The concept of the golf handicap is unique in competitive sports. Calculated through a process internationally approved by the governing bodies of the game, the system allows all golfers to compete fairly against each other – leveling the proverbial playing field by subtracting strokes from the less skilled player in accordance with his or her skills.
Once you’ve learned how to calculate your handicap, that official number will allow you to play competitively any PGA professional, as long as all players agree to use the handicap system. While you can certainly play golf all your life without ever knowing your number, if you ever want to participate in most leagues or official golf competitions, you’ll need to calculate your handicap.
Developed by a process agreed by the Royal and Old St Andrews Golf Club (opens in new tab) (the game’s founding organization dates back to 1754) and the United States Golf Association (opens in new tab)(the governing body that sets all the rules for golf in the US), the World Handicap System makes calculating your handicap in 10 steps.
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How do you calculate your handicap
Step 1
Play a lot of golf. This is the best part of your little piece of math homework. To determine how good a player you are, you must play enough golf on recognized courses to create a score index. Once you’ve played enough golf, you can begin measuring your “demonstrated ability calculated against the slope rating of a course of standard playing difficulty (that is, a course with a slope rating of 113),” according to the USGA.
The slope of a golf course refers to a mathematical record of the difficulty of the course. Slope rating takes into account the USGA par rating of the course and the expected score of a golfer with a higher handicap.
Step 2
You can get your handicap at your local golf course or golf club. Most courses that welcome regular players or membership have a computer or golf professional dedicated to determining and recording handicaps. If you don’t have a home course or are a member of a country club, you can use the Allied Golf Club (opens in new tab) to find your local golf club. You need to create a profile, but this is a very popular way to get your Handicap.
Step 3
Collect the course rating and slope rating for a particular course you are playing. A course rating is calculated based on the best average number of strokes it takes a professional player to complete the course. A slope rating is a record of how much harder a course will be for an average golfer.
Step 4
Calculate your adjusted gross score. Those are the passes you need to complete a given course, as interpreted by the World Handicap System.
Step 5
Calculate your score difference by subtracting your adjusted gross score from the course assessment. You can look up the numbers via the USGA database.
Step 6
Multiply the difference between your adjusted gross score and the course rating by 113† That seemingly random number is a calculated average slope. The result indicates how many strokes you were over par without taking into account the difficulty of the course.
Step 7
Calculate your average score difference. Five is the minimum round you must play before you can determine your handicap index. From those five score differences, you take your lowest score. If you play more than five rounds, you average multiple score differences. After 10 rounds, average your three lowest score differences to determine your handicap.
Step 8
Keep playing. Your average score difference should take into account the last 20 rounds of golf. If you play more than 20, use the ten lowest score differences and calculate the average.
Step 9
Multiply that calculated mean by 96† Apparently 96 is used in statistical mathematics. I’m only a golfer, so we’ll have to take the statics’ word for that.
Step 10
Understand what your number means. A maximum handicap for a novice golfer is 54. The average golfer or mid-handicap golfer is about 15. A scratch golfer is a zero and an excellent player who shoots under par goes to plus numbers.
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