Golf Glossary
Definition: Equitable Stroke Control
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Equitable Stroke Control
The Equitable Stroke Control system limits the number of strokes that a golfer can take on any hole, when calculating an adjusted gross score. The table below shows the Equitable Stroke Control limits.
| Course Handicap | Maximum Score |
| 0 to 9 |
Double Bogey |
| 10 to 19 |
7 |
| 20 to 29 |
8 |
| 30 to 39 |
9 |
| 40 or More |
10 |
Golfers use an adjusted gross score, rather than their raw score, to compute a handicap index. This eliminates the effect of "disaster holes" (e.g., losing four balls and 4-putting on a single hole). It also prevents sandbaggers from posting unrealistically large scores to raise their handicaps.
What are the equitable stroke control limits if you don't know your course handicap? For a man, the maximum score on a single hole is 9; for a woman, it is 10.