HANDICAP GUIDELINES (see Yearbook on pages 394-396)

4. New Player Registration (New heading instead of “T� handicaps)

a. A player must submit an application, with payment of USPA membership dues and obtain signatures and telephone numbers of three (3) USPA members that have observed the applicant play, to the USPA office before the handicap observation process will begin. Upon receipt of payment and designation of Club affiliation, the USPA office will forward the application to the Club Delegate with prior USPA and foreign handicap history.

b. It will be the responsibility of the Club Delegate to observe the new applicant and make a handicap recommendation to the USPA. Handicaps will only be issued after adequate observation. The new applicant will receive an “NR� rating until the above recommendations are approved by the Circuit Chairman and the National Handicap Chairman.

c. All new applicants will automatically receive a “T� handicap until such time the applicant has been adequately observed.

d. A player with a “T� handicap may be required to play a minimum of 3 months in a calendar year before removal of the “T� will be considered. The “T� may be removed only after being adequately observed under tournament conditions, i.e. Sunday Club matches, Club tournaments and/or USPA affiliated matches by the National Handicap Committee on a quarterly basis.

5. Individual Handicaps

a. Handicaps will only be issued after adequate evaluation.

b. A player previously handicapped, but not in the prior year, will generally be reinstated at no less than the previous handicap, and with a “T�. Such a player may be reinstated at a higher handicap if so recommended. A lower handicap would only be considered in the case of a well-documented medical problem.

c. Once established for the year, individual handicaps will not be changed except the “B�, “C�, “NR� and “T� handicaps may be changed at any time, 2) inaccurate handicaps may be changed (by twothirds vote of those National Handicap Committee Members who are eligible to vote (seen the player play), and 3) documented clerical errors may be corrected at any time.

d. A player with a foreign handicap will normally be handicapped at no less than the foreign handicap. A higher handicap may be issued if observation of the individual so indicates.

e. Handicap recommendations are to be based on observed past performances, not in anticipation of future ability.