What is the Handicap Review Tool?

To assist in ensuring that a golfers Handicap Index® represents a player's demonstrated ability, club Handicap Committees have access to the USGA Handicap Review tool, introduced in 2024. The Handicap Review Tool identifies players who are scoring above or below their expected scoring range more often than anticipated over the last 12 months and, in these instances, recommended an adjustment to the player’s Handicap Index®. 

The USGA Handicap Review Tool:

• Utilizes Expected Score and Player Equations intrinsic to the World Handicap System^™.
• Is exclusively for the Handicap Committee at an authorized golf club.
• Is the only authorized tool to recommend an adjustment to a Handicap Index.

Review Tool: Phase 3 Features

Player Notification – When running a Handicap Review (club wide or individual), the user is presented with the option to use the Manual or the Notify method.

• With the Manual method, the Handicap Committee would handle communication and appeals on their own. This is the way the Review Tool worked previously.
• With the Notify method, the initial communication process is automated. For golfers with a recommended adjustment, the Handicap Committee will then "initiate" automatic notifications. These golfers will then receive an automated email with details about the adjustment, timing, and a link to an appeal form. From there the process works as it did previously, though if the 10-day expiration is reached, golfers that have been notified will have the modification applied automatically.

Expiration Dates – The expiration window for a recommended adjustment has been shortened from 14 days to 10 days. Note that this window operates a bit differently depending on whether the club uses the manual or notify path.

Data Points – Additional data points, including an extra reference point for “Played to Handicap Index” and handicap review metrics broken into quarterly segments, are now available to support Handicap Committee decisions.