Who does Stroke Index Allocation (SIA), formerly known as handicapping of holes?

Why doesn't GHIN match my scorecard?

The first thing to point out is a quick reminder that the #1 hole is not necessarily the “hardest hole” but the hole where the higher handicapped golfer a relatively more difficult scoring average than the lower handicapped golfer.

It is ultimately the responsibility of the golf course and applicable committee(s) to provide, and update, the Stroke Index Allocation. There is no official recommendation for how often that needs to happen: occasionally, if major construction has happened, progress of time, tree growth and more can necessitate an update. If the “best score ever” that is signed and framed on the wall from 19xx is the same SIA as it is today, the course is probably overdue for an update.

There are several ways to update the SIA:

Hole-by-hole scores: There is a report that can pull h-b-h scores as posted in GHIN can be used. The data needs to be grouped into Low and Higher handicapped golfers, each group is then averaged, apply the formula from Appendix E of the Rules of Handicapping, order the holes 1-18, apply odd numbers to the front 9 and even to the back 9. The “triad” concept of having the #1 hole in the middle of the front nine (hole 4, 5, or 6) and similar to the back, is then applied. If you choose to try this method, having someone with some Excel knowledge will be helpful. We can send you information on how to gather and process your information.

Golf Genius/TM: Scores that are posted hole-by-hole for tournaments, weekly play and any organized individual stroke play events. It just takes a few clicks and does most of the work for you. If you are a Golf Genius/TM user, this link will help with their preferred method.

Course Rating System recommendation: This comes from the info collected for scratch and bogey player by the Course Rating Team. The app breaks down all of the hole-by-hole information and applies all of the same math and ordering of holes 1-18, odds/evens and applying the Triad concept automatically. When a golf course is recently rated, we will send the recommended SIA as part of the rating packet as mailed to the course. This is the current preferred method of USGA

Once the course goes through whichever process they choose and approves of their SIA, OGA is responsible for publishing that information to GHIN for posting. If the scorecard you are looking at does not have the same SIA as what is in GHIN, please have someone from the course give us a call.