Handicap Information

Submitting your Handicap Index® accurately and on-time will allow the committee to flight you. Lack thereof can result in being ineligible to win prizes. Read below a list of important dates:

• in mid-July  – *or within 1 week of your registration*, you’ll receive a ‘Handicap Index Verification’ form to verify you keep an accepted Handicap Index. Those unable to complete this form need to contact tournament staff immediately. Those who fail to establish a Handicap Index by August 12th may be ineligible for prizes.
• July – All participants should have an established Handicap Index. If you do not maintain a Handicap Index, you must establish one prior to August 12th. All handicaps must be kept through the service approved by your corresponding state golf association. If you are unsure if you have an official Handicap Index please reach out to the World Am by email at wahc@golfholiday.com, or phone at 1-800-833-8798.
• August 11th – All scores must be posted to your Handicap Index to be utilized for the event.
• August 12th – All Handicap Index® are requested via e-mail.
  • Once registered, this is the most important date to know! Handicap Index submissions require a timely response. Filling out your form earlier in the year is not a substitute for this form.
• August 15th – All Handicap Indexes are due. If you have not completed the form by this time, you may be ineligible for any prizes at the event.

For a full list of dates and details, visit our event schedule page.

The Handicap Committee may assign a Tournament Index that is lower than your Handicap Index if the entrant has: 1) a past player ‘World Am index’, 2) has an applicable Tournament Points System reduction (see details below) or 3) has a lower index in the past 12 months. All net division competitors will play at an index no higher than their lowest 12 month Handicap Index dating back to August 12, 2023.

The maximum handicap for men is 36.4 and the maximum handicap for ladies is 40.4 in the World Am event. You may keep an index higher than this, but will be reduced to these maximum indexes for the tournament.

At Golf Tourism Solutions, we operate numerous handicap events throughout the calendar year. In order to better serve our participants, we have developed and deployed a Tournament Points System that helps our team better monitor handicapping for those that consistently finish at the top of the leaderboard. 

• First place = 5 points 
• Second Place = 4 points 
• Third Place = 3 points 
• Fourth Place = 2 points (Individual events only)
• Fifth place = 1 point (Individual events only)

Once their TPS point total for reaches a certain level the reduction is then applied to the tournament index for that participant. The levels of reduction are detailed below.

• 10 total points is a 3 stroke reduction
• 8 total points is a 2 stroke reduction
• 6 total points is a 1 stroke reduction

Golf Tourism Solutions events included in this Tournament Points System are the Myrtle Beach World Amateur and World Amateur Q School.

The events included to attain points are the last two editions of this tournament, as well as the most recent World Amateur Q School (2022 World Am, 2023 World Am and 2024 Q School). If the player has more than two events accumulating points, the best two performances are utilized for the stroke reduction.

*Tournament Points System subject to change at any time. 

All players competing in a net division must have a Handicap Index®. A player is ineligible to compete for prizes if the entrant 1) does not have an approved handicap, 2) does not agree to the rules of competition or 3) handicap is deemed not a proper reflection of their playing potential (see ‘committee’)

Participants without handicaps may play without eligibility for prizing in a handicapped flight or in a non handicapped division such as Gross or the ‘Just For Fun‘ flight.

Be familiar with the Rules of Handicapping, just as you are with the Rules of Golf.

• A Handicap Index® reflects all scores regardless of the course conditions.
• Notify officials of handicap changes prior to the event.
• Have a valid Handicap Index® established as soon as possible but absolutely no later than August 11th, 2024.
• Handicap Index® can be adjusted if scores are exceptional. Adjustments are computerized, retroactive, and applied to all tournament rounds. Adjustments are not required to have a handicap be deemed inaccurate.
• Submitting inaccurate information, regardless of intent; is grounds for ineligibility.
• All tournament rounds must be posted by the player. The committee will not post your rounds on your behalf.
• All tournament committee decisions are final.

All Handicap Index® must be supported by your USGA designated Allied Golf Association found HERE

Reach out to your designated Allied Golf Association to confirm your handicap is an official USGA Handicap Index®. 

International handicaps are reviewed on an individual basis, and are subject to adjustment as the Handicap Committee sees fit. The participant will need to provide a recent scoring history to the Handicap Committee for review prior to August 11th, 2024 (score history must include your last 20 rounds).

The handicap committee meets daily to aggressively monitor and review participants handicaps. Prior to releasing scores, the committee and automated computer system reviews top players’ score history and reaches one of three outcomes:

• Let the player continue to play in the competition without adjustment.
• Adjust the players’ playing handicap lower and retroactively adjust prior scores.*, **
• Deem the player ineligible for competition prizes, without refund or appeal.**

Players deemed ineligible for prizes for rules / handicapping issues are welcome to play all forthcoming rounds.

*Adjustments are computerized and not up for committee review.

**All committee decisions are final. An adjustment is not necessary to be deemed ineligible for prizes. All scores are unofficial until Thursday’s flight sheet has been publicized. No refunds on entry fees are provided as a result of any decision.

The Flight Winner’s Playoff handicap index will be the best two differentials from Round 1-4 averaged OR the incoming tournament index, whichever is lower. The required standard handicapping will be in play once the Championship Round Handicap Index is determined.