All golfers are reminded of their obligations under the Rules of Handicapping to make the best score possible at each hole and ensure all acceptable scores are submitted for handicap purposes. Where a golfer repeatedly is in breach of the Rules of Handicapping, the golf club handicap committee are within their right to consider the application of a Penalty Score depending on the premeditated nature of the breach.

Penalty scores are applicable for two reasons:

1.     A player has indicated their intention to return a score (by registering intent to submit a Competition or General Play score) and then commencing play; but then does not submit that score by whatever means the club prescribes.

2.     A score is returned after commencing a round where:

·       No hole scores are entered, or the score is incomplete.

·       The player persistently fails to return an appropriate score.

·       Handicap manipulation is suspected.

The Committee then needs to determine whether the reason for the non-submission or incomplete round is valid – examples may include but are not restricted to:

·       Illness or injury to the player.

·       Insufficient light.

·       Emergency.

·       Dangerous weather conditions (e.g., thunder & lightning)

Invalid reasons (as examples) may include, but are not restricted to:

·       Inclement weather.

·       Play too slow.

·       Not playing well enough.

Regardless of the validity of the situation, whenever a player indicates that they will return a score and commences play, a score must be submitted. Whenever a score is not submitted, or is incomplete, the Committee must make every effort to determine the score that the player had made by contacting the player, contacting the player’s partners, reviewing the marker’s score, etc., so that the validity of the ‘nonreturn’ or incomplete round may be determined. Net double bogey is only applied for handicap purposes if the hole is started but not completed; or if the hole is scored as a zero in Stableford format.

Where it is not possible to determine the actual score, as a general recommendation, the club may wish to consider applying one of the following as a Penalty Score:

·       Equivalent to Handicap: Par + Course Handicap

·       Low Penalty Score: equivalent to the lowest Adjusted Gross Score listed under the players most recent 20 scores.

·       High Penalty Score: equivalent to the highest Adjusted Gross Score listed under the players most recent 20 scores.

Operate a Three Strike Policy

 As a general recommendation the golf club should operate a three-strike policy; once a player holds three Penalty Scores on the record, the club may wish to consider withdrawing the Handicap Index for a defined period or consider disciplinary action. 

 A Golf Club can monitor the number of Penalty Scores returned by a golfer via the “Penalty Scores By Player” report located within the Reports tab of their Dot Golf/CDH portal.

Actions Available to Committee: