If you’re just getting into golf you have no doubt been asked ‘what’s your handicap?’ but what is a handicap in golf?
A handicap in golf is simple a way to measure, in numbers, a golfers playing ability. The handicap number represents that number of strokes (golf shots) the player is expected to take above or below the course par score. For example is I had handicap of 20 and the par for the course was 72, I would be expected to shoot 92 (stroke) across the 18 holes.
The lower the handicap you have the ‘better’ golfer you are. So if you play off a handicap of 2 you would be ‘better’ than a golfer who plays off a handicap of 16.
Using a handicap systems allows golfer of varying abilities to play with each other as it levels the playing field.
Over the years there’s been a roughly 6 different ways of calculating handicap score. However, in 2020 the R&A (Royal and Ancient Golf Club) and the USGA (United States Golf Association) worked together to create the World Handicap System (WHS) to unify the 6 different handicap systems used around the world. And more recently, in February 2024, the R & A and the USGA made a revision to how the WHS Handicap Index is calculated.
Before the introduction of the WHS Handicap Index systems, golfers handicaps from different countries or national associations weren’t directly comparable as each handicap calculation may have varied. However, the WHS uses one calculation making golfers handicap directly comparable across countries/national associations.
How Do I Calculate My Handicap?
The good news is that the WHS software does all the calculations for you, you just have to input your scores but to get a WHS handicap index you to need :
- To have played at least 54 holes
- This can be a mix of 18-hole rounds and 9-hole rounds.
- Once you’ve played 20 rounds, the systems takes the average of top 8 score differentials (more on that below) to establish your handicap index.
- The maximum handicap you can have is 54.
Now score differentials can get a big confusing, so we’ve decided to break down and explain the meaning and calculation of the score differential and each of its components to try and make things as easy as possible to understand. Get ready for a deep dive….
What Is Score Differential?
Score differential = (113/slope rating) x (adjusted gross score – course rating – PCC)
What Is A Course Rating?
Course rating will vary dependent on which tees you play from and the rating is what a scratch golfer (someone who would shoot par or better on any golf course) would generally shoot from that set of tees. So if a course has a par of 72 and the course rating from the Blue tees is 73.8 then a scratch golfer would be expected to shoot 74 (rounded up) when playing at that golf course.
So who sets the course rating? Someone from your local golf association/governing body will visit the club and measure loads of different things to come up with the course rating and slope rating. Each course has to be re-assessed every 10 years, with newer course re-assessed in 5 years.
What Is Slope Rating?
Slope rating is a measure of the golf course difficulty for a bogey golfer (someone who shoots a bogey per hole) in relation to a scratch golfer.
An average golf course has a slope rating of 113. Anything less 113 means the golf course is easier than normal, a slope rating of higher than 113 means its tougher than normal, whatever ‘normal’ means!
What Does Adjusted Gross Score Mean?
Adjusted Gross Score is the actual score you shoot on each hole but it includes any adjustments you might need to make. Adjustments include:
- Holes you didn’t play (you have to have played at least 14 holes to submit an 18-hole score or at least 7 holes to submit a 9-hole score)
- Holes that your opponent conceded in match play
- NET Double Bogey (more on this below as it does need a bit of explaining)
What Does Net Double Bogey Mean?
Net Double Bogey or (some courses call this equitable stroke control) means you can’t get more than two strokes over the par of a hole, e.g. if it’s a par 5 the highest score you could get is 7.
EXCEPT, for any holes you’re getting stroke on due to your handicap. On those holes you can get up to a triple bogey.
So, let’s say I’m getting strokes on hole 7 which is a par 4 and hole 15, which is a par 3. On the par 4 I could score a 7 (triple bogey) and on hole 15 I could score a 6 (triple bogey). Make sense?
What Is The Playing Conditions Calculation (PCC)?
The Playing conditions calculation is all about how hard or easy the course was playing on the day that you played.
The range of adjustment for PCC (how many strokes are added or taken away from all players that played the course on that day) is between -1 to +3 strokes. The PCC is something we have no control over as it’s automatically calculated by the local golf governing body.
So if I’ve played and it’s insanely windy or wet or for some reason the greens are way faster than usual due to weather etc. And there is enough other people that played that course on the same day and played worse than normal then the PCC will adjust and help improve your score.
On the other side, if I play the course and its easier than normal because conditions just meant the course was easier to play and there are enough other people that play the course and score better than normal then PCC will negatively impact my score.
Do I Need A Handicap To Play Golf?
No you do not need a handicap to play golf, if you just want to go out there with your friends, have some fun, play a round of golf without worrying about scores, you absolutely can.
However, to play on some courses you will need a handicap or if you want to play in competitions then again you would need a handicap.