THE SCORECARD.

This aims to familiarise all golfers with the many types of competitions, and show a standardised method of scoring each event.

The scorecard is one of the most important factors in the game. It records your score, or your team’s score, in a particular event. It also becomes your club’s official record of your performance in an event. The card is used by the club handicapper to continually assess your handicap. Thus, although many of us go out on the course to escape paperwork, every golfer should be familiar with the scorecard and its requirements.

Remember there is no such thing as a standard scorecard. The format, layout and appearance varies with every club, and some clubs have different scorecards for men and ladies. Nether the less there are a number of standard provisions which apply to all cards.

Players should realise that, theoretically, the scorecard can be divided into two sections:

-          information provide

-          information required

Information Provided.

The score card lists the holes on the course, and their distances for both members and ladies competition. It also shows the par value for each hole (members and ladies), and gives and index for both groups.

The index rates the degree of difficulty of each hole in ranking order. For example, in the case of an eighteen hole course, number 1 on the index is the most difficult hole to play, whereas the hole indexed 18 is rated as the easiest.

The index allows the golfers to allocate their handicaps over each of the holes on the course and this is essential to most types of competition play.

In competition, a player with a handicap of 18 will receive exactly one stroke per hole, whilst a player with a 22 handicap will receive one stroke on all eighteen holes plus an additional stroke on holes 1 to 4 on the index. Similarly, a player with a handicap of 6 will only receive one stroke on the six hardest holes and no strokes on the other twelve holes.

However some clubs have elected not to follow the degree of difficulty when indexing holes. Instead, they use a method which distributes strokes more uniformly over the total number of holes.

Either way, handicap strokes are allocated according to the index, and the need for this allocation will become clear as we explain each of the golf competitions.

The score card the score card can also include a ‘Match Play’ index, which is used exclusively for ‘Match Play’ competitions. This index format is standard on many courses throughout Australia although some clubs use the same index for both ‘Stroke’ and ‘Match Play’

The score card shows local rules applicable to the course. These cover hazards, out of bounds arrears, immovable obstructions, preferred lies, ground under repair (G.U.R.). staked trees, adjacent roads, car parks, and so on. It is important to be familiar with the local rules shown on the score card, and to read them in conjunction with the local rule board provided at most clubs fro additional or temporary local rules.

The card has provision for a description of the type of competition being played on the day. The club committee decides on the event to be played and either the club professional or the player indicates the appropriate type of competition on the card.

Information Required

          You, the player have an obligation to provide your club with accurate information. The onus is on you. It is important to realise that errors, of failure to complete certain sections of your card, may result in disqualification or the disqualification of your team.

            The most significant information required is, naturally, your score, or your team’s score, the scorecard also requires scratch or net scores for the completed round.

            Once the round is completed, both the player and the marker sign the card to indicate their agreement with the score. In team events, only one player need sign. Of course, no player or team should ever mark their own cards during a round.

            You must fill in the date if it is not already stamped. Remember to check that the names of the players are recorded correctly on the card and that current individual handicaps are shown.

Some clubs require a membership number to be recorded on the card. This is generally when the club has a computerised handicapping system.

The Rules of Golf clearly indicate that the accurate scoring of your score card is your responsibility. Any doubtful points should be discussed with your marker or the committee.

The committee is responsible for the correct addition of scores and the application of the handicap recorded on the card./in ‘Four Ball’ events, the committee is also responsible for recording of the better ball score for each hole.