Posting Scores 

The AWGA computer is located in the locker room 
at AGC. If you enter your GHIN # there, you can 
bring up a screen showing your record of scores 
that you have posted. 

You may also record scores at other courses, but 
you must record as “Guest” and your record will 
not show. 

Your GHIN index is updated every two weeks 
during our season. 

You should post all acceptable scores, and post 
your score when you play at least 13 holes. On 
holes you didn’t play, record a par plus any 
handicap strokes you would have received. If 
you pick up on a hole, use the score you most 
likely would have made (it cannot exceed your 
maximum – See Equitable). 

Post a score if you play two nines, even if it’s the 
same nine, and even if you play them on 
different days. The computer will accept nine-
hole scores and combine them for you. 

USGA Handicap Index and Course 
Handicap 

Your Handicap Index is the number that you will 
find on your handicap sticker and is expressed as 
a decimal. It represents your ability on a course 
of average difficulty. 

When you get to a course, you must consult the 
handicap chart that is posted and determine what 
your (Course) Handicap is on that course. 

Remember, you never play with your Index; it 
always has to be converted to a Course 
Handicap. 

Handicap Controls 

Handicap Controls are designed to prevent scores 
that are not representative of a player’s potential 
ability from distorting her Handicap Index. Only 
the best 10 scores (explained under Handicap 
Differentials) of the last 20 scores are used for 
your GHIN handicap. 

The 10 scores are not necessarily your lowest 10 
because each score is affected by the difficulty of 
the course. 

A player’s USGA Handicap Index will be 
automatically reduced when she records at least 
two tournament scores in a calendar year or in 
her last 20 rounds that are a minimum of 3 
strokes better than her USGA Handicap Index. 

Equitable Stroke Control (ESC) 

Before you post your score, you are required to 
adjust your hole scores when they are higher 
that the maximum number you can post. 

The maximum score you can record for a hole 
(for handicapping purposes) is decided by your 
Course Handicap (handicap at that course, not 
your Index). 

Maximum strokes that may be taken on each 
hole are as follows: 

If your Course 
Handicap is: 
Maximum number you 
can record on any hole 
is: 
9 or less 6 
10 through 19 7 
20 through 29 8 
30 through 39 9 
40 and above 10 

This chart is also posted on the bulletin board at 
each course. 

Playing to your Handicap 

Don’t worry if you never seem to play to your 
handicap. Remember, your handicap reflects 
your “potential”, not your average score. Since 
your worst scores have been thrown out, your 
handicap reflects your best days. 

The USGA’s Handicap Research Team tells us 
that the average player is expected to play to her 
Course Handicap or better only 25 percent of the 
time. 

Handicap Differentials 


This is the process that USGA uses to evaluate 
each of your scores to determine which are your 
best scores. 

They subtract your adjusted gross score from the 
Course Rating, multiply it by 113, and then divide 
that number by the Slope Rating for that course. 
This number is then rounded to the nearest 
tenth. 

Course Rating and Slope Rating 

The USGA Course Rating is the evaluation of 
the playing difficulty of a course for scratch 
golfers. 

The Slope Rating is a measure of the relative 
playing difficulty of a course for players who are 
not scratch golfers (those with handicaps). 

The USGA created Slope because players who 
developed handicaps playing on easy courses 
encountered problems in competing against 
players who developed theirs on difficult courses. 

If you post on our local course computers, the 
Slope of the course is automatically recorded for 
you. However, if you are recording scores from 
courses outside Alaska, you will need to know 
both the Course Rating and the Slope Rating of 
the course. Both should be listed on the score 
card. 

Slope Ratings range from 55 to 155, with the 
average being 113. 

When you play a course with a Slope Rating 
higher than 113, your Course Handicap will be 
higher than your Index. When you play a course 
with a Slope Rating lower than 113, your Course 
Handicap will be lower than your Handicap Index. 

Our courses have slopes higher than 113, so your 
Course Handicap will be higher than your Index 
on all of these courses. 

Moose Run – Creek 134 
Palmer 117 
Settler’s Bay 122 

If you have any questions, feel free to give me a 
call. Belle Johnson, Handicap chairman, 
333-2911. 

Course Slope 
Rating 
AGC 119 
Eagleglen 123 
Moose Run – Hill 120