Contrary to its outside perception, golf is among the most inclusive sports. This is because it is one of the few sports that people of all ages and levels can play together. The unique feature of golf that allows this is the handicap system. Even if you have only been playing for a year, you could play against a player who has played for twenty years and still have a competitive game. This also allows players with varying handicaps and playing abilities to enter a golf tournament, and every golfer would still have a chance to compete and win. Yet, for many new players, the handicap system can be confusing. In this article, we will break the golf handicap down.
What is a Handicap?
The golf handicap is a system that equalizes the playing field by allowing a golfer of a lower playing ability to subtract a higher number from their score or receive an extra number of strokes when playing against a better golfer. A golfer’s handicap is the number of strokes that they are estimated to take above or below the course’s par score. For example, a player with a handicap of 4 playing a 72-par course would be expected to be able to play the course in 76 strokes (72 + 4 extra strokes). In comparison, someone with a handicap of 15 would be expected to play the course in 87 strokes (72 + 15 extra strokes). Do note that the handicap number is not the number you are expected to shoot on a given day but rather an index of your playing ability. The lower the number the better the golfer. A high handicap is above 20, a mid-level handicap is 11-19, and a low handicap is 0-10.
How Do You Calculate Your Handicap?
There are two handicaps that you need to calculate: your personal handicap (known as the handicap index) and the course handicap. Because every golf course is different in terms of layout and difficulty, the course handicap adjusts the stroke allowance for each player depending on how challenging the course is. The handicap that you choose to use is decided before playing.
Personal Handicap: the average of the best 8 scores of your most recent 20 rounds.
Course Handicap: handicap index x (slope rating ÷ 113) + (Course rating – Course Par).
The slope rating, the course rating, and the course par will all be on the scorecard you are given at the clubhouse. The ratings will be different for each tee on the course. Here is an example calculation for a 15-handicap golfer playing a 72-par course with a slope rating of 116 and a course rating of 74. The course handicap calculation will be 15 x 1.02 + 2 = 17.3. The final number is always rounded to the nearest whole number, so the course handicap would be 17 for that golfer.
There are many apps available that will calculate your handicap for you, and if you want an official handicap, you can apply online to the World Handicap System or to your country’s association. In the USA, it is the USGA, and here in the Philippines, it is the NGAP.
How to Apply Your Handicap
The handicap has two different applications when playing with friends: stroke play and match play. In stroke play, the total number of strokes over the entire course determines the winner, while in match play, the winner is determined by the total number of individual holes won.
Stroke Play
There are two simple ways to apply the handicap in stroke play. In a match between two players, one with a handicap of 10 and one with a handicap of 3, they would calculate the difference between their handicaps, which is 7, and at the end of the course the player with the handicap of 10 would subtract 7 from his score. Another way is to use the handicap to determine the net score. Take the gross score (the overall number of strokes) of each golfer and then subtract their handicap index for the next score. Let’s use an example of a game between three players: Player A with a handicap of 10, Player B with a handicap of 3, and Player C with a handicap of 22. Player A shoots 86 and subtracts his handicap of 10 for a net score of 76, Player B shoots 78 and subtracts his handicap of 3 for a net score of 75, and Player C shoots 96 and by subtracting their handicap of 22 would get a net score of 74.
Match Play
For match play between two players, you subtract the golfer’s higher handicap number from the golfer’s lower handicap number, and the difference is the number of holes on which the higher handicap golfer will get a one-stroke advantage. All holes on the course are ranked 1-18 in terms of hardest on the scorecard’s “handicap” line. So if the handicap difference is 7 (as above), the lower handicap player would get a one-stroke advantage on the 7 hardest holes. Another way to use the handicap in match play is to take the handicap index of each player and then give them a stroke on however many holes equals their handicap. Player A, with a handicap of 10, gets an extra stroke on the ten hardest holes; Player B, with a handicap of 3, gets an extra stroke on the three hardest holes; and Player B, with a handicap of 22, gets an extra stroke on all eighteen holes plus an additional stroke on the four hardest.
Do You Need to Know Your Handicap?
While you will likely often hear players talking about their handicap, it is not required to have one. If you are a casual player and don’t bother with scores, you don’t need to be concerned about calculating your handicap. However, there are several benefits to knowing your handicap. Golf is a sport of continuous learning, and your handicap is a good indicator of your progress. You can use it to set goals and identify improvement areas when practicing. If working with a golf pro, they will be able to get a good read on your ability off of your handicap. Once you feel confident enough to enter a tournament or event, you will often be asked for your handicap.
No matter your level of golf, knowing your handicap is a great way to understand your own golf game better, play with different people, and serve as a marker for improvement.