Exceptional Score Reduction (ESR)

 

Starting on January 1, 2020, the Exceptional Score Reduction (ESR) replaced the "Reduction of a USGA Handicap Index based on exceptional tournament scores" (see below). This rule applies to any score differential - see formula below - that is seven or more strokes lower than the golfer's Index at the time.

• Exceptional Score Reduction starts after one exceptional score.
• Reductions are cumulative if additional exceptional scores are submitted.
• The reduction is an automatic part of the daily Index calculation.
• The reduction is applied to each of the 20 most recent score differentials, or to all score differentials if less than 20 score differentials are available. Either a -1 or -2 is applied to each score differential depending on whether the exceptional score differential is 7 to 9.9 strokes or 10 or more strokes below Handicap Index.
• The Handicap Committee is prompted by a notification to review a player's handicap when a) multiple exceptional scores are submitted, or an exceptional score differential is 10 or more strokes below the player's Index.
• The Handicap Committee is allowed to override a reduction if they deem the new Index an unfair reflection of their playing ability.

Score Differential formula:

Score Differential = (113/Slope Rating) x (Adjusted Gross Score - Course Rating - PCC* adjustment)

* PCC is the Playing Condition Calculation introduced with the World Handicap System

For further information see Rules of Handicapping, Rule 5.9 at USGA.org.

 

Old: Reduction of a USGA Handicap Index based on exceptional tournament scores

 

Were you ever ticked off, or at least curious, because a golfer you know seemed to pick up his/her game just in time for tournaments? Well, the USGA was on to them. When someone whose regular rounds were ho-hum played great in tournaments, their Index was lowered by an alternate formula to the regular handicap Index formula. When did this come into play? The USGA said prior to January 1, 2020...

"A player's USGA Handicap Index will be automatically reduced when he records at least two tournament scores in a calendar year or in his latest 20 rounds that are a minimum of three strokes better than his USGA Handicap Index."

The odds are not very good that a player beats his handicap by many strokes or that often. That's because the USGA Handicap Index represents the "potential" for a golfer rather than a straight average of scores.

What qualifies as a "tournament" score? Here is what the USGA Handicap Manual says about that:

Tournament Score:

A "tournament score" is a score made in a competition organized and conducted by the committee in charge of the competition. The competition must identify a winner(s) based on a stipulated round(s), and must be played under the principles of the Rules of Golf.

Using the above definition as a guideline, the committee (preferably the Handicap Committee in consultation with the committee in charge of the competition) must determine in advance if these conditions are met and announce in advance whether the score must be identified by the letter "T" when posted.

Routine events, such as regular play days, normally are not to be designated as T-scores because they are not significant in the traditions, schedules, formats, and membership of the club. (See eligible tournament score.)

Examples of inter-club competition scores that may be posted as tournament scores when they meet the above conditions are: competitions restricted by age, member-guest competitions, team matches, qualifying rounds for city, state, and national competitions, and competitions conducted by golf associations.

Examples of intra-club competition scores that may be posted as tournament scores when they meet the above conditions are low gross-low net competitions, four-ball match or stroke-play competitions, Stableford competitions, and club championships which are stroke or match play, scratch, or with handicap.

If you want to see the formula used for reduction of a golfer's Index based on his "fabulous" tournament play, refer to Handicap System Manual, 10-3. This is one way that the USGA alleviates the effects of sandbagging.