Hole handicap indexes (also called stroke index or handicap stroke allocation) tell PlayThru which holes a golfer receives handicap strokes on. They're entered on the Course tab for each tee box.
Step-by-step
- Open Outing Organizer → Course tab.
- Select a tee box.
- Find the Handicap or HCP row for each hole.
- Enter the stroke index from the course scorecard: 18-hole: indexes 1–18 (1 = hardest hole, 18 = easiest, 9-hole: indexes 1–9
- Click **Save**.
When are hole indexes required?
PlayThru requires hole handicap indexes when any of these are enabled:
- Handicap (net scoring)
- Adjust handicaps for course
- Skins calculator
- Hardest Holes tiebreaker
How PlayThru uses them
- Net scoring: Strokes are allocated hole-by-hole based on the golfer's course handicap and the hole index.
- Tiebreaker: "Hardest Holes" compares scores on holes starting from the lowest index (hardest).
- Match play: Handicap strokes applied per hole index in the pairing.
9-hole events
For 9-hole outings, enter indexes 1–9 for the holes being played. The system uses only the holes in your event.
Common mistakes
| Issue |
Fix |
| All indexes set to 0 |
Enter actual values from the course scorecard |
| Indexes entered but checklist still shows error |
Ensure indexes are > 0 for every hole in play |
| Wrong tee's indexes |
Each tee box may have different stroke allocations — verify with the course |
Tip
The course pro shop or the printed scorecard almost always lists stroke index. If unavailable, USGA/GHIN course data is the authoritative source.
