Most golfers are under the impression that the number one handicapped hole is the most difficult on the course. This is a misconception. In fact, the hole that is the toughest for all players is not likely to be the toughest for the high-handicap player.

Section 17 of the USGA Handicap System Manual provides a guideline on the calculation of the handicap stroke allocation. The process compares two sets of golfers -- low-handicappers (8 or below) with high- handicappers (15to 20 strokes higher). The process is initiated by first collecting 200 scores from each group. Next, the individual scores are used to determine each group’s average hole score. Then, holes are ranked from most difficult to least difficult by examining the average score difference between the two groups. Holes with the highest average difference are defined as having the lowest handicap value and you can see that this value may
or may not be the same as the hole that yielded the highest average score for either group. Again, the main purpose then is to level the playing field such that high handicap golfers can effectively compete with low handicap players.

As a matter of interest, in order to equalize the distribution of strokes over 18 holes, odd-numbered handicap stroke holes are generally assigned to the front nine and the even numbers to the back nine. That is why, when using CaddieMasterPro to set up a
9-hole course as an 18-hole course, you should use the formula 1=1, 2=3, 3=5, etc. for the front nine and 1=2, 2=4, 3=6, etc. for the back nine.

Here’s a practical example of the basic theory for determining a hole handicap value. Let’s consider a 225-yard par 3 hole. The low handicapper would often hit a 3-iron, miss the green, chip close and two-putt for a bogey. The high handicapper would
often hit a 3-wood or even a driver, miss the green, chip close and two-putt just like the good player. Thus, this hole, although difficult for both the high and low handicapper, would not be allocated a low handicap stroke value because the average difference between the two golfers would be relatively small.

Now, consider a 350-yard par 4 hole that would generally be perceived as being easier than the first one. The good golfer’s drive would normally be around 100 yards
and most of the time he would hit the green and get an easy par and often a birdie. The high handicapper would be approaching from 165 years and generally miss the green. Thus, he would be struggling to get a par with the more likely outcome being a bogey.

Thus, the difference in ability is more apparent on the second hole and this hole would therefore be assigned a lower stroke hole value than the first hole.

“Show me a man who enjoys losing and
I’ll show you a man who is golfing with his boss.”
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Brian & Dre
CaddieMasterNews Team