Equitable Stroke Control (ESC) is the downward adjustment of individual hole scores for handicap purposes only in order to make handicaps more representative of a player's potential scoring ability. ESC sets a maximum number that a player can post on any hole depending on the player's Course Handicap. ESC is used only when a player's actual or most likely score exceeds his maximum number based on the table below. There is no limit to the number of holes on which a player may adjust his score. Note that course handicap is not your GHIN or index. It is the allotted handicap you are playing to at the particular course.

EQUITABLE STROKE CONTROL TABLE for 18 hole rounds.
 
 

Course Handicap	Max hole score
9 or less	Double Bogey
10 through 19	7
20 through 29	8
30 through 39	9
40 or more	10

 

EQUITABLE STROKE CONTROL TABLE for 9 hole rounds.
 
 

Course Handicap	Max hole score
4 or less	Double Bogey
5 through 9	7
10 through 15	8
15 through 19	9
20 or more	10

Return to main page