfer has posted over the last 12 months. If the golfer has shown they can play to a certain level but the current index is not reflecting that potential, the system automatically reduces the golfer down to their playing potential.
How long it lasts depends upon the calculated index, which is based on the scores the golfer has posted, what the two low tournament differentials are and how many tournament games the golfer has posted over the last 12 months.
To be clear, this is not a penalty, but rather part of the formula for calculating a player's Handicap Index. If you feel this reduction is not warranted, you can speak to your Handicap Chair about removing or modifying the reduction.
A: To have a score corrected or removed, a golfer must contact the Handicap Chair at his/her golf club. We do not perform any file maintenance requests that come directly from individual members.
A: A golfer’s Handicap Index will be calculated at the next revision period, once the player has posted a minimum of five 18-hole scores. Revisions occur on the first and 15th of each month.
A: An individual cannot join the SCGA directly. In order to obtain a Handicap Index and become a member, a golfer must join a golf club -- either a golf course facility or an affiliate club (a club without real estate). You may search for a club online here.
A: When a membership is not renewed, the association will save the golfer’s scoring record for 24 months. The score file can be reactivated once they have registered with a club again. The player will need to join a golf club (an individual cannot join the SCGA directly). When joining the club, the golfer should alert the club of their existing membership number, in order to reactivate the score file.
