Does my score count if I don't finish all 18 holes?

Q: Does my score count if I don't finish all 18 holes?

It can, if you played enough holes and stopped for a valid reason: 18-hole score: you must play at least 10 holes. The holes you didn't play are filled in using your expected score (a statistical value based on your Handicap Index), and an 18-hole Score Differential is produced. 9-hole score: all 9 holes must be played. Fewer than 9 holes: the score doesn't count. Valid reasons include fading light or weather that stops play, injury or illness, a match ending before the last hole, and holes closed by the Committee. Invalid reasons include weather that doesn't stop play, skipping a hole you usually score badly on, and walking off to avoid posting a high (or low) score. A score from an invalid reason isn't acceptable, and if the Handicap Committee decides you were trying to gain an unfair advantage it may post a penalty score instead. If you start a hole but don't hole out, you record the most likely score (capped at net double bogey). Source: Rules of Handicapping (2024), Rules 2.2, 3.2 and 3.3.

Question

Accepted Answer

It can, if you played enough holes and stopped for a valid reason:

18-hole score: you must play at least 10 holes. The holes you didn't play are filled in using your expected score (a statistical value based on your Handicap Index), and an 18-hole Score Differential is produced.
9-hole score: all 9 holes must be played.
Fewer than 9 holes: the score doesn't count.

Valid reasons include fading light or weather that stops play, injury or illness, a match ending before the last hole, and holes closed by the Committee.

Invalid reasons include weather that doesn't stop play, skipping a hole you usually score badly on, and walking off to avoid posting a high (or low) score. A score from an invalid reason isn't acceptable, and if the Handicap Committee decides you were trying to gain an unfair advantage it may post a penalty score instead.

If you start a hole but don't hole out, you record the most likely score (capped at net double bogey).

Source: Rules of Handicapping (2024), Rules 2.2, 3.2 and 3.3.