How Golf Handicaps Work

Golf handicaps are a means to level the playing field among golfers in competitive play, such as tournaments or other official events. They can also be used by amateur golfers to gauge their skill level in comparison to a golf course’s difficulty or the skill of their opponents. How a golf handicap is calculated can be a bit complicated, but ultimately is meant to benefit the golfer.

In this article, we’ll discuss the purpose of a golf handicap, how they relate to the golf course you are playing, and common uses of a handicap once established.

What is the Purpose of a Golf Handicap?

There are many ways to explain what a golf handicap is and its purpose, and all are very similar in definition. In summary, a golf handicap is a measure – or metric – applied to a golfer based on their score history to determine their current ability playing the game. This metric is established by a player recording their score into a handicap system or interface after each of their golf rounds. Many golf courses have a computer in their pro shop on which a player can log their score or look up their current handicap.

A handicap essentially signifies how many strokes a player of a certain ability will take above or below par to finish a round of golf. For example, if a player has a handicap of 10 and plays a golf course with a total par of 72, they are likely to shoot a score ten strokes over par, or 82 in this case.

As of the time of this writing, the maximum golf handicap for male golfers is 36, while the maximum for female golfers is 40. Golf handicaps are defined, monitored, and assigned by the United States Golf Association (USGA), or other governing body for the game of golf.

Handicaps can also come with a modifier that includes a “plus” sign (+) ahead of the number. In this case, a player is a highly skilled golfer and will likely shoot under par for 18 holes. Using our example above, a player who is a +3 handicap will shoot a score around 69 strokes for the same par-72 golf course, or 3-under par. Most professional golfers carry a plus-handicap due to their immense skill on any golfer course they play.

Golf handicaps are commonly required for players who wish to play in competitive, flighted events where golfers of a specific ability are grouped together while competing. Handicaps are also required for highly skilled players who wish to qualify for professional tournaments, and usually must be lower than a maximum number to compete in the qualifier. This practice ensures a fair playing field among competitors.

Common Uses of a Golf Handicap

More commonly, handicaps can be used among a foursome for competitive mini games or friendly money games. Based on a player’s handicap, they can receive “strokes” on the golf course’s hardest holes. This also ensures a level playing field among the group, regardless of a player’s overall golf ability.

For example, if a golfer has a 10-handicap, they will receive on stroke on each of the golf course’s toughest holes as defined by the golf course. When looking at a golf course’s scorecard, you will see that each hole has a defined handicap number. The toughest hole on the course will be assigned a handicap of “1”, while the easiest receives a handicap of “18.” If a player has a handicap higher than 18, they will receive additional strokes on the course’s most challenging holes up to the total of their handicap score.

This handicap-per-hole assignment is helpful in determining which holes a player will receive a stroke. Using the example above of a 10-handicap, the player will receive a stroke on any hole with a handicap between 1-10. To receive a stroke means that if a player scores a bogey – one over par – for a hole on which they are receiving a stroke, they can subtract one shot from their final score (in this case, a par instead of a bogey).

Obtaining a Golf Handicap

There are many ways to obtain a golf handicap. The most common way is to register for a golf handicap via the USGA website, or your local golf governing body, such as the Chicago District Golf Association (CDGA). This is a straightforward process that may include a small fee to register but will allow you to enter your 9- or 18-hole scores into an interface for the purpose of establishing your handicap.

Some smartphone apps are also available to calculate a golf handicap using a formula like what is used by golf’s governing bodies. However, these apps are likely for informational purposes only as they are not officially associated with a governing body, and the resulting golf handicap score may not be used for sanctioned competitive events. Regardless, these apps are often free of cost and provide the golfer with information on their current skill level.

After registering for a golf handicap, a player most log a minimum number of rounds into the handicap interface to establish their handicap score. This number differs from one governing body to the next, but the minimum number of rounds required to establish a handicap is usually fewer than 10. If a golfer has a log of past golf round scores, he or she may enter them all at once to establish a handicap.

Improving a Golf Handicap

Once a golfer has a golf handicap established, they will likely seek to improve – or lower – their handicap score. Doing so will suggest that their golf skill is improving since they need to shoot lower scores to also lower their handicap.

One way to do this is to take golf lessons from a golf training professional. Beginner golfers will likely improve their golf handicap very quickly as they have the most room to improve overall. More skilled golfers with lower handicaps will have a more difficult time reducing their overall handicap score, which is to be expected. While this may be frustrating to some, it’s likely a good problem to have.

TWIGB: Myths and Risks of the USGA Handicap Rule Change

The United States Golf Association's (USGA) recent rule changes to its handicap system for 2016 may seem as nothing more than an annoyance to solo-golfers, but also open the door to far greater risks throughout the industry. However, there are also a number of myths perpetrated by a knee-jerk overreaction to the rule changes. Here I will examine these risks and myths and how severe - or trivial - each will be to amateur golf.

(Note: in the spirit of transparency, I do not maintain a current USGA handicap.)

Golf participation will drop because of the rule change (MYTH)

Upon hearing he USGA's decision that solo golf rounds will no longer count towards your registered golf handicap, my first thought was whether this will dissuade golfers from teeing it up by themselves. Simply put, it won't.

When I maintained a handicap at a park district course near my home, I loved nothing more than to run out of the office and onto the tee box for a quick nine holes (or 18 in the summer). Like many golfers, I became obsessed with lowering my handicap; however, since I never play in tournaments or money games, my GHIN was nothing more than a vanity. I just wanted to say I was a "single-digit handicap."

Nothing has changed in that regard. The USGA's decision won't keep me from playing nine holes after work by myself when I can, even if those scores "won't count." Based on the National Golf Foundation's yearly participation metrics, which suggest participation has hovered around 25 million golfers annually since 1995, the rule change won't keep you from playing, either.

Average handicap indexes will rise (RISK)

As Ryan Ballengee at Golf News Net correctly points out, many golfers will experience an inflation of their handicap index as a result of the rule change. But is that really a big deal?

If you are hard-pressed for time throughout the golf season -- which covers basically everybody who isn't a pro -- you're likely to only play once a week at most. Personally, I've only played 25 times this entire season, and I don't even have kids. About 25 percent of those rounds were solo. Toss those rounds out the window and my number of valid score entries drops considerably. Over time old score postings will drop off my GHIN record, and my handicap will rise.

I no longer have a handicap index that is representative of my actual ability. So what's the point?

According to the USGA's website, the highest volume of golfers (5.72 percent) fall within the 12.0 - 12.9 index range. Over 48 percent of all golfers have an index that's lower (better). Since participation volume will remain about the same, a huge chunk of all golf rounds will no longer yield valid scores (solo rounds). The national handicap average will artificially rise independent of player skill.

Suddenly, the USGA system cannibalizes itself. Indexes become meaningless.

Golf equipment sales will suffer (RISK)

Why do you buy a new piece of golf equipment? Most of us want to score better. But what happens when the most widely-accepted golf score tracking mechanism becomes less user-friendly? You'll become less likely to buy new equipment.

Every single piece of golf equipment I've reviewed on this site was accompanied by a press release from the manufacturer. Each included language that promised to lower your score in one way or another. If a quarter of my golf round scores are no longer valid, making any improvement of my scores harder to track officially, the promise of "lowering my score" becomes a weaker selling point.

True, I'll know if I'm shooting better scores with new equipment. But if I want that trend to show up in my handicap index, I'll need to shoot lower scores every time I play and with at least one pair of eyes on me as I do it. Adding variables to a sport as complicated as golf isn't the way to make it more attractive to beginners.

Golf equipment sales will be based even more on vanity features like distance increases, spin rates and adjustable parts. Score improvement won't matter as much.

The USGA rule change solves a major problem (MYTH)

Does anyone know the actual problem the USGA is trying to solve with this rule change? Is sandbagging really that big of an issue? And if so, how does this change remedy the issue? It isn't and it doesn't.

Think back to the last time we had a major handicap scoring scandal in a high-profile amateur tournament. Remember all of the turmoil and anguish it caused? No, you don't. BECAUSE IT NEVER HAPPENED.

All this rule change addresses is the vast minority of country club members who purposefully inflate their GHIN to get an advantage at their club championship or next twilight golf hit-and-giggle. According to the NGF, the largest percentage of all golfers (27 percent) have an annual household income of more than $125,000. You know, the group most likely to afford a country club membership.

Sandbaggers gonna sandbag, yo. This solves nothing.