Q&A for How to Calculate Your Golf Handicap

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How is a scramble handicap determined?

Community Answer

For a two-player scramble, add 35% of the lower handicap and 15% of the higher handicap. The total will be the team's handicap. For a four-player scramble, add 20% of the lowest handicap, 15% of the second-lowest handicap, 10% of the third-lowest handicap, and 5% of the highest handicap. The total will be the team's handicap. In both cases, handicaps are based on each player's course handicap.

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Question

Is it better to have a high or low handicap?

Community Answer

A lower handicap reflects a better player. When I started playing years ago I was amused to learn that very good amateurs actually play to a Positive Handicap! Imagine that - having to give strokes to the course! Sadly there are those who 'massage' their handicaps to have a higher handicap and then play to well below in tournaments to win handsomely. Totally betrays the ethics of golf. Personally I strive for a low handicap as it marks a personal achievement.

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Question

What if you have to stop a round after 16 holes?

Community Answer

As long as you have played 13 holes, you can enter your score. For the missing holes, enter par plus the strokes your handicap allows.

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Question

What is the best site to track official handicap?

Community Answer

That depends on the association to which your course belongs. Most U.S. golf courses are aligned with USGA's GHIN system, and a handicap index can be tracked at ghin.com.

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Question

How do I change my golf handicap for harder courses?

Community Answer

If you know your handicap index, all you have to do is find out the slope rating for the course you are playing. Call the course or look it up online. Then, multiply your handicap index by the slope rating of the course and divide that number by 113.

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Question

If 2 players have established identical handicaps from different tees and shoot identical scores, are they tied?

Community Answer

Yes, they would be tied even though they played from different tees. A handicap takes into account your ability and the difficulty of the course.

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Question

Why is the calculated handicap multiplied by .96 not another number?

Community Answer

The four percent is your desire to improve. It is assumed by the USGA that all players want to improve. That is why we play and practice. The USGA came to this number after much thought and feedback. If everyone posted correctly every time they played, the handicap system would be much simpler.

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Question

How do I figure out my golf handicap on different courses?

Community Answer

You have to calculate your course handicap which is your handicap multiplied by course rating divided by 113.

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Question

What is the maximum handicap I can take on a hole?

Community Answer

It depends on your handicap. A 15-handicap golfer is allowed more strokes above par than one with a 4 handicap. You have to find out the allowable strokes you can use for a hole by looking up USGA rules for your handicap.

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Question

Is there a maximum golf handicap?

Dan Alldred

Community Answer

The World Handicap System (WHS) is ready to be launched from January 2020 and will provide golfers with a unified and more inclusive handicapping system for the first time. A maximum handicap limit of 54.0, regardless of gender, to encourage more golfers to measure and track their performance to increase their enjoyment of the game.

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