What is a golf handicap and how is it calculated?

Golf handicaps are an essential aspect of the game. But there is a lot to learn about them, and sometimes they can be complicated.

Whether you are an initial golf player who is trying to get their first handicap, or an experienced player hoping to refresh in some of the languages ​​and details, we can help.

Here you have everything you need to know about golf handicaps.

What is a handicap in golf?

Let’s start with the bases. Handicaps exist to measure a player’s ability. While players usually use the simplified “handicap” term, the official term is “Handicap Index”.

In general, a handicap index measures your expected in-par result. For example, a 15-Handicap represents 15 shots over par. If a player with a 15-Handicap shoots an 87 on a PAR-72 course, that player equalized his handicap index.

While it is important for tracking your progress and ability, handicaps are also essential for the game of match. Handicaps allow players with different abilities to play competitive matches against each other. But in the matches, we use the “course handicaps” instead of handicaps indices.

Handicaps in the game of match

A handicap course is like a handicap index, but it is specific to the course and tee you are playing on a separate day. For the game of golf match, players use their course handicaps to determine how many shots each player will receive compared to their opponents.

For example, if a player with a 15 -course handicap faces a player with a 5 -course handicap, the first player will take 10 blows during the course of the round. More precisely, that 15-Handicap will take an advantage with a blow to his opponent in the 10 hardest holes in the course. In those 10 holes, 15-Handicap takes to subtract a blow from its result to determine the winner of that hole.

How do you understand your golf handicap?

Golf handicaps are counted using your 20 most recent results. But they don’t count everyone. Only your best results among those 20 are used to determine your handicap index.

It is also important to note that your handicap index is not meant to predict what to shoot in a specified round, or even your average result.

On the contrary, the USA declares that a player must shoot their handicap index 20-25% of the time.

Moreover, given the nature of how handicaps are determined, a golf player should not expect a round to dramatically change their handicap index. In fact, it will often not differ from a result at all.

Where to get a handicap

While the course skills are determined by players before a round, players do not count their handicap indexes. Instead, they enter their results in an official disability tracking system.

Handicaps are tracked using golf handicap and information network (GHIN). The best place to get your handicap is Directly from USA. All you have to do is enter your state, ZIP code and contact information and pay the annual fee of $ 60.

After you set your handicapYou will get a Ghin identification number you can use to post your results in golf courses, country clubs and elsewhere. To make life easier, you can use Ghin Mobile app to post results.

What is a handicap plus or minus?

When speaking with disabilities, you can hear that people refer to “plus” or “minus” handicaps. Most people keep minus handicaps. But players who are constantly broken, such as PGA Tour Pro, usually have a Handikap Plus.

This means they are expected to score below par. For example, a professional with A +4-Handicap has an average of four strokes under the top eight of its best results among its 20 most recent rounds.