If you’ve ever been paired with a stranger at a golf course, chances are one of the first questions asked between the two of you is, “What’s your handicap?”
A golf handicap allows everyone to play the great game on equal footing.
In this article, we’ll explain why golf handicaps are so important, how to calculate your golf handicap, and most importantly, how you can improve yours starting today.
What Does Handicap Mean in Golf?
A handicap index creates a numerical measure that registers a golfer’s ability based on their scores at various golf courses.
Simply put, a golf handicap gives you a number that shows how many strokes you will need on a neutral course.
If you’ve recently played, you may have noticed terms such as Course Rating, Slope Rating, and Course Slope on your scorecard.
The United States Golf Association has long held that golf handicaps are a way to measure a golfer’s true skill level at any golf course in the country.
Golf handicaps also provide golfers the ability to play a fair match, no matter the difference in skill level.
How to Calculate Your Handicap
Finding a good and accurate golf handicap calculator app remains the best shortcut when figuring out your playing handicaps.
But if you like putting pencil to paper to calculate your handicapping number, here’s the way to get your score.
1. You need to find the adjusted total score using the calculations below
To find the score with the adjusted gross, use the USGA’s equitable stroke control displayed below. The table restricts the total number of strokes you can enter on any single hole.
Course Handicap = Nine or fewer than the maximum score is a double bogey
10 to 19, then the maximum score is 7
20 to 29, then the maximum score is 8
30 to 39, then the maximum score is 9
40 and above, then the maximum score is 10
2. Find the handicap differential for each round’s score
Handicap differential is found by using this formula: Handicap Differential = (Adjusted Gross Score – course rating) x 113/Course Slope Rating.
3. Choose the lowest handicap differential
Find the lowest scores from the total number of rounds you’ve played recently. For 20 rounds, take the lowest 10 scores.
4. Calculate the average handicap from the smallest value of the handicap differentials
Once you have a solid base of golf handicap differentials, say 10 or more, then you find the average from the lowest rounds. If you’ve got 20 rounds in the books, take the 10 lowest number of strokes.
Anything lower, say 15 rounds, and you’ll look at the six lowest scores.
5. Multiply the average of the handicap differentials by .96
For the fifth step of calculating an official handicap, you need to find the average from net handicap calculations by multiplying the average by 0.96 or 96 percent.
6. Delete the numbers of the right of the tenths
Although you do not want to round off any numbers in the score, you should note that the USGA sets a maximum golf handicap index for women and men.
For women, the maximum number is 40.4, while the men totals 36.4 when playing golf on an 18-hole course.
Once you multiply the handicap differential by .96, you will chop any numbers after the first tenth off to give you a legitimate golf handicap calculation.
7. Find the course handicap calculation
The last step to help you calculate your golf handicap covers finding the course handicap. The formula reads Course Handicap = Handicap Index x Slope Rating/113 + (Course Rating – Par)
How to Improve Your Handicap
Improving your golf handicap is fairly easy, as you only need to post better scores on courses with higher course ratings.
So how do you improve your scores? You work on your golf game from the green to the tee. Take time to work on each golf club, starting with the best putter for beginners.
When you actually play golf, find courses with a moderate course rating and slope rating to challenge yourself to be better in all parts of your game.
After you’ve played golf, look at your weaknesses. The best players with the lowest golf handicaps examine their rounds with a critical eye.
Every golfer, even those with similar golf handicaps, carries varying abilities when it comes to hitting the golf ball off the tee box, striking from the fairway, and the short game.
So look critically at your game and work to sand away the rough edges of your skill set.
World Handicap System (WHS) Updates
The World Handicap System (WHS) continues to evolve, bringing greater consistency and inclusivity to golfers worldwide.
Designed to unify the game’s scoring standards, recent updates are shaping the way players track and improve their performance.
WHS 2024 Revisions and Global Impact
The WHS 2024 revisions introduce key changes aimed at enhancing fairness and accessibility.
Among these updates is the adjustment to calculation methods for the handicap index, ensuring more accurate and reflective scores.
The revisions also emphasize inclusivity, making the system more adaptable for golfers in varying conditions across different countries.
This global perspective strengthens participation and allows players to compare abilities on a truly international scale.
New Maximum Handicap Index
A significant update in the USGA handicap system is the introduction of a new maximum golf handicap index.
Set at 54.0 for both men and women, this adjustment enables higher accessibility for beginners and players with limited experience.
It ensures every golfer, regardless of skill level, can participate in competitive or casual games while maintaining a level playing field.
Increased Global Participation
The WHS has been instrumental in expanding the game’s reach.
With its standardized approach to golf handicap reviews and scoring, golfers from all corners of the globe can now engage in tournaments and leagues with confidence.
The updates to the system support more diverse participation, encouraging new players and fostering community growth.
By embracing these WHS 2024 revisions, the golfing world moves closer to a unified, equitable platform, enriching the experience for all enthusiasts.
Whether you’re a seasoned player or a novice, the updates ensure that everyone has a fair shot at enjoying the game.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a good handicap in golf?
Most golfers feel that any single-digit handicap signifies that a player owns a good official handicap.
Mid-handicappers typically carry a figure of 10-19, while anything over that total number when you compare golfers signifies a high handicapper.
What is a +1 handicap golfer?
Golfers with a handicap index of +1 rank very close to a scratch golfer. A scratch golfer holds a handicap index of zero and does not need strokes when playing on a neutral course.
What does a 25 golf handicap mean?
A 25 golf handicap means the golfer registers an average score worse than a bogey golfer.
Regularly posting a final score of around 100, a 25 handicap index is typically found among golfers who hold the skill level of a high handicapper or beginning golfer.
Other golfers, such as bogey players, have a golf handicap of 18.
How does a handicap in golf work?
In stroke play, the golfer with the lowest adjusted score after the round wins the match.
To calculate the correct score when playing handicap strokes, the golfer takes their net score and subtracts their golf handicap from that number.
For example, if a 10-handicap posts a score of 82 at a par 72 golf course, then their adjusted score is 72.
In match play, the golfers will find the average differential between their two golf handicaps. For example, if a 10-handicap plays a 5-handicap, the golf handicap allowance is five strokes.
Therefore, the 10-handicapper will get one stroke on the holes with the 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 golf handicaps on the scorecard.