Welcome to the 2025 HPWC Season

 

Definitions and other information for new members/golfers

 

Below are some definitions and helpful information for terms you will probably encounter while playing at HPWC. Do you need to know all of this before you start? Absolutely not. Someone in your group, the Pro Shop or a Board Member will be happy to help you. We all started as new golfers sometime, so don’t be afraid to ask questions. This may seem overwhelming at first read, so we encourage you to come back later after you have had a chance to play.

 

Rules – We play under the USGA rules of golf.  You can download a free rules guide through the Apple or Google store.  Search for The Official Rules of Golf.  You should see a USGA logo.  This is completely optional.  But there are some very handy videos ( a minute or two long) to help acquaint you with some of the most used rules.  Your playing partners will be happy to help.  We also have rules workshops during the year.

 

Handicap – A golf handicap is a numerical measure of a golfer’s potential that is used to enable players of varying abilities to compete against one another. We use both gross and net scores to determine winners for competitions. The net score is calculated for you, so you do not have to worry about that.

 

To establish a handicap, you must play at least 54 holes of golf “under the rules of golf”, meaning no mulligans, foot wedges, etc. Keep in mind, that when establishing a handicap, the maximum score you can submit on a hole is 5 strokes over par. If you exceed 5 strokes over par on a hole, you may pick up (unless you are in a competition that prohibits it – be sure to ask). The 54 holes can be any combination of 18- or 9-hole scores.

 

Golf Genius – This is the application where all of our HPWC competitions are set up and scored. You will want to download this app to your phone. Before each competition, you will receive an email with a GGID (a six-character password) that will be unique to your group and allow everyone in your group to keep score. Only one person in a group needs to keep score on Golf Genius, so don’t worry if you don’t know how. Someone in your group will help you, or you can ask the Pro shop for help. ALL HPWC COMPETITION SCORES ARE ENTERED IN GOLF GENIUS.

 

GHIN (Golf Handicap Information Network) – This is the overall organization/application that tracks scores and calculates handicaps. When you join HPWC, you will be assigned a GHIN number. Once you get a GHIN number, you will want to download this additional app on your phone and set up an account. WHEN YOU PLAY CASUAL GOLF AT HARBOUR POINTE OR SOME OTHER COURSE, YOU MUST POST THOSE SCORES YOURSELF INTO THE GHIN APP.  You should always enter your score on a hole-by-hole basis to ensure proper handicap calculations.

 

 

 

Stableford scoring

 

HPWC uses Stableford scoring on all events EXCEPT the Club Championship, President’s Cup, and Player’s Championship where Stroke Play is used. The difference between Stableford and stroke play is you use points per hole for your score. The value of Stableford is that it allows you to pick up your ball after you hit a certain number of strokes on a hole. No more nightmare holes that go on and on, no more feeling you are out of the competition if you really mess up the first hole, and no more pressure to keep up. It’s great for all levels of players.

 

You just have to enter your gross score into the app, and it will determine your points score. 

 

An Explanation of Stableford/Points Competitions

 

It is a scoring system with points earned based on the player’s score relative to par. For the system that we use, scores are valued as follows:

• Double Eagle (3 less than par on a hole) = 5 points

• Eagle (2 less than par on a hole) = 4 points

• Birdie (1 less than par on a hole) = 3 points

• Par (even par on a hole) = 2 points

• Bogey (1 more than par on a hole) = 1 point

• Double Bogey or Higher (2 more than par on a hole or higher) = 0 points

 

Caution – below may be confusing to new golfers (and many experienced golfers). If you are confused, don’t worry, people in your group will help you and you do not need to know this to play at Harbour Pointe. Just enter your gross stroke score, and Golf Genius will calculate for you.

 

Gross and Net Score Components

 

We use both a gross and a net score in HPWGC competitions. For Net Competition, a player earns points based on the number of handicap strokes she is allotted on a particular hole. For instance, a player with a course handicap of 36 will receive 2 strokes off her gross score on each hole. A Gross Score of 8 on a Par 5 is a Net Score of 6 (bogey). That would convert to 0 gross points for the hole and 1 net point for the hole. Always enter your gross score, and the app will calculate the proper net score.

 

When can I /should I / must I pick up my ball?

 

You can only pick up in events where we have Stableford points scoring.  Fortunately, all of our events except our two major tournaments are Stableford points scoring.

 

• You are not required to pick up. It is entirely up to the player if she chooses not to finish a hole.

• That being said, if your group is struggling to keep up the pace of play or other players in your group are consistently waiting on you, as a matter of courtesy, you should pick up any time you are 5 strokes over par for the hole.

 

 

What do I put down on my card?

 

Always enter your gross score in the app. Counting every stroke from tee shot to the hole. If you pick up you should put down the score that you assume you most likely would have gotten had you completed the hole and add an “X” next to the score.

 

Example: if you are lying 8 on hole #6 and you decide not to finish the hole, ask yourself how many shots it would take to get the ball into the hole?” If you think that it would take another 3 shots, simply write 11x on the scorecard for #6. If you skipped an entire hole, you would write par + however many handicap strokes you receive on that hole with an “x” next to the score.