Create Gross and Net Ranking Systems for United States golfers with disabilities compiled from tournaments run by USAGA and its Member Organizations. USAGA agrees with the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) that athletes with disabilities within a sport should be classified based on their disability impairment to promote fair and equitable competition and avoid the “threat of one-sided and predictable competitions, in which the least-impaired athletes always win.” As a result, USAGA follows “para-sport” protocol by classifying its golfers “by the degree of activity limitation resulting from the impairment,” and has identified and defined 14 different sport classes by which golfers with disabilities are ranked.
The USAGA Golf Ranking System (USAGR™), which comprises a men’s and women’s gross and net ranking for golfers with disabilities in the USA, is offered and developed from actual performance at USAGA accredited tournaments following specific incorporation of USAGA standards for their sport class and in compliance with USAGA tournament guidelines. Each year, a United States Para-Golf team is qualified following the USAGA International Para-Golf Championship, honoring the top-2 ranked players in each of 14 sport classes, along with the top 2 highest-ranked eligible women and the top 2 highest-ranked eligible players in the Net Rankings.
Locations
Events must be held specifically for golfers with disabilities within the United States on a golf course with an official USGA Course and Slope Rating. Certification of international events in the future is possible since a universal worldwide handicapping system that directly correlates to USAGR™ was recently adopted. In 2021, only events within the United States are currently eligible.
Participation
Each sanctioned event must be operated by USAGA or an affiliated Member Organization of USAGA. Non-member organizations may have their events sanctioned by USAGA’s Competition Ranking Committee (“CRC”) upon signing up for membership.
Classification
Each event is classified by the CRC as a Level I or Level II Event.For 2021, all tournaments hosted by a USAGA Member organization will be a single-weighted, Level II Event. The USAGA International Para-Golf Championship hosted by the USAGA will be the only double-weighted, Level I Event.
Exemptions
In the future, this ranking system can be used to create valuable “exemption” status to the season-ending USAGA International Para-Golf Championship. No exemptions are planned for the 2021 season.
USAGR™ Ranking Standards
The first posted Competitive Score Rating (CSR) for every player to start each new season will be the previous year’s overall rating for that player.
For every four (4) competitive score ratings (CSRs) earned, the worst rating is removed from the overall rating calculation.
Each player needs 7 posted scores from the collection of 2021 accredited events before he or she can be eligible for the US Para-Golf team.
Scores posted in Level I Events are “double-weighted,” so each score posted in a Level I event is posted twice.
Having Your Event Ranked
Please contact Jonathan Snyder at jsnyder@usaga.org, or by telephone at (630) 455-6018 ext. 1002 to obtain the necessary documents introducing USAGA Ranking and Competition Standards and event accreditation. Mr. Snyder will be able to answer any questions about USAGR™ requirements.
Player Classification by Disability Type (Sport Class)
In accordance with eligibility standards recognized by the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), USAGA will classify golfers with disabilities based upon the following definitions:
Golfers with lower limb impairments
Sport Class G1 The golfers have an impairment affecting one leg, for example an amputation above the knee. They may use a prosthesis or golf on one leg.
Sport Class G2 Golfers in this sport class include those with impairments in the lower parts of one leg, but with less impact on golfing compared to G1. Typical examples are amputations above the ankle or loss of muscle control in one leg or leg length difference.
Sport Class G3 This sport class includes golfers with an impairment in both legs, such as muscle weakness in both legs or double amputation.
Golfers with arm impairments
Sport Class G4 The golfers in this sport class have impairments affecting one arm and either 1) do not use any golf aide or adaptive device to connect to the club, or 2) do not intentionally use the impaired arm when initiating a stroke through striking the ball.At the initiation of the stroke through striking of the ball, there can only be one intentional point of contact on the club. All golfers in this category, must play every stroke during a round of golf with one arm - any aid from an artificial appliance, prosthetic, or part of the impaired arm is not allowed. This category includes limb deficiency, impaired passive range of motion and impaired muscle power related to the arm.
Sport Class G5 The golfers in this sport class have impairments affecting one arm and either 1) use a golf aide or adaptive device to connect to the club or 2) use the impaired arm at any time in the swing between when initiating a stroke through striking the ball. At the initiation of the stroke through striking the ball, this class is allowed to have two points of intentional contact on the club while striking the ball for any stroke during a round of golf. This category includes limb deficiency, impaired passive range of motion and impaired muscle power related to the arm.
Sport Class G6 This sport class is designated for athletes with impairments in both arms that prohibit them full use of the golf club. Golfers, for example, have missing hands or cannot grip firmly the club properly. Therefore, you may see them using an adaptive golf tool.
Golfers with combined impairments in arms and legs
Sport Class G7 This sport class is designed for golfers who have an impairment in arms and legs. Some of the G7 golfers have mild coordination problems in all extremities. Others have amputations affecting at one arm and one leg. Sport Class G8 Athletes with Neurological Conditions and Coordination Impairments. Abnormal increase in muscle tension and a reduced ability of a muscle to stretch, lack of co-ordination of muscle movements, unbalanced, involuntary movements and a difficulty in maintaining a symmetrical posture due to a neurological condition, such as cerebral palsy, brain injury or multiple sclerosis.
Seated Golfers
All seated-golfers that have an impairment affecting their body in which they use a Para-mobile device to compete. They are allocated different sport classes depending on their trunk control, which is very important for golf.
Sport Class G9 Golfers have an impairment that limits their leg and trunk function. They would be unable to sit without supporting himself or herself with the arms, for example due to paraplegia. Sport Class G10 Golfers in this sport class have near to normal trunk control.
Golfers with Visual Impairments
Sport Class G11 These athletes have a very low visual acuity and/or no light perception.
Sport Class G12 Athletes have a higher visual acuity/ higher than athletes competing in the G11 sport class & a visual acuity higher than 20/600 with some light perception.
Sport Class G13 Athletes have the least severe visual impairment eligible for Paralympic sport. They have the highest visual acuity and/or a visual field of less than 20 degrees radius.
To ensure safety all G11 & G12 golfers must use a caddy, while a G13 may use a caddy.
Short In Stature
Sport Class G14 Athletes with short stature compete in this sport class.
Please note that the above-listed sport classes specifically define which sport class each player is classified within as it relates to USAGR rankings. These sport classes do not necessarily define, or mandate in any way, how an individual accredited event may decide to organize its players into divisions or different tee box locations for competition and/or award purposes. Divisions and tee box locations may vary at individual accredited events and decisions pertaining to this are of the sole discretion of the Tournament Director, Organizer, and/or Event Planning Committee. Variations in divisions and tee box locations at individual events have no bearing on USAGR ratings or rankings by sport class.
2021 Events Accredited for USAGR Rankings (As of May 12, 2021)
April 19-23 TeeItUp Conquistador Para-Golf Championship, Tucson, ArizonaMay 10Cynthia Coffin Memorial Amputee Golf Classic May 17-20 US Disabled Golf Association Open Championship, Mesa, Arizona June 7-8 NAOAGA Spring Regional, Fairdale, KY June 25-27 Georgia State Golf Association Adaptive Golf Championship, Atlanta, Georgia August 1-3 Eastern Regional Amputee Golf Association Tournament, Galloway, New Jersey August 13-15 Wisconsin Amputee Golf Association Tournament, Stoughton, Wisconsin August 22-23 Pennsylvania Amputee Open, Hanover, Pennsylvania September 10-12 Midwestern Golf Association All-Disability Open, Tinley Park, Illinois September 12Long Island Amputee Open September 19-23 NAOAGA Annual Meeting & Championship October 3-7 US Blind Golf Association National Championship, Champions Gate, Florida October 11-12 Connecticut Amputee Open, Danbury, Connecticut November 15-18 USAGA International Para-Golf Championship, Dallas, Texas
2021 Additional Events Eligible for Participation in USAGR Rankings (As of May 12, 2021)
May 21-23 Southern Adaptive Golf Championship, Hayesville, North Carolina June 4-6 Kentucky Amputee Golf Tournament, Shelbyville, Kentucky July 9-11 Iowa Amputee Golf Association Tournament, Des Moines, Iowa July 12-14 Maine Amputee Open Golf Championship and Sponsor Scramble, Brunswick, Maine July 23-25 Michigan Amputee Golf Association Tournament, Three Rivers, Michigan September 24-26 Missouri Amputee Golf Association Tournament, Columbia, Missouri October 22-24 Invisible Shield Championship (TeeItUp), Las Vegas, Nevada October 25-29 National Amputee Golf Association Open Championship, Las Vegas, Nevada Multiple Veterans Golfers Association
How do I qualify as a USA Team Member?
Enter and play in accredited USAGA and Member Organization events in the United States and get ranked by the United States Adaptive Golf Ranking (USAGR™). Finish the season with a minimum of 7 posted scores that rank you in the top-2 of one of 14 different sport classes, the Women’s division, or the Net Ranking.
How does the USAGRTM ranking system work?
USAGR™ ranks players based on the scores they shoot while participating in accredited tournaments for golfers with disabilities. Each score posted receives a Competitive Score Rating (CSR) that is calculated by applying a course difficulty factor (based on the USGA Course Rating and Slope for the tee box played) to the score posted.
A detailed explanation of the entire system can be found in the USAGA Ranking and Competition Standards.
What tournaments carry the most weight in USAGR rankings?
The season-ending USAGA International Para-Golf Championship in Dallas is the only double-weighted event. Since this Level I event is double-weighted and comprises a three-day, 54-hole event, a total of 6 posted scores can be obtained at this event alone.
Do I have to qualify to play in the season-ending double-weighted USAGA International Para-Golf Championship?
No, the season-ending, double-weighted championship, where the US Para-Golf team will be announced, is open to all eligible golfers with disabilities. Although space may limited, entries will be accepted on a first-come first-served basis upon payment after entries are opened.
In addition to the Gross Overall Rating described above, USAGR also will provide a Net Ranking for all eligible players with disabilities so that everyone can play and compete on an equal playing field regardless of specific skill level. Since the Net Ranking is a handicap index system, no sport class designations are necessary. All players in the Net Ranking system will cross-compete against each other regardless of age, sport class, division, or tee box from which they play.
For each event, each player will receive an Event Course Handicap (ECH) which is used to calculate a net score for each posted round of the event.
The player’s ECH is determined by taking their current USAGR overall player rating (OR), otherwise referred to as their tournament handicap index (THI), and factoring in the Course Rating and Slope of the tee box from which they will compete from using the same universally accepted equation to determine a course handicap from a USGA Index.
The ECH will be subtracted from the player’s posted score each day to determine the player’s Net Score. Subtracting the Course Par from the player’s Net Score generates a (-) or (+) number, which is the player’s Net Rating for that particular round.
Each player’s Net Rating for each posted round in a particular event is then added to the seasonal master list to generate an updated cumulative Net Ranking.
Like the Gross Overall Rating, each player will have its worst score of every 4 posted thrown out to compute their overall net rating.
The Net Ranking will then be displayed on the USAGA website after each accredited event and will resemble a Leaderboard, so that each player will be able to clearly view how many shots they are behind or in front of anyone else.
