Posting your score for a handicap can seem like a mysterious process, but it’s the single best way to track your true progress and compete fairly with any golfer on the planet. This guide will walk you through the entire process step-by-step, removing the guesswork and showing you exactly how to adjust your score - especially for those dreaded blow-up holes - so you can post with confidence.
Before getting into the "how," let's quickly cover the "why." An official handicap isn't just a number for serious tournament players, it's a tool for every golfer. It serves three main purposes:
In short, it’s the universal language of golf that connects us all.
To post a score, you need a few key pieces of information from your round. Most of this you can find right on your scorecard or posted near the first tee. You can’t just post your final number, the system needs context about the difficulty of the course you played.
Make sure you have:
Here’s the part that trips up most golfers new to the handicap system. You don’t always post the exact score you shot. Instead, you post what’s called an Adjusted Gross Score (AGS). This is a brilliant feature of the World Handicap System designed to prevent one or two terrible holes from unfairly skewing your handicap.
Your AGS is a total score adjusted on a hole-by-hole basis, using your Net Double Bogey as the maximum score you can take on any given hole.
This sounds complicated, but the idea is simple. It's the highest score you can record for any hole for handicap purposes. Sticking to this limit keeps your handicap reflective of your general ability, not your worst moments.
Here’s the formula:
Par of the hole + 2 (for a Double Bogey) + Any handicap strokes you receive on that hole.
Before your round, you need to know how many strokes you get. You can calculate this using your Course Handicap. If your Course Handicap is 18, you get one stroke per hole. If it's a 9, you get one stroke on the 9 most difficult holes (Handicap 1 through 9). If it's a 24, you get one stroke on every hole, plus a second stroke on holes with a Handicap of 1 through 6.
Let's walk through some real-world examples.
Sarah has a Course Handicap of 20. This means she gets one stroke on every hole, and two strokes on the two hardest holes (Handicap #1 and #2).
Mike has a Course Handicap of 12. He gets one stroke on each of the 12 hardest holes.
What if you're posting for the first time? If you don’t have a Handicap Index yet, the system sets your maximum score per hole at par + 5 strokes. So, on a Par 4, the highest introductory score you can enter is a 9.
So, how do you go from your scorecard to your final Adjusted Gross Score? Follow these simple steps right after your round.
This is the number you will physically enter into the handicap system. It is often lower than the number of times you actually swung the club.
Once you have your Adjusted Gross Score, the hard part is over. Now you just need to submit it. Today, this is easier than ever.
This is the official app for the World Handicap System managed by the USGA. It is by far the most convenient way to post. The process is simple:
If you prefer using a computer, you can log into GHIN.com or your state/local golf association website. The interface is almost identical to the app. You log into your account, click "Post a Score," enter the same information, and submit.
Many golf clubs still have a dedicated computer or "kiosk" near the pro shop for posting scores. You’ll usually need your GHIN number to log in and follow the on-screen prompts. It's the traditional method and works just as well.
Let's clear up a few more small but common bits of confusion.
Can I post a 9-hole score?
Absolutely. Simply select the 9-hole option when posting. The system will hold that score until you post another 9-hole round. It then combines the two to create an 18-hole score differential.
What if I don't finish a hole?
If you pick up your ball, don't leave the score blank. You should record the score you most likely would have made. For posting purposes, this is usually par plus any handicap strokes you would get on that hole. You just can't record anything higher than your Net Double Bogey maximum.
Do I post tournament and match play scores?
Yes. If you play at least 14 holes, you can post an 18-hole score. If you play at least 7 holes, you can post a 9-hole score. For holes you didn't play or holes where putts were conceded, use the "most likely score" guideline to fill in the blanks.
What about scrambles or best-ball formats?
No, these scores are not eligible for posting. To post, you must be playing your own ball on every stroke for the majority of the round.
How soon should I post?
The rule of thumb is to post your score on the same day you played. This maintains the integrity of the system and ensures weather and course conditions of the day are properly accounted for in the handicap calculation.
Getting a handle on posting your golf scores might feel like one more thing to learn, but it’s a process that quickly becomes second nature. Once you understand how to adjust for Net Double Bogey, you’re just a few taps away from having a legitimate, accurate handicap that will open up a new level of enjoyment in the game.
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