Handicapping

The handicap system is a major advantage that makes golf great and fair. The aim of handicapping is to enable golfers of differing abilities and skills to play together and compete against each other on a fair and equitable basis. The handicap (net) scoring are almost unique in the sports world.

What is a Handicap? – Definitions

A “Handicap” is a term used to describe a golfer’s skill level. It might seem like a confusing concept to those new to the sport. Fortunately, there are few definitions describing handicap, and clear formulas used to calculate it.

  • According to the USGA, a course handicap index “indicates the number of handicap strokes a player receives from a specific set of tees at the course being played to adjust the player’s scoring ability to the level of scratch or zero-handicap golfer”.
  • The United States Golf Teachers Federation (USGTF) defines handicap as “a measure of player’s current ability over an entire round of golf, signified by a number. The lower the number, the better the golfer is”.
  • The World Handicap System (WHS) defines handicap index as “the measure of a player’s demonstrated ability calculated against the Slope Rating of a golf course of standard playing difficulty (that is, a course with a Slope Rating of 113)“.
  • In simply words: “a handicap index essentially signifies how many strokes above or below par a golfer should be able to play a 18-hole round of golf“.

By the end of 2019, six different handicap systems were used around the world:

Since the beginning of 2020 all these different handicap systems are migrated into a single World Handicap System (WHS) that is planned to be implemented worldwide in 2020-2021.

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update: January 2021