In golf, there are so many different levels of players that finding someone to play with can be difficult. This is where a golf handicap comes in, making it possible for golfers of assorted proficiencies to play against one another. If you are new to the game, it can be a bit confusing, but this article will give you the basics so you can understand your golf handicap.
A golf handicap evens the playing field for golfers of varying abilities by changing the score according to each players experience and level, based on his or her last few golf rounds. The player is then given a number handicap which will be subtracted from his final score (or in rare instances, added on). The final score, before the handicap, is known as the gross score. Once the handicap has been subtracted, this is known as the net score.
To figure out your golf handicap, you first need to be assigned one. Golf clubs or national associations are equipped to calculate the formula required for each persons golf handicap. This keeps things standard, which is very important to a fair game.
Once you have the base handicap, it will vary by the course you play on. Each golf course is given a slope and a course rating which affects the players handicaps. The slope score is based on the difficulty level for a fully handicapped golfer (also known as a bogey player), while the course rating is the difficulty level for a 0 handicapped golfer (known as a scratch golfer). These numbers are plugged into a somewhat complicated mathematical equation to get each player’s golf handicap for that particular course.
Handicaps vary depending on what country you are playing in, so if you decide to take a golf vacation; it is recommended that you check out the rules where you plan to play. It isn’t usually a great difference, but it pays to know ahead of time if your golf handicap will be more or less than in your home country. The R&A in Scotland controls the authorization of most of the world’s golf handicap systems, but the United States Golf Association is responsible for the U.S. and Mexico’s golf handicap formulas.
A golf handicap is a good way to even out the playing field, so to speak, for all golfers, making the game far more interesting for everyone involved. Whether you are a scratch golfer or a bogey, or somewhere in between, you can rest assured that a golf handicap is a good thing.
Get and keep track of your own handicap online using My Scorecard
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