The Importance of Handicap In Golf

A handicap in golf refers to a numerical measure of a golfer's playing ability based on the tees played for a given course. It is used to calculate a net score from the number of strokes actually played.

JUUO, AK (prHWY.com) May 26, 2012 - A handicap in golf refers to a numerical measure of a golfer's playing ability based on the tees played for a given course. It is used to calculate a net score from the number of strokes actually played, thus allowing players of different proficiency to play against each other on somewhat equal terms. The higher the handicap of a player, the poorer the player is relative to those with lower handicaps. Handicaps are administered by golf clubs or national golf associations. A handicap relates to the statistical ability of an amateur golfer to play golf over the course of 18 holes. Handicaps can be applied either for 'stroke play' or 'match play' competitions. In either form of golf games, a handicap generally represents the number of strokes above the score that a player will achieve in any of his or her above-average playing days.

To find how many strokes a player is given, the procedures differ between Match Play and Stroke Play.

In Match Play competition, handicap strokes are assigned on a hole-by-hole basis based on the handicap rating of each hole - which is usually provided by the course administrator or anybody responsible for establishing the handicap of the players. The hardest holes on the course receive the most handicap strokes while the easiest holes get the least handicap strokes. In Match Play, the difference between the players' handicaps is distributed among the holes to be played. For example, if 18 holes are played, player A's handicap is 24, and player B's handicap is 14, then A is granted ten strokes: one on each of the ten holes identified by the handicap numbers 1 through 10 on the scorecard and no strokes on the remaining eight. If A's handicap is 36 and B's handicap is 14, A is granted 22 strokes: one on each of the 18 holes to be played, and an additional one on each of the four holes identified by the handicap numbers 1 through 4 on the scorecard.

In a Stroke Play competition, the competitor's handicap is subtracted from his or her total gross score at the end of the round to get his or her net score which determines his or her standing in the competition. The procedure in Stroke Play is similar, but each player's individual handicap, rather than the difference between two players' handicaps is used to calculate extra strokes. Therefore, a player with handicap 10 is granted one stroke on each of the ten holes identified by the handicap numbers 1 through 10 on the scorecard and no extra strokes on the remaining eight. A player with a handicap of 22 is granted 22 strokes: one on each of the 18 holes and an additional one on each of the four holes identified by the handicap numbers 1 through 4 on the scorecard.

Calculating the handicap is often a complicated issue. But essentially, it is the average over score of a player's previous above-average rounds and is adjusted depending on the course difficulty. Calculation of handicaps differs among golf players. Some of the handicap rules explain the difficulty of the course that the golfer is playing on - taking into consideration some factors such as the number of bunkers, the length of the course, the difficulty and slopes of the greens, the width of the fairways, and more.

However, handicap arrangements are not used in professional golf. Professional golfers often score several strokes below their pre-determined number of strokes for a round and thus have a calculated handicap of zero or less. This means that their handicap results are the addition of strokes to their round score.



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Tag Words: stroke play, match play, handicap

Categories: Sports

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