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Where a player's handicap comes from, and who can change it

A round uses the Commissioner's outing override if there is one, else the player's own index, else nothing; never scratch by default

For Player, CommissionerUpdated September 20, 2026
  1. Help
  2. Handicaps
  3. Where a player's handicap comes from, and who can change it

Short answer. For each player in a round, Ringer looks in this order: a number the Commissioner set for this outing, then the player's own Handicap Index from their Profile, then nothing. A player with nothing on file is unhandicapped, not scratch. Players change their own index on their Profile; only a Commissioner can set a number for an outing.

How it works

The order of precedence is fixed:

  1. Round override. A number a Commissioner entered on the outing roster. It applies to this outing only and replaces the player's own index while it is set.
  2. Player profile. The player's own Handicap Index, whether typed by hand or imported from a GHIN card screenshot.
  3. No index. Ringer records "No index" and gives no strokes. It never fills in zero. Net games leave that player's ball out, and a net game with money on it will not start until the index is added.

The Handicap Analysis page for a round (open the round, then Handicaps) shows each player's source as "Round override", "Player profile", "GHIN" or "No index", with " · verified" when the number is verified. An index imported from a GHIN card shows as "GHIN" when the GHIN number was read with it, otherwise as "Player profile".

Who can do this

  • Players edit their own index at Profile → Settings, or import it from a GHIN card screenshot. A typed number is self-reported; an imported one is verified.
  • Commissioners (the host, a co-host, or a co-commissioner) set a number for one outing from the roster. Tap the player's HCP 12 chip, or "+ HCP" if they have none, and type a value such as +2 or 12. The label reminds you to type + for a plus handicap. A number entered by a Commissioner counts as verified for that outing.
  • Clearing the outing number returns the player to their own Profile index, if they have one.
  • Guests who RSVP through the invite link can type an index and a GHIN number on the RSVP form. That value is saved for the outing as self-reported, and stays that way until a Commissioner confirms it.

Good to know

  • On the outing roster a self-reported number reads HCP 12 · est. with the note "Self-reported — not yet confirmed". On the Players page the header counts how many handicaps are verified, for example "6/8 handicaps verified".
  • On the player's own Profile, the status reads "Verified ✓", "Player supplied" or "Not connected".
  • The number a round actually uses is captured the moment the round starts. Changing an index or an outing override after that does not change the card, the board or the money. See Handicaps are frozen when the round starts.
  • Ringer handicaps are not official. A Commissioner-entered number is "verified" in the sense that the crew's organizer vouched for it, nothing more.

If it doesn't work

  • "Only the commissioner can set handicaps." You are not the host, a co-host or a co-commissioner of this outing. Ask one of them to set the number.
  • "Enter a valid handicap index like +2 or 12 (or clear it)." The value could not be read or is outside +10 to 54.

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