WHAT IS A HANDICAP?
Introduction
As your golf skills improve, you may be interested in establishing a handicap. All golfers are not created equal, but the golf handicap system helps level the playing field so individuals may compete more fairly.
A golf handicap is a number calculated using a formula that takes into account a series of golf scores and the difficulty of the courses you played. The lower the number, the closer to SCRATCH a golfer will shoot. When you see someone with a golf handicap of zero or who is referred to as a SCRATCH GOLFER, it means that, on a good day, she shoots close to par - if not better. In other words, she is a really good player!
The higher the number, the more shots over par a person will typically score. A golfer that typically posts scores under par (like professional tour players), the term plus (+) precedes their number. So a golfer with a plus 2 handicap means that on an average good day, she will record a score of 2 less than par for a round of golf.
Why do I need a golf handicap?
The most common reason to establish a handicap is to enter golf competitions and tournaments. Handicaps may be required for country club outings or professional tournaments where prize money is at stake. Even in fun rounds between friends, handicaps are used to create well matched teams and equalize scores between players.
In competition, scores can be compared on a "gross" level (the actual number of shots to complete a round) and by applying the players' handicaps to reach a "net" score (a score that is adjusted based on the golf handicap of each player). Using a handicap system, players of different skill levels can compete more fairly.
Perhaps an even better reason to establish a handicap is to track your own progress with the game. The handicap calculation factors in the difficulty of the courses you play. Monitoring your success solely using your gross score may not accurately indicate that you're improving, especially if you're playing harder courses. Many handicap systems not only track overall score, but number of putts, tee shots that land in the fairway and other aspects of the game you are working to improve.
How to establish a handicap
In order for a golf handicap to be official, it typically has to be obtained through a club or organization licensed by the United States Golf Association (USGA). A minimum of five scores and a maximum of 20 is required to get started. You may track scores either by completing 9 or 18 hole rounds.
When posting scores for your handicap, enter the date of your round, your gross score, the course rating, and the slope rating for the golf course you played. The rating and slope numbers can be found on the scorecard, though some handicap systems allow you to look up the information in their course database.
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