What is a handicap in Golf?
By Alex Shappee
Golf is a hard game. People often spend 10, 20, 30 years playing and trying to improve their game. If there was only a calculation that could be done to tell you exactly what your skill level is and show your improvement throughout your time playing golf. I give you…Golf Handicap. Well, What is a handicap in golf? In this post, we will dive into what a handicap is, golf handicap calculation, why/if it is important, and the benefit of knowing yours.
What is a Handicap in Golf?
A handicap or handicap index is a score given to an individual golfer that determines their skill level. The overseeing authority for official golf least 3 18-hole scores posted to get an official handicap index. Lower golf handicaps = better golfer and vice-versa.
Golf Handicap Ranges
We now know what a Golf Handicap is, let’s delve into how handicap numbers compare to the average score per 18 holes of golf.
As you can see from the table above, depending on your average 18-hole score, you have a good estimate of what your handicap is without any calculations.
How to Calculate Golf Handicap Index
Using the USGA System, the following steps can calculate your Handicap Index.
Equation for Handicap Differential (Score – Course Rating) * 113 / Slope Rating = Handicap Differential
Average your best 8 of the last 20 Handicap Differentials. If you have less than 8 and more than 3, use the average of the total number of rounds.
Multiply your average by 96% or 0.69. This is referred to as a “bonus for excellence” and is meant to reward good play. The final number is your Handicap Index.
Note: Course Rating and Slope ratings are different for each course and can be found on the course’s scorecard.
Why is your Handicap Good to Know?
There are plenty of good reasons why your Handicap is great information to know. Being “good” or “bad” at golf is very subjective. Having a number to attach to your skill level makes it a little less subjective and more measurable and trusted.
Applying your handicap will make playing even more fun and competitive. It puts everyone you are playing with on a level playing field.
So many things go into golf which makes it hard to track progress. A handicap fixes this issue. It gives you a single-point metric that easily shows how you have improved or worsened over time. Athletes are very prideful. Golf handicaps allow a golfer to have something to show off. Like a basketball player boasting about how many points they scored or a high jumper bragging about how high they jumped.
If you ever to start competing in your local tournaments, most require an established handicap.
We now know that you understand what a handicap is and how to calculate yours, you can start entering tournaments.
Now get out there and start having fun!