2020 IGA Yearbook

CONDUCTING A HANDICAP COMMITTEE REVIEW T he Handicap Committee plays a vital role in the successful administration of the Rules of Handicapping and is equipped with tools to intervene when the calculated Handicap Index is not reflective of a player’s demonstrated ability. Used appropriately, these tools are designed to ensure that players are treated fairly and consistently from golf club to golf club. Using the tools and data available, the Handicap Committee at the club is strongly encouraged to perform a handicap review annually of all members of its club. Additional information available to the club such as tee sheets, playing lessons, formats of play where an acceptable score for posting is not available (e.g., alternate shot, scramble) should be used during the review process. While conducting the review, it is important for the Handicap Committee to keep in mind the guiding principle of the Rules of Handicapping: Is the Handicap Index of the player truly reflective of their demonstrated ability? If the answer is no, then the Committee must consider the available evidence and decide the most appropriate course of action for the player. The Allied Golf Association (AGA) can provide statistics on a national level as well as the AGA level for use in the club analysis. Each individual club’s data will make up this collection of data so it should be used as an analysis tool rather than a direct comparison: • Active golfer count • Average Handicap Index • Number of scores posted • Occurrences of Exceptional Score Reductions • Capped golfer counts • Golfers with a Handicap Index adjustment