FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

NetHandicap.com was launched in January 2000. We invite all members to direct their questions, comments, concerns and other feedback to info@nethandicap.com. Your feedback is very valuable to us and we take your communications seriously.

 

As our members' collective experience with the site grows, we will expand the Frequently Asked Questions section to resolve common issues. Until then, we ask you to bear with us if this section did not provide the help you sought.

 

Is my NetHandicap the same as a USGA Handicap Index?

NetHandicap has been designed such that it adheres to the appropriate requirements as outlined by the USGA Handicap Systems Manual. In order to ensure the integrity of the USGA Handicap System, only authorized golf clubs and golf associations are permitted to issue USGA Handicap Indexes. These clubs provide the requirements of peer review among their members and provide the necessary checks and balances, which are essential elements of the USGA Handicap System. Handicaps calculated by NetHandicap incorporate these checks and balances and are developed and managed by a local handicap committee within a club community.  NetHandicap may be used to satisfy USGA Championship Handicap Index requirements or any other competitions requiring a USGA Handicap Index.

 

NetHandicap.com encourages you to learn more about how to establish a USGA Handicap Index, including how to form your own golf club in order to establish a USGA Handicap Index, by contacting the USGA Handicapping Department at (908) 234-2300 or the regional or state golf association in your area.

 

For more information, you can visit the USGA at www.usga.org, or write to:

The United States Golf Association
Golf House
P.O. Box 708
Far Hills, NJ 07931-0708
e-mail: handicap@usga.org

 

The terms "Course Handicap," "Course Rating," "Equitable Stroke Control," "ESC," "Handicap Index," "Handicap Differential," "Home Course Handicap," "Slope," "Slope Rating," "Trend Handicap Index," "Trend Differential," "Trend Handicap," "United States Golf Association," "USGA," and "USGA Handicap System" are trademarks and service marks of the United States Golf Association.

Back to top

 

How many scores are used to generate my NetHandicap?

A NetHandicap is based on the ten best scores among the 20 most recent scores in a member's scoring record. If a member has fewer than 20 scores in his or her scoring record, the NetHandicap will be generated as follows:

 

Number of Scores in Member's Scoring Record

Number of Best Scores Used in NetHandicap Calculation

1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6

1

7 or 8

2

9 or 10

3

11 or 12

4

13 or 14

5

15 or 16

6

17

7

18

8

19

9

20

10

 

For this reason, a NetHandicap based on fewer than 20 scores will tend to be lower than it would otherwise be if it had been generated off a complete scoring history. NetHandicap.com urges members to keep this in mind when using a NetHandicap in competition with other golfers.

Back to top

 

How can I post a score to a course other than my home course?

NetHandicap.com allows you to post a score to any course that is in our scorecard database or that you enter into your personal database. To search for a course go to the Course Directory. Type in the shortest recognizable string possible for your course (i.e. "Presidio" for "Presidio Golf Course") for best results. We have over 17,000 U.S. courses in our database.

 

To enter scorecard information that is not in our database, select “Add A Course” in the Course Directory or select Add A Tee if there is information on the course but no scorecard data, and enter the scorecard data. At a minimum, you will need to enter a course name, tee box and course and slope ratings. This course will be available to you, but not to other NetHandicap.com members until we have reviewed and independently verified the data.

Back to top

 

How do I Post nine-hole scores?

NetHandicap.com does support posting of nine-hole scores.  In order to do so, you have two options; first is to post a “Quick Post – 9 Hole Post” which allows you to simply add in your score without any other information and the second is to go to “Post Scores” then choose 9 Hole Post and either click on your favorite 9 hole course or Choose another course and then post your round.  You will be prompted to fill in any of 6 different scoring metrics when posting your score.

 

How do I combine nine-hole scores?

If you play only nine holes, you can play the second nine later at a different course, the same course (or even the same nine) and combine the two 9 hole scores for an 18 hole score if the two nine-hole rounds are played without an intervening 18-hole round.  This is known as non-consecutive scoring. 

 

Simply click on “Maintain 9 Hole Rounds” and NetHandicap will automatically tell you which 9 hole rounds qualify to be combined into a legal 18 hole round according to the rules outlined above.  Once  two 9 hole rounds are combined, they are denoted with a “CI” which means “combined”+ “Internet”.

Back to top

 

Why does the scorecard not update when I switch tee boxes in Post Scores, and how do I Post to the other tee?

On Post Scores, when you switch the tee, it does not regenerate the scorecard information to protect against loss of data that has been entered. Originally, this page regenerated, but we got tons of emails from folks who entered the data first and selected the tee box later. Nevertheless, if you switch the tee and then post, your data will be posted to the tee you have selected not to the data shown on the scorecard. It is as if the scorecard had been regenerated, but without the loss of data.

To check what we mean, try switching the tee. Then enter in a drive distance in the form of minus your distance to the hole. This normally will calculate the drive distance by subtracting your distance from the pin from the scorecard yardage. If you have switched the tee, it will calculate off the yardage from the tee you don't see! You can check this in real time by looking at the Avg. Drive box to the right of the Drive Distance row on the back nine.

 

Once you have posted a score to a certain tee, it will bring that tee up first when you load that course in the Post Scores page.

Back to top

 

How do I track my round statistics on the course when I also keep score for my foursome?

Competitive golfers have developed a shorthand to record their statistics in a single box of a scorecard. Although you can record your statistics in more than one box, this shorthand will capture your most important performance information.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To use this shorthand, enter your total score in the center of the box and use the corners for different statistics. Mark the upper left corner if you hit the fairway. In the upper right corner, enter an "S" or "P" to indicate that you hit a sand bunker or took a penalty stroke. Write your number of putts in the lower right hand corner.

 

You will probably need to enter your drive distance in a separate location on your scorecard. Note that you can record your drive distance as minus your distance to the pin, e.g., -160. Your drive distance will be calculated based on the total yardage of the hole minus your distance to the pin.

 

You don't need to record whether you reached the green in regulation, because it is calculated by your number of strokes minus your putts. If you reach the green in 2 strokes or more below par, you have reached the green in regulation. NetHandicap.com will automatically calculate your greens in regulation for you using this simple relationship. You can manually switch your automatically calculated greens in regulation.

Back to top

 

How can I add a course which is not listed on the NetHandicap search results?

NetHandicap has over 17,000 golf courses loaded into our database and we continuously update the list with new and edited information. However, it is practical that we do not have every course in North America loaded on our database. In the event that you do not find the course after a search, you may "Add a Course" within the "Course Directory" section of the site. This updated information will update your personal database only. Once we validate that the course information is correct, we will then edit the master course database which is shared by all our members.

Back to top

 

How can I change course information which may be incorrect?

Because our database of golf courses is ever changing and golf courses facilities continuously are in a state of change such a moving holes and adding courses, we believe that we do a good job of keeping up with these changes. We also look for our membership to continuously give us updated information on changes which may occur. In the event that you find the course after a search may be inaccurate, you may "Edit Course" within the "Course Directory" section of the site. This updated information will update your personal database only. We would appreciate your updated course information sent to us at info@nethandicap.com

Back to top

 

I am a Canadian resident; can I use the NetHandicap system?

Yes. The NetHandicap system has been designed to be equally favorable to Canadian and American visitors. Keep in mind that all reference to dollars on the NetHandicap site refers to United States dollars including the Pro Shop, membership fees and special offers.

Back to top

 

I am a Non-North American resident; can I use the NetHandicap system?

Yes. The NetHandicap system is able to accept any golf course data. We do not however support golf course facility databases other than North America. Please feel free to Add your favorite courses as you wish.

Back to top

 

Why does my score for an individual hole adjust downward sometimes?

 

Equitable Stoke Control - (ESC)

In order to make handicaps more representative of a player's potential scoring ability, Equitable Stroke Control (ESC) adjusts individual hole scores downward for handicap purposes. Depending on the player's course handicap, ESC sets a maximum number that a player can post on any hole. Based on the ESC tables below, when a player's actual or most likely score exceeds their maximum. There is no limit to the number of holes a player may adjust their handicap. NetHandicap utilizes these principles within our service, however we use the United States Golf Association (USGA) 18 hole equivalent.

 

United States Golf Association - (18 Hole)

Course
Handicap

Maximum Number
On Any Hole

9 or Less

Double Bogey

10 through 19

7

20 through 29

8

30 through 39

9

40 or More

10

Royal Canadian Golf Association - (18 Hole)

Course
Handicap

Maximum Number
On Any Hole

0 or +

1 over par

1 through 18

2 over par

19 through 32

3 over par

33 and Up

4 over par



United States Golf Association - (9 Hole)

Course
Handicap

Maximum Number
On Any Hole

4 or Less

Double Bogey

5 through 9

7

10 through 14

8

15 through 19

9

20 or More

10



Royal Canadian Golf Association - (9 Hole)

Course
Handicap

Maximum Number
On Any Hole

0 or +

1 over par

1 through 9

2 over par

10 through 18

3 over par

19 and Up

4 over par

Back to top

How do I create a League in “My League”?

To create a league simply click on the My League button on the top navigation bar and follow the instructions after you click on “Want to create your own league?”.  The League wizard will prompt you with questions such as establishing your league name, its password and who do you wish to post rounds – either you as the league administrator only or the players in the league plus the league administrator.  This is important to establish the rules of your league.

Once you complete this process, you will be prompted as the league administrator to set up the schedule, roster of players, discussion zone, etc.

Back to top

How do I invite others to join the League I just created?

First and foremost, joining and participating in a league within NetHandicap is absolutely free!   So long as the person joining the league is either a registered trial or paid member of NetHandicap.  Inviting others to join your league is as easy as simply giving your league name and league password to your friends and they will be able to join by clicking on “Heard about a league and want to join?” link.

Back to top

Are the scores in My League associated with my NetHandicap?

Yes.  A posting in either your league or non-league play are continuously updating your NetHandicap HCP.  So if you play and post rounds of golf outside of your league and your NetHandicap is altered then this will be reflected in your league handicap.  As well, if you post rounds within your league and they create a change in your handicap, then your NetHandicap will automatically change as well.  This is important in establishing an integrated handicap system.

Back to top