HOW THE HANDICAPPING SYSTEM WORKS:     Word     PDF

Reprinted from Inside Golf by permission of Steve Turcotte, Editor.

A golf handicap - USGA Handicap Index - is based upon a golfer's twenty most recent scores. The following formula is used to determine the "handicap differential" of each acceptable score:

Adjusted Gross Score, minus Course Rating, multiplied by 113, divided by Slope Rating = Handicap Differential (rounded to nearest tenth).

Example:
Score for 1 round = 92
Course Rating = 70.5
Course Slope Rating = 119
(92 - 70.5 = 21.5)
(21.5 * 113 = 2429.5)
(2429.5 / 119 = 20.42)
(20.42 rounded to 20.4 = differential)

A golfer must have a minimum of five (5) scores/differentials to establish a Handicap Index.

* 5-6 scores; only the lowest differential is used.
* 7-8 scores; the 2 lowest are used.
* 9-10 scores; the lowest 3 are used.
* 11-12 scores; the lowest 4 are used.
* 13-14 scores; the lowest 5 are used.
* 15-16 scores; the lowest 6 are used.
* 17 scores; the lowest 7 are used.
* 18 scores; the lowest 8 are used.
* 19 scores; the lowest 9 are used.
* 20 scores; the lowest 10 fo the last 20 are used.

To compute the Handicap Index: Determine the number of differentials to be applied (see above). Those differentials are added together and their average is multiplied by 96% (.96). The results is truncated after the tenth digit, not rounded to the nearest tenth.

Example of a golfer with 13 scores:

* 96.8 - total of 5 lowest differentials
* 19.36 - average (96.8 divided by 5)
* 18.5856 - multiplied by 96%
* 18.5 - truncated after tenths digit
* 18.5 - handicap Index

Equitable Stroke Control was established to prevent abnormally high scores on individual holes from distorting a golfer's handicap, which is intended to reflect true scoring potential.

ESC sets a maximum number (of strokes) which a golfer may take on any individual hole based upon the player's Course Handicap. There are no limits on the number of holes which may be adjusted during a round of golf.

It should be noted that ESC is only used in reporting the "Adjusted Gross Score" for handicap computation purposes. Gross and Net scores are not affected.

Course Handicap ----- Maximum Number (any hole)
* 9 or less --------- Double Bogey / or 6
* 10 thru 19 -------- 7
* 20 thru 29 -------- 8
* 30 thru 39 -------- 9
* 40 or more -------- 10