Maximum Adjusted Scores = Net Double Bogey

& How to calculate

The Quick Tip

Maximum Adjusted Score

Golf Canada states: A score for handicap purposes should not be overly influenced by one or two bad hole scores that are not reflective of a player’s demonstrated ability.

For each hole, there is a Maximum Adjusted Score that is applied to your Gross Score and used for handicap purposes. The maximum values are determined as follows:

Before your Handicap Index is issued:

The score used for handicap purposes is your Gross score (all the stokes you take from tee to cup.) or the Maximum Adjusted Score of Par + 5. Whichever is lowest.

After your Handicap Index is issued:

The score used for handicap purposes is your Gross score (all the strokes you take from tee to cup) or the Maximum Adjusted Score of Net Double Bogey. Whichever is lowest.

What is NET DOUBLE BOGEY?
Net Double Bogey is calculated as follows:
PAR + 2 + STROKES RECEIVED = MAX
(remember, bogey is 1 over par, and double bogey is 2 over par.)

What are “Strokes Received”?
How do you know if you get them and on which holes?

The Stroke Index Allocation – or SIA – is used to determine how many strokes you receive and on which holes. As noted in the Quick Tip on Stroke Index Allocation, the SIA values are noted on the scorecard as “STROKE INDEX Men” and STROKE INDEX Women”.

The chart below shows a portion of the PGCC Scorecard and lists the Stroke Index Allocation for the front nine.

Let’s look at two examples: using the PGCC scorecard above, where hole #6 is a par 5 and has a Stroke Index Allocation of 1 for men and 13 for women.

A man with a course handicap of 12 would get a stroke on holes with Stroke Index Allocation of 1 through 12 on the Men’s rating. If his gross score is 9 on Hole #6, his maximum adjusted score using the Net Double Bogey method is Par (5) + Double Bogey (2) + Stroke Allocation (1) = 8.

A woman with a course handicap of 12 would similarly get a stroke on the holes with a Stroke Index Allocation of 1 through 12 using the Women’s rating. If her gross score is 9 on Hole #6, she would not get a Stroke Allocation because it is the 13th SIA hole for women. Her maximum adjusted score is Par (5) + Double Bogey (2) + Stroke Allocation (0) = 7.

In both examples, the players' gross scores are still 9 and this is the value that they will post. The Score Centre system will apply the Maximum Adjusted Score as noted above and will use these values for the purpose of updating their handicaps.

Let’s look at another example where the player has a course handicap above 18:

A woman with a course handicap of 32 gets a stroke on all 18 holes, plus an additional stroke on the holes with Stroke Index Allocations of 1 through 14 (18 + 14 = 32.) Simply put, she gets 2 strokes on the 14 highest SIA holes and 1 stroke on all the other holes.

Let’s look at hole #1, which has an SIA value of 7 for women. If she scores 9 on this hole, her maximum adjusted score using the Net Double Bogey method is Par (4) + Double Bogey (2) + Stroke Allocation (2) = 8. Her gross score is still 9 and that is the value she will post. The Score Centre system will apply the Maximum Adjusted Score of 8 for the purpose of updating her handicap.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION: Always post your score using the gross score number – that is the score of the number of strokes you actually take. The built-in program on the Hole-By Hole method automatically adjusts your gross score to the correct maximum adjusted score.

When will you need to do these calculations manually?

When you “pick-up” prior to finishing a hole. If you are not playing in any form of Gross or Net competition – and to speed up pace of play – you may wish to “pick-up” before completing the hole. You will need to know your maximum value for that hole before you do this.
For peace of mind to know how this process works!

Click here to download and print the Quick Tip.

Back to The Key To Understanding Handicaps.

The Full Story

Rule #3 “Maximum Holes Score” (Rules of Handicapping) outlines complete information on the adjustment of scores, including maximum scoring and scoring for holes not played and for holes started but not finished.

Appendix E: “Stroke Index Allocation” (Rules of Handicapping) outlines complete information on the allocation of stroke holes.

Click to access the Rules of Handicapping and details on the Rule and Appendix noted above.