Appendix E: Stroke Index Allocation

The  Rules of Golf state: “The Committee is responsible for publishing on the scorecard or somewhere else that is visible (for example, near the first tee) the order of holes at which handicap strokes are to be given or received.” (See  Rules of Golf, Committee Procedures, Rule 5I (4)).

It is recommended that a  stroke index allocation be applied over 18-holes, split into six triads with each hole ranked on its playing difficulty relative to  par. The difficulty of each hole can be determined objectively using hole-by-hole data provided from the  Course Rating procedure as follows:

For example, on a  par 4 hole where the Scratch Value is 4.2 and the Bogey Value is 5.3:

The recommended methodology and procedures for determining a  stroke index allocation within the six triad structure, designed to accommodate both stroke play and match play formats, is as follows:

• Apply odd  stroke index allocations over the front nine and even  stroke index allocations over the back nine. If, however, the back nine is significantly more difficult than the front nine, as determined by the  Course Rating, the even  stroke index allocations can be switched to the front nine and the odd  stroke index allocations to the back nine.
• Spread  stroke index allocations evenly over the 18 holes so that players receiving strokes will have the opportunity to use a high proportion of these strokes before a match result has been decided.
• Apply the lowest  stroke index hole (1 or 2) on each nine in the middle triad. If no hole within the middle triad is ranked within the lowest 6 holes relative to  par, then it can be moved into an adjacent hole at the end of the first triad or the beginning of the third triad on each nine. 
• Apply the second lowest  stroke index hole (3 or 4) on each nine in either the first or third triad, unless the lowest  stroke index hole has been allocated in that same triad.   
• If possible, avoid low  stroke indexes (6 or less) on consecutive holes.
• When a player receives more than 18 strokes, the same allocation order is used with stroke index 1 repeating as stroke index 19, 37 and 55, with all additional strokes going up sequentially.

These recommended procedures support the guidance contained in the  Rules of Golf, Committee Procedures, Rule 5I (4).

Stroke Index Allocation for 9-Hole Play

The strokes received in a 9-hole format of play on an 18-hole  golf course should be taken in ascending order from the published  stroke index allocation for 18 holes. Alternatively, the  Handicap Committee may consider amending the  stroke index allocation from 1 to 9, relative to the ascending order of the published  stroke index allocation for 18 holes.

For plus handicap players, where they are required to give strokes back to the course, this commences on the hole with the highest published  stroke index allocated for the 9 holes or, if the  Handicap Committee has amended the  stroke index allocation from 1 to 9, at the hole with  stroke index 9.

Sample  Stroke Index Allocations

When a Committee decides to amend an 18-hole  stroke index allocation to create a 9-hole equivalent: