Needs a handicap index before this net money game can start

Short answer. The full message is "[name] needs a handicap index before this net money game can start — otherwise they'd play scratch. Add it from the roster." Ringer refuses to score a net money game with a missing index because that player would silently play off zero. Tap the player's "+ HCP" chip on the roster and type their index, or set the game to gross.

Why it happens

A player without an index is unhandicapped, never scratch. In a net game with a stake that is a fairness problem, so the game will not be created, edited or finalized until every player it covers has a number. Which players count depends on the game:

Gross games are never affected, and neither is a game with no money on it. Manage shows "⚠ Add a handicap index first" on the game until it is fixed. The same rule returns at publish time as "N players have no handicap index — a net game can't settle without it."

What to do

1. On the Round Hub roster, tap "+ HCP" on the player's row and enter their index (placeholder "+2 or 12"; type + for a plus handicap). An index entered by the Commissioner counts as verified. Valid values run from +10 to 54; otherwise you see "Enter a valid handicap index like +2 or 12 (or clear it)."
2. Or open Round Hub → Manage → Players and use "+ Add index" on the player.
3. During Quick Create the same gate reads "Add this player's Handicap Index to continue with Net." with an inline box ("Enter an index from +10 to 54."). That number is used for this round only.
4. If the player does not have a handicap, change the game: Manage → Money games → Configure › → How should we score? → Gross. For Match Play, Nassau, 9-Point or Sixes you can instead pick different players for the sides.
5. Ask the player to keep their profile current so this stops recurring: Profile → Settings → Player details → Handicap, or Import from GHIN.

If the round is already live, adding the index alone does not update the frozen card. See A player I added mid-round has no handicap.