Handicap record explained

Net Double Bogey: Posting Maximum Versus Tournament Score

Net double bogey limits a hole score for handicap posting after an Index is established. It does not automatically give you permission to pick up in a competition.

Competition

Competitive Play · Updated October 22, 2026

Original fictional examples

Par 4 · receives 1
Actual 9; maximum 4+2+1=7.
Post 7 for that hole in the adjusted handicap record.
Par 3 · receives 0
Actual 5; maximum 3+2+0=5.
The actual 5 is already at the maximum.
Par 5 · receives 2
Actual 10; maximum 5+2+2=9.
Post 9; retain 10 on an ordinary competition card.
Course Handicap 60 · par 3 · receives 4
Actual 10; the high-Course-Handicap exception gives 3+5=8, rather than 3+2+4=9.
Post 8 for handicap purposes; retain 10 in ordinary competition stroke play.

Teaching numbers and fictional players, not a live handicap calculation or ruling. U.S. implementation is stated where relevant; use your authorized service and Committee for actual records.

The short version

Ordinary established-Index maximum: par +2 + handicap strokes received. For Course Handicap above 54 and four or more strokes on a hole, use par +5.
Use Course Handicap for posting, not a reduced event Playing Handicap.
Ordinary stroke-play scoring remains separate from the posting cap.

Find the strokes on this specific hole

Ava has a Course Handicap that gives her one stroke on the fictional par 4. Her maximum is seven. Ben receives no stroke on the par 3, so five is his maximum. Cara receives two on the par 5, producing nine. Devon’s Course Handicap is 60 and he receives four strokes on the par 3. Rule 3.1b caps that hole at par +5, so eight, even though the ordinary formula would give nine. This exception applies when Course Handicap exceeds 54 and four or more strokes are received on that hole. These allocations are supplied for teaching; use your own tee and stroke-index allocation in practice.

The procedure depends on an established Handicap Index. Before one is established, the Rules of Handicapping provide a different maximum. Plus handicaps also need the correct allocation rather than blindly adding a stroke.

Keep the actual scorecard intact

In regular stroke play, Ava’s nine remains nine for the competition. A separate adjusted entry of seven serves the handicap calculation. If an event uses the Maximum Score form of play, its stated ceiling is another competition condition.

A player cannot create a Maximum Score event by deciding to stop at net double bogey. Confirm the format and whether holing out is required before picking up.

Use the correct handicap quantity

A reduced Playing Handicap used for an event does not replace Course Handicap in the posting maximum. The worked conversion shows why the quantities can differ.

For a hole not completed, use unfinished-round posting rather than presenting every blank box as a completed score above the maximum.

Official sources

Official provisions checked October 22, 2026. Read their full wording and current event conditions.

Your next move

Read the governing source

Check the complete official procedure and your event conditions before acting.

Read the governing source(Official source)