Equitable score control

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Equitable Stroke Control is a method of recording scores used to calculate a golf handicap. Its purpose is to avoid recording a very high score on an individual hole which might inflate the handicap calculation. Equitable stroke control is a sliding scale system, based on the difficulty of the course and the current handicap of the golfer.

Each rated course should post a calculation of the player's course handicap. Course handicaps are always rounded to whole numbers, and reflect the difficulty of the course relative to an average course. For example, an individual with a handicap of 5.9 playing on a difficult course might have a course handicap of 8. Playing on a much easier course, the course handicap might be 5.

USGA Table
Once the golfer checks his or her course handicap, equitable scoring follows the rules:

Course Handicap: Maximum Score per Hole

up to 9: Double Bogey

10 through 19: 7

20 through 29: 8

30 through 39: 9

40 or higher: 10

For example, if a golfer has a course handicap of 8, shoots a score of 83, but that score includes a six on a par 3 (a triple bogey) then the posted score should be only 82. However, if a golfer with a course handicap of 11 had the same score, the proper score to post is 83.

Note: In other countries, the system of ESC may be different from the USGA system, (e.g., the RCGA system). When a score is made under a system of ESC different from the USGA ESC system, that score must be adjusted to the USGA ESC system before it is entered as an adjusted gross score under the USGA Handicap System.