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In golf, what is a handicap?

Want to even the playing field? Here's how to find your handicap in golf

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In golf, what is a handicap? It’s a numerical measure of a golfer’s playing ability, used to level the playing field between two players of different skill levels. The handicap represents the number of strokes that a player is expected to take above or below par for a given course. This allows golfers of varying abilities to compete fairly against each other. Here’s everything you need to know about a handicap in golf and how to calculate it.

What is a golf handicap?

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If a golfer has a handicap of 10, they are expected to score 10 strokes over par on an average round. In a match, this handicap is then subtracted from their total score to determine their net score, which is then compared to their opponent’s net score. The lower your handicap, the better you are.

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Handicap highlights

  • It’s a way to keep it fair for everyone, no matter their skill set, gender, or age.
  • It goes by a numeric system based on the course you play on.
  • You have to have played golf at least once to have one.
  • The higher the number, the bigger the handicap.
  • The lower the handicap, the better the golfer.

Why do golfers need a handicap?

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If you’re going to play regularly with people who take the game seriously, even for fun, you should know your handicap. I know that the number seems complicated, but it’s also good to know if you play on different courses, to keep things fair in regard to the course difficulty. Using a handicap evens things out, as someone with a 19 handicap could still feel good playing with someone who has a handicap of 3. But most importantly, if you want to join a club or play in tournaments, you have to have one.

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If you are going to play with people who don’t care and don’t want to keep score, it wouldn’t matter if you had or knew your handicap. It’s not a must-have to be able to walk on the course. There isn’t someone going around asking you and then kicking you out if you don’t know it. You don’t need one to play golf, especially if you’re just starting out.

You need to know yours if you take it seriously enough to join a club, want to compete in a tournament, or if you think you want to make a career out of it. In those cases, yes, you need to have and know your handicap.

How to find your handicap

Man holding a golf club over his shoulder
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There are a bunch of different apps out there (such as The Grint) to help you calculate your handicap, but it’s also handy to know how to do the math by hand. First, we’re going to calculate a score differential, which will adjust your raw score for the course’s difficulty.

To find your score differential, you first need to play a few rounds of golf. Some systems suggest 3 or 5 rounds, but others require up to 20 for an initial handicap on rated golf courses. Once you’ve documented your gross score, you’ll need to know what the course and slope ratings were. These will be readily available online or on your scorecard.

The course rating is essentially the expected score for a scratch golfer (someone with a 0 handicap), and the slope rating measures the course’s difficulty for an average golfer. The last number you’ll need is 113, because that is the average slope rating, set by the United States Golf Association (USGA) when it developed the handicap system.

Here’s the formula for your score differential

(Your average gross score – course rating) x 113)/Slope rating = Your score differential

Once you have the score differentials for several rounds of golf, consult the calculation of a handicap index from USGA, and that will give you your handicap. You won’t know your true handicap until you have around 20 score differentials.

If you’re still confused, Drew Fortson Golf has a great video explaining all of the intricate details. Ultimately, this system is calculated this way to create a fair and standardized measure of a golfer’s performance that accounts for skill and for course difficulty.

Now that you have your handicap, you might be tempted to just get out there and play, but hold your horses! Not all courses have the same difficulty level, so your handicap score has to be adjusted to your specific course and tees. The course handicap will tell you how many strokes you get on a particular layout.

Here’s how your course handicap is calculated

Your handicap index x (Slope rating/113) = Your course handicap

Plug in the numbers and round to the nearest whole number, and you’re good to go! Many apps or club scorecards provide a chart so you can skip the math, so if that’s more your thing, just find your index and match it to the tee’s slope.

Then, as you play, all you need to do is adjust your score to find your net score. Compare your net score to your competitor’s, and the lowest net wins.

Here’s how to find your net score

Gross score – Course handicap = Net score

While this method isn’t perfect since any number of things can throw you off your game, like bad weather, nerves, or even a bad burrito, it’s still a reliable method to have a great time playing with someone who has a different skill level than you.

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Dannielle Beardsley
Dannielle Beardsley
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Dannielle has written for various websites, online magazines, and blogs. She loves everything celebrity and her favorite…
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