Inactive posting season set to begin

Because weather and climate variations drastically alter playing conditions across different regions, local golf associations establish specific active and inactive score-posting seasons. In Washington and Idaho inactive season begins November 15, for Oregon it starts December 1st. and for Montana it starts November 1st. Each state has a different ending as well: Oregon ends its inactive season on Feb. 28/29 while Washington ends their enactive season on March 1, Idaho’s inactive season ends March 1 to April 1, depending heavily on elevation, latitude, and local mountain weather patterns – lover elevations end Feb 28.

The NW is one of 41 golf associations in the U.S. that has an inactive posting season during the winter months. This is because of the general change in course conditions in our region that would adversely affect course ratings.

If you play golf during our Inactive Score Posting Season in an area where scores are still being accepted for handicap purposes, you must post those scores as soon as practicable. Your handicap will continue to be revised daily when you post an eligible score, even during the off-season.

Each course is rated under the Course Rating System part of the World Handicap System. The single largest factor that impacts a course rating is distance. How far a ball will travel in the air and how much roll it gets on the ground are heavily impacted by weather.

To create a standard course rating, each course is rated as if it is July 4th (or, high summer), and the difference in course conditions in our region between summer and winter are too great and would negatively affect the majority of golfers and their handicap. There are many courses in our region that drain well and stay in good condition for the winter months, but they cannot evaluate this on a course-by-course basis.