USGA Score Posting Standards
Effective January 1, 2006, the USGA Handicap System gave clubs the option to allow their members to post scores via the Internet.
Section 5-2 states:
5-2. Posting Scores
a. General
Posting scores in person immediately following the round at the course where the round is played is the preferred way to expose scores to peer review. This method of posting must be used whenever possible. The place for returning scores from all courses should be convenient to make it as easy as possible for players to record every round played. The form of reporting is the responsibility of the golf club or the authorized golf association, and will depend upon the procedure adopted by the Handicap Committee.
The posted scores for the day must be immediately available to all members for peer review.
For handicap purposes, the following information must be returned in person immediately following the round at the course where the round was played or, if that is not possible, as soon as practicable prior to the next revision so that a scoring record is up-to-date:
Player’s name or identification number
Date
Course name
USGA Course Rating and USGA Slope Rating of the course played
Adjusted gross score
Score type for Tournament Scores or scores posted via the Internet.
(See Score Type definition in Section 2.)
The Handicap Committee may adopt a policy to accept scores returned by mail, facsimile, e-mail or the Internet. Scores may not be returned verbally by the telephone.
Scores returned to the club by mail, facsimile, e-mail or the Internet shall be exposed to the same peer review as scores posted in person at the club. If a club adopts a policy to accept scores via mail, facsimile or e-mail, the Handicap Committee must designate an official at the club who is authorized to receive these scores. If a golf club adopts a policy to accept scores posted via the Internet, the club must also provide the ability to review all scores for all members via the Internet.
Total scores may be returned and need not be recorded hole-by-hole. The Handicap Committee shall not require the returning or attesting of scorecards before allowing scores to be posted.
Due to the ease of the use of the Internet, the MGA and USGA believes that successful golf clubs can implement a positive Internet score posting component. The MGA and USGA also encourage all golfers to post their scores immediately following their round at the course where they played. However, on the rare occasion when that is not possible, this feature allows a golfer to return scores via the Internet. If a golfer is a member of a club that allows Internet posting, scores can be posted directly through the MGA Web site to the main GHIN computer at the USGA. The scores immediately become part of the golfer's scoring record and will be routed back to the player’s home club the next time it connects to the GHIN Network.
Some important points to remember:
While the decision to allow scores to be posted over the Internet rests with each club, the MGA has arranged for all clubs using the MGA Handicapping Service to have Internet score posting available. If clubs DO NOT wish to adopt the procedure, they must contact the MGA Handicap Department.
Clubs that wish to adopt the procedure for posting scores over the Internet must provide the ability to review all scores for all members via the Internet. Clubs using the MGA Handicap Service can use the MGA Web site to comply with this requirement. This will improve peer review by giving members the ability to view other members’ scores at any time.
The MGA and USGA encourage all golfers to post their scores immediately following their round at the course where they played and to only use the Internet score posting procedure when necessary.
Scores posted over the Internet will be identified with an I for Internet. Clubs using the MGA Handicap Service will receive an Internet Score Posting Report with each revision. This report is not a requirement of the USGA Handicap System but an additional peer review tool provided by the MGA. See Section 2 (definition of Score Type) of the USGA Handicap System Manual for more details.
Scores posted over the Internet must be eligible scores as outlined in Section 5-1 of the USGA Handicap Manual. Scores that do not comply with Section 5-1 (i.e. scores made during the inactive season as established by an authorized golf association) are not eligible to be posted over the Internet or in any other fashion.
