There has always been some controversy on when you are supposed to post scores played in the off season. I am here to clarify what you should and should not be posting. Naturally the answers you have probably gotten in the past varied depending on how it favored the source you received it from.

There has been some belief that if the course is open year round (i.e courses on the cape) that you are allowed to post those scores. Then there is other beliefs that no scores can be posted in the off season no matter what.

Here is the official MGA ruling for ALL Massachusetts players. Keep in mind if your course is playing “winter rules” or has a leaf rule in effect, you still must post those scores.

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As the calendar gets closer to flipping to November and fall slowly morphs into winter, the official golf season in many parts of the United States is going into hibernation.

That means for many golfers posting scores for handicap purposes will no longer be permitted, unless the golfer is playing in a region with a year-round active season. Here in Massachusetts, the end of the season is set for November 10 which means that rounds played in the Bay State after that date may not be counted towards your handicap index.

This doesn’t mean golfers can’t continue playing in regions that are seasonal. But the playing characteristics of golf courses severely change during winter months, impacting the USGA Course Rating™ and Slope Rating® Systems used to calculate handicaps and making it inequitable for golfers to post scores.

Any rounds played in an area that is in season (i.e. Florida) must, according to Rule 6-2, be posted. The player has a few options when posting the score.

First, the player may be able to post as a guest on the club’s computer if the two clubs use the same computation service or through the IGN network if both clubs use a handicap service that subscribes to the IGN. Second, if the player’s home club has approved Internet posting, a score may be posted back to the home club via the Internet. Third, the player can keep a copy of the score and the ratings and post when the player returns to the home course no later than the start of the active season.

Also remember that Bay State golfers who venture to warmer climates during the winter season can post scores during the winter months and see a change in their handicap index.