Why do we handicap?  It evens out the playing field to give each team the ability to compete with the others.  The end result is that almost all teams finish somewhere near par. Of course their are some BIG exceptions. Handicapping is TOTALLY at our discretion, especially if you have sandbagged in previous tournaments.

Please provide us with a USGA handicap.  If you have not established a handicap we will consider other methods of evaluation. Typically the maximum for men is 36, for women it is 40 - and it is rare that we accept those numbers. If you give us this kind of handicap we may send an email to request some evidence!

THE FORMULA is calculated by averaging the 4 player's handicaps and come up with a team handicap. Each team handicap is compared and subtracted from the lowest handicapped team. A scramble factor of 4 strokes is subtracted from each team except the lowest handicapped team and then adjusted for players with a 30+ handicap. For players with a 30 - 36 handicap a stroke is given, for 37 - 40 then 2 strokes are given. Only women who almost never play will get a 40 handicap.

On a course like Twin Wells the winning team should be at least 8 under with handicap. This formula has worked very well for us. In 1997 a 0 handicap team came in at 11 under par (61) for 3rd place, Second place had 59, and first place had a 57. Of course each of those players the following year had a major adjustment of their handicap - remember, NO sandbagging and NO mulligans!

The system does hurt teams with good players and helps teams with bad players. This really is the only way for a team with bad players to compete. If you have any serious suggestions on adjusting the system please let us know.