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Golf Handicap Guide

A golf handicap index is a rating system used to determine the skill level of amateur golfers based on the scores and difficulty level of the courses the golfer has played. 

This allows players of different skill levels to play against each other on an even playing field.  The formula is actually used to calculate what a golfers “average best” score is. 

If a golfer was using his average score, the golfer would shoot their handicap about 50% of the time.  With the handicap system, a golfer will only shoot their handicap or better 25% of the time.  This system determines the golfer’s potential, not their average score.

Using A Golf Handicap

When playing a golfer with a different golf handicap, the player with the lower golf handicap will give the player with the higher handicap extra shots, or strokes, on certain holes of the course. 

These holes are determined by the difficulty level of the holes.  The difficulty rating is marked on the score card from 1 to 18, with 1 being the hardest and 18 being the easiest.  For example, if one golfer has a 20 handicap and the other has a 10 handicap, the player with the lower handicap would give one stroke to the other player on holes marked 1 through 10 on the score card. 

In other words, the difference between the two golf handicaps is equal to the number of extra strokes that the golfer with the greater golf handicap will receive. The extra strokes will be given on the holes designated 1 through 10.In another in example, if one golfer has a handicap of 6 and the other has a 13 handicap, the one with the 13 handicap would get an extra stroke on each of the holes marked 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7.  The remaining holes would be scored according to the designated number on the scorecard. For more details about golf handicap see the Handicap page.