Dean Knuth, provides a license to use his Tournament Point System which includes consultation with a club's Handicap Committee on identifying sandbaggers by the number one expert himself. His fee is $500.00.

n January, 1992, Section 10-3 of the USGA Handicap System manual, Reduction of USGA Handicap Index Based on ExceptionalTournament Scores, was put into effect. Section 10-3 is designed to reduce the Handicap Index of a player who scores much better in tournaments than in casual play.

In reviewing net tournament results and addressing concerns from our member clubs, the indication is that Section 10-3 may not be doing enough to insure that all competitors are competing on any equal basis. If we assume that all golfers are abiding by the score posting guidelines established by the USGA Handicap System, then each competitor should have the same chance as the next to win in tournaments. For example, if you played in 100 tournaments of 100 players, each of you should win but once.

While it is true that some competitors do play better in competition than they do in everyday casual play, it is the opinion of many that most competitors seem to not score as well in competition as they do in their casual rounds. There are competitors that finish near the top quite often, yet never seem to play well enough to have their handicap reduced under Section 10-3.

The Pacific Northwest Golf Association/Washington State Golf Association (PNGA/WSGA) Championship Committee has studied this issue and recommends placing a disclaimer statement on entry forms. The PNGA/WSGA disclaimer statement is "The Championship Committee reserves the right to alter any of the conditions and schedules herein. The Committee reserves the right to reject the entry of any applicant, at any time, for any reason. Any decision by the Committee, in any matter, shall be final." A disclaimer allows the Tournament Committee, among other things, to adjust a golfer's Handicap Index based on prior history or to reject an applicant's entry into the event. A disclaimer will also allow the Committee to use the following point system developed by Dean Knuth, Senior Director of Handicapping for the United States Golf Association. The point system may aid a club or Tournament Committee when incidents or problems occur repeatedly.

The system is based upon awarding points to NET finishers in your club's competitions that are important enough to be designated as "tournament scores" (see USGA Handicap System manual) with at least 50 competitors. Players or teams that finish in the top 5 places NET in the tournament will be awarded the appropriate number of points as listed on the table below. This is the top 5 in the entire field, not the top 5 in each flight.

It may also include a person or team that collects a gross division prize. The points are not limited to the 5 highest net finishers, but the 5 best net scores in the field.

1st Place	5 points
2nd Place	4 points
3rd Place	3 points
4th Place	2 points
5th Place	1 point

If a player accumulates 7 points over a two year period, his/her handicap for a tournament held at your club may be reduced by two shots. Each two additional points earned by the player in this two year period would result in an additional stroke being subtracted from their handicap for the tournaments. Note that the USGA Handicap Index is not reduced, only the handicap that is assigned to the player for that event.

A sample situation is a golfer that placed 1st net in a club event last summer. He/she was awarded 5 points for that event. In September, the same golfer wins third place net, and is awarded 3 additional points. The golfers has just turned in an entry for an event in August of this year. The Committee can reduce this golfer's course handicap by 2 strokes since the golfer has accumulated a total of 8 points. Remember, weekly sweeps events and events with less than 50 contestants do not qualify for points.

In the case of a tie for one of the first 5 places, each of the individuals or teams would earn the full number of points for that placing. For example: Two individuals tie for 2nd place. Each individual would earn 4 points under this system. You would not give out 3rd place points (or add 2nd & 3rd place points together and divide by 2) under this scenario. The next finisher in line after the two individuals that tied would earn 2 points for the 4th place. No fractions of points are awarded.

The Committee may also collect results from outside events and use points earned in these events to further adjust the competitors handicaps.

Entry forms should inform contestants that the Knuth Point System will be applied for the event. The Committee should state on the entry form that any handicap adjustments made for this tournament will be calculated on points accumulated in the past two years. For example: The tournament to be held is scheduled for September 1, 1995. The adjustments for that tournament would be calculated from points earned from August 31, 1993 to August 31, 1995.

This is a fair system for helping to give everyone a chance to win.