March 26, 2025
2025 Competition and Handicap Committee Announcement
The Competition and Handicap Committee (CHC) plays a very important role in ensuring compliance with the World Handicap System (WHS) and the Rules of Handicapping as defined by the USGA.
Geneva National’s CHC is responsible to ensure that each Member’s Handicap Index continues to accurately reflect his/her demonstrated ability and to foster fair competition.
Our responsibilities include communication of USGA requirements regarding timely posting of scores for each round played in an acceptable format. The Committee is also required to perform an annual review of its golfing membership.
When performing a handicap review, the CHC utilizes reporting tools available within the handicap software and considers items such as:
- Is the member posting all acceptable scores in a timely manner?
- ALL scores are to be posted Hole-By-Hole on the appropriate course and from the correct tees played.
Hole-By-Hole Posting is a NEW Geneva National LOCAL RULE
- Does the member perform differently in competitive vs general play?
- Do ‘Home’ score differentials vastly differ when compared to ‘Away’ scores?
- Is the member correctly applying the ‘net double bogey’ adjustment?
Beginning in the 2025 season, we will use Cap Patrol software and available USGA reporting tools, in addition to peer review, to monitor timely and accurate posting of hole-by-hole scores.
Additionally, effective immediately, the Committee will use Cap Patrol’s new handicap review tool, which considers scores from the past 12 months, to identify possible handicap index adjustments up or down.
If after conducting a handicap review, the CHC decides an adjustment is warranted, the Committee will:
- Determine the appropriate value of the adjustment
- Establish the duration for the adjustment
- Provide the member with the opportunity to respond to the Committee before an adjustment is made
To find out more about Cap Patrol, CLICK HERE.
The Geneva National Competitions and Handicap Committee requires that effective April 1, 2025, ALL scores be posted within 24 hours of play.
All ‘non-postable’ rounds must be declared before teeing off.
- These rounds include scrambles, shambles, alternating shot format, playing more than one ball, practice rounds or any round less than 6 holes.
- To avoid being identified as not having posted a score, inform the Starter or the Pro Shop before teeing off.
To promote a fair and consistent competitive environment, the WHS has expanded a player’s responsibility to include:
- Acting with integrity by following the Rules of Handicapping and refrain from using or circumventing the Rules of Handicapping for the purposes of gaining an unfair advantage.
- Attempting to make the best score possible on each hole.
- Submitting acceptable hole-by-hole scores for handicap purposes as soon as possible after completion of a round of golf before midnight local time.
- Playing by the Rules of Golf.
Members can learn more about the World Handicap System and the Rules of Handicapping by following these links:
Lastly, you will find revised handicap stroke allocations on a hole-by-hole basis on the scorecards this season.
By definition, the #1 handicap index hole is not necessarily the “hardest hole” but the hole where the ‘bogey’ golfer has a relatively higher scoring average than the lower handicapped golfer. These stroke allocations will be revised annually as the data supports a change.
The Geneva National Competitions and Handicap Committee looks forward to a very good 2025 season of competition, camaraderie and enjoyable golf. The Committee members and the Professional Staff are here to serve you, and we look forward to receiving your comments.
Thank you,
Geneva National Competitions and Handicap Committee
Deb Olson, Don Parker, Chuck Puntillo, Kim Schroeppel, Howard Storck, Amy Wann
