Rules
Equitable Stroke Control
ESC is the downward adjustment of individual hole scores for handicap purposes, so that Handicap Factors better represent a player's potential scoring ability.
ESC sets a maximum number a player can post on any hole, depending on her course handicap. It is used only when a player's actual or most likely score exceeds that maximum.
It is imperative that a player's gross score be adjusted before posting for handicap purposes.
Reduction of hole scores, for handicap purposes only, in accordance with the formula below, is called Equitable Stroke Control. Each player's gross score must be adjusted in accordance with the ESC formula before it is returned for handicap purposes.
A score for any hole is reduced to a specified number of strokes over par, for handicap purposes only.
ESC chart
| Course handicap | Maximum score on any one hole |
|---|---|
| 9 or less | 2 over par |
| 10 – 19 | 7 |
| 20 – 29 | 8 |
| 30 – 39 | 9 |
| 40 and up | 10 |
Worked example
If your course handicap is 30, your maximum score on any hole is 9. If you score a double par on a par 5, then under ChLGA local rules you will post a score of 10. If your gross score was 100 and that was your only hole over 9, you would post a score of 99 for handicap purposes.
Course handicap
Course Handicap = Handicap Factor × slope rating ÷ 113
See also the ChLGA Handicap formula.