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A beginner's guide to golf: What is a handicap?

What is a golf handicap

Published on 6th Jun 2024

Golf handicap explained & How do you get one?

One of the things that makes golf so unique is the handicap system. In most sports, the players with the best ability will come out on top in almost every case. In golf, the handicap system works to try and even the playing field, making the chances of different ability levels having a close match much more likely.

In this guide to golf handicaps, we will explain what a handicap is, how you can get one and what it means when you get out on the course. 

What is a golf handicap? 

Despite being a significant portion of the game’s makeup, many people struggle to understand what a handicap is.

In the most basic form, a handicap is a system that ranks a player’s ability on a numeric scale. The lower a player’s handicap, the better the player in most cases. The handicap also dictates how many strokes a player can subtract from their score at the end of the round to achieve a Nett Score. This, in theory, should help the player achieve a Nett Score close to par if their handicap and ability level are matched.

In theory, this keeps golf competitive for all. If you tried to play Tennis against Roger Federer or Football against Messi, you are very unlikely to make a good game of it. The handicap system in Golf acts as a leveller, meaning high-handicap players can play the same course, on the same day and nett scores can be competitive with the game’s elite. 


Simple Maths 

Example: 

  • Course Par: 72

  • Gross Score: 85 

  • Player Handicap: 10 

Gross Score (85) - Handicap (10) = Nett Score (75 - 3 Over Par)


How do golf handicaps work? 

Golf handicaps changed in the UK in 2020 with the introduction of the World Handicap System (WHS). This meant that a player now has a handicap index (player rating) which is multiplied with a slope rating (course rating) to give a playing handicap.

Unlike the previous handicap system, the handicap a player has may not be how many shots they get on the course. Infact, in almost every case, these are different and the gap grows the higher the handicap is. 


Handicap index

The handicap index is the part of the handicap owned by the player. This will be a numeric figure with a decimal place which is used to indicate the individual's ability. It is calculated by taking an average of the 8 best scores in the player's last 20 qualifying rounds of golf.

As a new round is added to the player’s record, the now 21st-oldest score will be taken out of the qualifying rounds. If the now excluded score was part of the player’s top 8 scores, or the newest round makes the top 8, their handicap index will change. 

Slope rating

The course or slope rating is an indication of the difficulty of the course. A course with a higher slope rating is regarded as more difficult to achieve par. 

What is the highest handicap in golf?

The maximum handicap index a player can have is 54, this applies to both men and women. Some competitions require a handicap limit, with the player's handicap index having to be under a certain number to enter. In men’s competitions, this is most commonly 28. For Women’s and Junior competitions, this is more commonly either 36 or the full allowance of 54.

 

How do I get a handicap? 

It is a golfing myth that obtaining and maintaining a handicap is only for seasoned golfers who play multiple times a week. 


Course Member

If you are a member of a golf club, you will likely be asked to obtain and maintain an active handicap. This can be done by playing three rounds of golf and submitting these scores to your club’s handicap committee.

An average of these scores will be taken against the course rating to obtain your handicap index.

Non-Golf Club Member

Thanks to innovation from England Golf, non-club members can now obtain a handicap and keep track of their results.

iGolf is a subscription to the England Golf handicap system which gives players a space to be able to record their scores and hold an active handicap without the need for yearly club membership.

Players submit a record of their scores over 54 holes. This is made up of either 3 x 18 holes, 6 x 9 holes or a combination of both adding to 54 holes. These are then averaged to achieve a handicap index. 

Keeping a handicap up to date 

Your top 8 scores in your most recent 20 will be used to calculate your handicap index. If you do not have 20 scores submitted, a pro-rata number of scores will be used until 20 scores are recorded. If you play a qualifying round of golf, your score will be submitted and your 20 scores will be updated.

If the most recent round becomes one of your 8 lowest scores, your handicap index will likely change. The difference between the outgoing qualifying score and the new score will determine the level of change in your index. 

Can I play golf without a handicap?

If you are just looking for a fun afternoon with some friends or just starting out in the game, you can absolutely play golf without a handicap.

Whether you want to make up a handicap and try to play to it, or just count your score and have some fun in the process, we can not encourage you enough to take to the course and walk the fairways. 

Looking to lower your handicap? 

There are countless ways for golfers of all ages and abilities to lower their handicaps. Here are some of our top tips to boosting your ability and lowering your scores.

Choosing the right clubs

Getting clubs that are right for you is one of the simplest ways to start hitting the ball better and lowering scores. In adult golfers, most retailers or Golf Club Professionals provide a custom-fitting service to help pair a set if clubs to your swing.

In junior golf, height growth can be so rapid that custom-fitting is used less, but getting golf clubs of the right height and checking this regularly, is vital. Check out our guide to Choosing the Right Golf Clubs

Golf Lessons

If you have a local Golf Club or Driving Range, there are likely to be numerous coaches available to help refine your skills.

Many coaches also offer the Golfway Programme, offering a structured progression for junior golfers. The programme is internationally recognised and has inspired the careers of Tour Professionals including Matt Fitzpatrick and Georgia Hall. 

Practice at Home

Golf is a sport where you can never get enough practice as an opportunity to improve. If your local area is short on practice facilities, we offer a range of indoor and outdoor practice equipment for your home and garden to help improve all aspects of the game.

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