ABSTRACT
The USGA Handicap Research Team developed a procedure to identify exceptionally low net tournament scores below a threshold of acceptability. The procedure was implemented in the USGA Handicap System in 1991 to automatically reduce the USGA Handicap Index of any player who has returned two or more exceptional net tournament scores (from special competitions designated by the golf club). This Formula was developed using combinatorial theory, the normal model and sampling theory and tested using empirical data. Tournament scores are tracked for a calendar year and two exceptional tournament scores will be applied to recompute a lower USGA Handicap Index, overriding the usual USGA Handicap Formula which uses the best 10 of the latest 20 scores.
The process has resulted in lowering the handicaps of one-half of one percent of the 3.4 million American golfers with USGA Handicap Indexes. Reports from golf clubs indicate that those players being reduced are often the same players who previously were dominating handicap competitions. The procedure continues to evolve based on research and data analysis.
