Handicaps are numbers that indicate roughly how close to par a player is expected to shoot in a given round. The generally accepted method of calculating handicaps is through a method devised and implemented by the United States Golf Association, which takes into account the score, the overall difficulty of the course and its difficulty for a bogey golfer.
Averages
In determining where you stand among amateur golfers in general, it helps to know what the average handicap is for both men and women. The average male golfer has a handicap of 16.1, while the average female has a handicap of 28.9.
Calculating Handicap
A player's handicap score is found by scoring the player's last 20 rounds individually, then averaging the 10 best and multiplying by .96.
For your handicap strokes from a single round, consult the scorecard and find the course slope and rating from the tees played. Subtract the rating from the score, divide by the slope and multiply by 113.
Course Rating
The course rating is the score that denotes what a scratch golfer would be expected to shoot on the round from those tees. The rating number is always close to par for the course.
On an easier course, the number will be below par. On a more difficult course, it will be higher.
Slope
The slope is equal to 100 multiplied by the slope of a line drawn through the expected scores of players of all handicap levels.
The average slope is 113, meaning a scratch golfer would be expected to average 1.13 strokes better than a 1-handicap, 2.26 strokes better than a 2 handicap. Slopes over 113 mean the course is more difficult, while a slope under 113 is friendlier.
Implementing Handicap
Handicap is assessed by looking at the difference in players' handicap ratings and subtracting a number of strokes agreed to before the round.
Some players give a stroke for every stroke difference in handicap, while others use a scaled system where a player receives, for example, 75% of the difference, rounded up. Players receive a stroke on a hole if the hole's slope index rating, found on the scorecard, is equal to or less than the number of strokes they are being given.
FAQs
There are different estimations of the average golf handicap for men, but they all hover around 14-16. That's squarely in the mid-handicap range, so it's quite a respectable figure.
What is a respectable handicap? ›
A golfer with a handicap of 35+ would probably see 20 as a good handicap, but a semi-pro golfer with a handicap of 1 or 2 may consider a scratch handicap to be “good”. A general rule of thumb is to aim to work towards a single digit handicap. In play terms, this would mean shooting between 78 and 82 on a par 72 course.
What is my handicap if I shoot 140? ›
Blog: The Scratch Pad
| Gross Score | Handicap Calculation |
|---|
| 127 | 128 | Handicap = 6 1/2 worst hole scores + adjustment |
| 133 | 134 | Handicap = 7 worst hole scores + adjustment |
| 139 | 140 | Handicap = 7 1/2 worst hole scores + adjustment |
| 145 | 146 | Handicap = 8 worst hole scores + adjustment |
14 more rowsWhat's my golf handicap if I shoot 100? If we make the assumption that you typically play a par 72 course, a player that shoots 100 every time they play would have a golf handicap of approximately 28.
What is a good golf score for a 65 year old man? ›
What is a Good Golf Score for a Senior? As we age, we may lose some flexibility and strength, which can affect our golf game. For senior golfers, a good score can range widely depending on their skill level, but breaking 90 is often a commendable score.
What is a bad handicap in golf? ›
What is a good or bad handicap number?: The lower the handicap number means the better the golfer. The higher the handicap number means the worse the golfer. For example: A 1-handicapper is a good golfer. A 40-handicapper is not nearly as good.
What is a beginner golf handicap? ›
What is a Golf Handicap for a Beginner? On average, a beginner golf handicap is above 30. Breaking 90, which means finishing with 18 strokes over par, would be considered a good score as a beginner. So, a good golf handicap for a beginner to aim for would be 18 or under.
What is a scratch golfer? ›
A scratch golfer is an individual who can shoot par or better on any given golf course. This feat requires a mastery of the fundamentals of golf, from tee shots, fairway shots, and approach shots to putting. Scratch golfers are also known as zero-handicap golfers.
What does 36 handicap mean in golf? ›
Handicaps range from 0 (for a scratch golfer) to 36 (for a beginner). For example, if you have a handicap of 0, you should be able to shoot even par on a course with a par of 72. To calculate your score, subtract your handicap from your total strokes.
Can a 10 handicap shoot par? ›
With Equitable Stroke Control (ESC), every golfer is assigned a maximum score allowable on a hole. The limit depends on the player's Course Handicap (not the Handicap Index). As the table below shows, a 10-handicapper could take no score higher than 7 on any hole, regardless of its par.
If you shoot an average of 92 on a par 72 course with a 72 course rating, your handicap would be around 16-17 or so.
What is a 17.5 handicap? ›
A bogey golfer, in this use, is a male golfer with a handicap index of 17.5 to 22.4, who hits his drives 200 yards and can reach a 370-yard hole in two and a female golfer with a handicap index of 21.5 to 26.4, who hits her drives 150 yards and can reach a 280-yard hole in two.
What is an eagle in golf? ›
An eagle occurs when a golfer completes a hole two strokes under par. For example, on a par 4 hole, an eagle would be achieved with just two strokes, and on a par 5 hole, three strokes would secure an eagle. The golf scoring system revolves around recording scores in relation to par for each hole.
What is a professional golf handicap? ›
To be a PGA pro, a male needs a handicap of 4.4 or better, and a female needs a handicap of 6.4 or better - and you have to relinquish your amateur status and earn your way in one of the most competitive environments in existence. But, importantly, you don't need to be a scratch golfer to be a professional golfer.
What is the lowest handicap in golf history? ›
The lowest handicap ever recorded by a professional golfer is +10. This means the golfer is estimated to average ten strokes under par on a standard course. Notably, Tiger Woods was reported to have reached this level at the peak of his career.
What does a 7 handicap mean in golf? ›
That is, you played better that day relative to your skill level than he did. So when someone says they have a golf handicap of 7, it just means that on their better rounds (technically their best 8 of the previous 20), they averaged about seven shots over the course ratings of the courses they played. (
What is the highest handicap a man can have? ›
Rules of Handicapping FAQs
The maximum Handicap Index is 54.0 for all players.
What is a pro golfers handicap? ›
To be a PGA pro, a male needs a handicap of 4.4 or better, and a female needs a handicap of 6.4 or better - and you have to relinquish your amateur status and earn your way in one of the most competitive environments in existence. But, importantly, you don't need to be a scratch golfer to be a professional golfer.
What is a 15 handicap in golf? ›
According to Golf Span, the average handicap for men and women golfers is around 15. This means that they would shoot around a 90 on a typical 18-hole course. A golfer with a very good handicap would probably have less than a 10. A golfer with that low of a handicap would average around 82 strokes on an 18-hole course.
