| The golf handicap system used today was introduced | | | | on respective holes. |
| by the United States Golf Association (USGA) in the | | | | To take part in the USGA Handicap System, you must |
| early 20th century. The handicapping system received | | | | join an authorized golf club. Most golf courses have |
| a major overhaul in the early 1980's. At this time slope | | | | clubs that will issue handicap indexes, so finding one |
| rating for golf courses was added to the longstanding | | | | isn't difficult. Your handicap index is calculated by taking |
| course rating as the methods of rating course difficulty. | | | | your 10 best scores of your 20 most recent games. |
| USGA Slope Rating is a number that represents the | | | | Your official handicap index is calculated by a |
| difficulty of a course. The numbers range from 55 to | | | | complicated formula. It takes into account adjusted |
| 155. Slope rating is a ratio. The higher the slope, the | | | | gross score, course rating, and slope rating. Beginner |
| more difficult the course. 113 is considered average. | | | | golf tip: if this seems confusing, not to worry. You don't |
| USGA Course Rating is an estimate of the average | | | | have to figure this out yourself! |
| scores of the best rounds played by scratch players | | | | A course handicap determines how many strokes you |
| of that course. Course rating is simpler in that it is | | | | are allowed on that course, depending on your |
| expressed in strokes. | | | | handicap. Most golf courses have charts where you |
| The handicap system was designed to "level the | | | | can get their course handicap. |
| playing field" for golfers of differing abilities, so that | | | | If you don't have a golf handicap yet and would like to |
| those golfers can compete equally. The better the | | | | know what your handicap would be, Google "golf |
| golfer you are, the lower golf handicap you will have. | | | | handicaps" or "golf handicap calculator". One should be |
| Other sports have "levelers" such as weight divisions in | | | | easy to find. Enter the course and slope ratings for the |
| wrestling and boxing. Just as it wouldn't be reasonable | | | | tees you play. This should be on your scorecard. Then |
| for a 250 lb. boxer to fight one that weighs half his | | | | enter your adjusted gross score for a minimum of 5 |
| weight, it isn't reasonable that a golfer with an average | | | | of your most recent rounds. That is all you need to get |
| score of 98 should try to compete against someone | | | | a good idea of what your 18 hole handicap index will |
| with an average score of 75. | | | | be. |
| Golf handicaps let the weaker player deduct a stroke | | | | Once you have your golf handicap, you are ready to |
| from his score for that hole. Players of varying ability | | | | fairly compete with any other handicapped golfer in |
| levels figure their net score. The net score is their | | | | the world! |
| actual score less the strokes allowed to be deducted | | | | |