WHS - Understanding - Conforming Social Scores

Modified on Tue, 15 Oct at 11:47 AM

Thank you for contacting Golf Link regarding the submission of Conforming Social Scores.

Please see the following Golf Australia regulations which should provide you an explanation around the submission of Conforming Social Scores.

We hope that is answers your query but should you need anything further please let us know.

Conforming Social Score A Conforming Social Score will be deemed to have been made when the following has occurred:

The player’s Home Club has determined to accept Conforming Social Scores for handicapping.
(Note: GA encourages the handicapping of these scores, provided it does not place an undue administrative burden on the golf club.)
The club’s Handicapping Authority should have in place a policy stipulating whether or not such scores will be processed for handicapping.
The round has been played in accordance with the current Rules of Golf as approved by R&A Rules Limited.
An attested scorecard has been submitted to the club’s Handicapping Authority or its representative.
The Marker must have accompanied the player for all of the holes for which they are attesting scores.
The score format must be singles Stableford.
The player has nominated prior to playing a stroke on their first hole to be played that the score is to count for handicapping purposes and the number of holes they will play.

If the round is played at the player’s Home Club, or is being controlled by the player’s Home Club, such nomination must be in accordance with the requirements of the Handicapping Authority of the player’s Home Club.

If the round is not played at the player’s Home Club (whether in Australia or overseas) and is not being controlled by the player’s Home Club, such nomination must be in accordance with a procedure that is acceptable to the player’s Home Club.

Note i: There is nothing in the WHS, or in any other GA regulatory code, which prevents a Handicapping Authority from deeming specific individuals, or specific groups of individuals, or individuals who hold specific categories of membership, ineligible to return Conforming Social Scores.

Note ii: There is nothing in the WHS, or in any other GA regulatory code, which prevents a Handicapping Authority from limiting the number of Conforming Social Scores a member (or specific members) may return within a given period of time, or from making rounds played away from the Home Club ineligible for consideration as Conforming Social Scores.

Note iii: There is nothing in the WHS, or in any other GA regulatory code, to prevent a club from requiring the payment of a fee as an additional eligibility criteria for a Conforming Social Score.

Note iv: Conforming Social Scores will be processed for handicapping and will be treated by the WHS in the same manner as scores returned in Competitions (this includes instances where a player has pre-nominated that their score is to count for handicapping purposes and where the player does not return a scorecard in accordance with the requirements of the Rules of Golf, or plays less than the pre-nominated number of holes – see the sub-section of this WHS Reference Guide titled “Common Handicapping Scenarios – Procedures for Pro Shops & Administrators” for examples of practical application).

Note v: A round of less than 18 holes is eligible to serve as a Conforming Social Score at the discretion of the Handicapping Authority of the player’s Home Club.