How to Golf Handicaps Work? [A Beginner’s Guide]
If you are an enthusiast of golf, you may already be familiar with the handicap system. But what does it mean? Or how to golf handicaps work? Do you know that?
This feature is usually used to determine a golfer’s skill in the game. To calculate the handicap, choose the eight best scores from your most recent courses. Then take an average of these numbers, and the average number will be the result. Easy pissy!
But this method might not be the most accurate one. There is a professional way to calculate the golf handicap more accurately. Let’s figure this out!
Exploring What is a Golf Handicap?
The handicap system in golf is a way to explore how good your playing capabilities are. This is usually a numerical system. It compares your abilities with those of other golfers.
So, calculating your own golf handicap is crucial if you are going to participate in golf tournaments. However, the minimum handicap rating for both a man and a woman is estimated at 0 while the maximum is 54. Even the lower your handicap value, the better player you are.
How to Golf Handicaps Work?
In the past, there were seven different handicap systems. But to make things easier, there was one single handicap system planned in 2020. It is called the World Handicap System. However, before we calculate your handicap, we must learn about a few key terms regarding the handicap system.
Handicap Index
This is the first thing you should know about while calculating the golf handicap. It collects your previous strokes on different golf courses. You can create your personal index by listing scores from multiple rounds of golf.
Course Rating
The term ‘’Course Rating’’ indicates the difficulty on a golf course for scratch players under normal conditions. A general course rating will be around 70.
Slope Rating
It describes the relative difficulty of a golf course for non-scratch players compared to scratch players. This rating will range from 55 to 155, while there’s an average of 113.
How Do You Calculate Your Golf Handicap?
When it comes to calculating your golf handicap, at first, you should join a golf club. You can also get help from a professional handicap calculator.
So, now that you’ve joined a golf club and are ready to calculate your handicap, here are the procedures you should do.
Step-1: Get Your Scorecards
The first thing you’re going to do is submit as many scores as you can from the recent golf courses. It’s better to collect 20 scores to build a handicap index.
Step-4: Count the Handicap Differential
Once you’ve collected the scores, figure out your handicap differential. Here’s the formula you can follow to do so:
- (Score – Course rating) × 113 / Slope Rating
Step-3: Select the Best Scores
Now you should select the best 8 scores from those differentials you have calculated. The following chart will show you how you should use the differentials.
| Scores | Differential |
| 5-6 | Lowest one |
| 7-8 | Lowest two |
| 9-10 | Lowest three |
| 11-12 | Lowest four |
| 13-14 | Lowest five |
| 15-16 | Lowest six |
| 17 | Lowest seven |
| 18 | Lowest eight |
| 19 | Lowest nine |
| 20 | Lowest ten |
Step-4: Take the Average Score
If you have selected the eight best differentials, calculate the average score of them. To do so, add these scores and divide them by eight. Once you get the average score, multiply the number by 0.96 for more accurate handicap value.
Step-5: Get the Result
The golf handicap was calculated using a different methodology. However, after 2020, you should use a new formula for more accurate results. Here are both of them:
- (Handicap Index × Slope rating) / 113 [Before 2020]
- Handicap Index × (Slope rating / 113) + (Course rating – Par) [After 2020]
So, have you done this? Congratulations! You’ve got your golf handicap.
Final Thoughts
Hopefully, now we know all about how to golf handicaps work. So, it’s high time to lower your handicap and increase your skill in golf. All you need to do is just keep practicing and regularly calculate your handicap.
Happy golfing!
FAQs
Who are scratch golfers?
Scratch golfers are the golfers who shoot par or better. Their handicap value is zero. So, they are also called zero-handicap golfers.
What is the course rating?
In golf, the course rating represents which golf courses are harder or easier. The course rating is usually estimated at 75 or 76.
What is a PAR in golf?
The word “PAR” is a common golf term showing the number of strokes on the course or hole. Usually, most golf courses are either par 5, par 4, or par 3.