Q: I had a good round going through 15 holes, but I couldn't finish because of lightning. I was hoping I could post this score. Please tell me I don't have to throw this round out.

A: Actually, any time you play 13 or more holes, you're required to post an 18-hole score. If you were only able to complete seven to 12 holes, you're required to post your round as a nine-hole score. (If you played more than nine, but less than 13, just eliminate those scores on the back.) So how is it that you score the holes you didn't actually play? The handicap system requires you to take a par plus any handicap stroke(s) you would have received. In the case of your 15-hole round, if you were getting a handicap stroke on any of the final three holes, you would put down a bogey for those holes and a par for the other(s).

By DEAN KNUTH, Golf Digest Contributing Editor. Knuth, the former senior director of the USGA handicap department, invented today's Course Rating and Slope system.