In an earlier article I described the 3 simple steps needed to compute a golfer’s Handicap Index. Having graduated with honors from that course, I left you all starving for more information. To be specific, I posed 7 commonly-asked questions. Knowing the answers to these questions will elevate your understanding of handicapping to the post-graduate level.
The questions that were suggested appear below. An applicable answer follows each one.
1. OK, I get it. From your earlier article, I now understand how a one-decimal Handicap Index is determined. But what handicap is actually used on the golf course to convert my Gross Score to my Net Score?
The Handicap Index is a one-decimal number that approximates a golfer’s skill level. But just before playing an actual round of golf, this value must be converted to what is called a Course Handicap. A Course Handicap is an integer value that is determined by applying the following formula:
Course Handicap = Handicap Index X Course Slope / 113
Thus a golfer playing with a Handicap Index of 16.4 on a course with a Slope of 124 would be playing that round with a Course Handicap of 18.
2. What if less than 20 rounds have been played?
A USGA Handicap Index must be based on a minimum of 5 rounds. The formula never takes more than 20 rounds into consideration. The number of “counter” rounds are as follows: Played=5 or 6 / Used=1; Played=7 or 8 / Used=2; Played=9 or 10 / Used=3; Played=11 or 12 / Used=4; Played=13 or 14 / Used=5; Played=15 or 16 / Used=6; Played=17 / Used = 7; Played=18 / Used = 8; Played=19 / Used = 9; Played=20 / Used = 10.
3. What if less than 18 holes (but more than 9 holes) for a round have been played?
If a player completes 13 or more holes, an 18-hole score can be posted. The score to be taken for each un-played hole is the par plus the handicap that applies to that hole.
4. What if the golfer typically plays 9-hole rounds and not 18-hole rounds?
The USGA has a formula that supports a 9-hole Handicap Index. Whereas a normal Handicap Index based on 18-hole rounds might be something like 16.8, the same golfer’s 9-hole Handicap Index would be close to 8.4N. The following “N” identifies the handicap as being based on 9-hole rounds only.
5. A handicap is actually a negative number (it is SUBTRACTED from the Gross score to get the Net score). With this in mind, how are handicaps for the Tiger Woods’ of the world determined?
Tiger Woods and similar elite golfers will typically carry what is called a PLUS handicap. The formula for computing this type of handicap does not change from what is used for mere mortals. But, because many rounds are below par, the final computed Handicap Index value ends up being a negative number (i.e. a score of 70 minus a par of 72 = -2) which, in this situation, means that the elite player has to INCREASE (not decrease) his score when converting from a Gross Score to a Net Score.
6. Are tournament rounds dealt with differently than non-tournament rounds in the handicap computation process?
The USGA has defined a set of procedures whereby a player’s Handicap Index can be reduced if 2 or more certified tournament rounds result in Differentials that are inordinately lower than the Differentials computed in non-tournament play.
7. What if a golfer lives outside of North America where course Slopes are not used, but still wants a simulated USGA handicap?
A handicap is a handicap and, at the highest level, all systems are based on comparing a golfer’s scores with the pars of the courses being played over a defined time period or number of rounds. The USGA formula can still generate a useful value if the Slope for a non-Sloped course is set to 113, the average Slope for courses in North America. By using a value of 113, the computed Handicap value does not take the degree of difficulty of a course (as defined in North America) into consideration.
Hopefully this article and my earlier one has removed some the mystery that surrounds the computation of a golfer’s handicap.
