Our unique handicap system makes it possible for players at very different levels of skill to compete fairly. It’s the reason an average player can have the thrill of playing in a tournament and really get an honest chance to win. It’s the reason men and women can compete on an equal basis here, too. Regardless of skill level, everyone who plays at his or her very best has a realistic shot at winning.

     The system means that, just as in the big professional tournaments, every shot is important. You can recover from one bad hole, even a few bad holes, and still have a chance to win. But the system won’t reward the player who takes it easy through the whole tournament. You’ll have to do your personal best on every shot to win.

     Our system isn’t a matter of a human handicapper’s judgment, as in horseracing. It’s based on data generated by the USGA and it’s applied to all tournament players on a uniform, consistent basis. The Online Scoreboard will always list every player, every adjustment, and net scores so that you can verify your score and the scores of your competitors.

1. The Calloway System of Automatic Handicapping. Since our system adjusts for fractional strokes, we’ve modified it slightly.

2. The USGA course ratings for men and women at all courses used by Maui Jackpot Golf.

3. The USGA slope ratings for men and women at all Maui Jackpot Golf tournament courses

4. Published par for each of the tournament courses

     The first step in handicapping the tournament uses the Calloway System, which is a way of determining fair allowances for convention and resort tournaments. It makes appropriate adjustments for each player’s level of skill.

     The second and third steps adjust for the difficulty of the course each player chooses to play on, compared to other Maui golf courses. Comparisons between courses are based on course and slope ratings published by the USGA. The course and slope ratings vary according to the sex of the player and the tee boxes he or she selects. This information is usually on the scorecard provided by the course. Otherwise, it’s available through the USGA or the Hawaii State Golf Association.

     The fourth step in the weighting process adjusts for published par, since that will vary between tournament courses.

So here’s how it works:

     Step One: Your gross score is adjusted to the equivalent of a  “scratch” or zero-handicap golfer, using the modified Calloway System. This is set out in Table A. In the table, your worst holes are deducted from the gross score.

     Step Two: Your net score calculated in Step One is adjusted for the course rating and tee boxes used for the course you chose. The course rating is published by the USGA and rates each course according to the score a “scratch” or zero-handicap golfer should make, using the selected tee boxes. This adjustment may be either a deduction or addition to your gross score.

     Step Three: Your net score is then adjusted for relative difficulty of the course you chose, compared to other Maui courses, and the tee boxes you used. The slope rating of the course takes into consideration size of the greens, number of bunkers, elevation, topography, and other factors that add to the challenge for players. The average USGA slope rating is 113. The slope rating for the course you choose to play on is divided by 113, and the resulting figure is expressed as a stroke factor which is deducted from your score. (Table B)

     Step Four: Your net score is adjusted for the typical par of 72, compared to the published par for the course you play on. This adjustment may be either an addition or subtraction from your score. With this system, a player who plays a par 70 course would have two strokes added to his score, and a player who plays a par 73 would have a stroke deducted.

     Step Five: With luck, skill, and guts, you take home a winner’s purse.

When there are conflicts between published data, Maui Jackpot Golf will always use USGA data, or the data that came from the source we consider the highest authority. Calculations are always rounded to the nearest hundredth.

     Our system has been carefully thought out and scrutinized by golfing authorities to make sure it combines challenge and integrity. It gives the golfer of average skill but above-average determination and nerve a chance to win against competitors who have a lot more skill. Check your nerves and go for it!
 

     My swing is so bad I look like a caveman killing his lunch.
                                                                                                  ~Lee Trevino

     Played with my wife and the handicap made it competitive. She beat me on the last hole. It was great for both of us.
                                      --Billy, Knoxville, TN (Handicap 15)

     My best score ever was 103, but I’ve only been playing 15 years.
                                                                                                        --Alex Karris

     My handicap? Woods and irons.
                                                              --Chris Dodiroli

     Aaargh. Downhill, downwind, and I fed the big dog 3 bones (300 yard drive), but drug the anchor on my second shot (hit it fat) and walked the plank (choked).
                                                                     --Captain Jack, Charter Boat Captain, Barbados (Handicap 31)