HANDICAPPING USING THE HANDICAP INDEX
A Handicap Index is a measure of a player's scoring ability. It is the result of a mathematical calculation based on scores returned. A Handicap Index is converted to a Course Handicap for competition on a particular course.
Obtaining a Handicap Index
In order to obtain a Handicap Index, golfers must join a golf club and post their adjusted scores. These scores are subject to peer review. After at least five scores have been posted, the club will issue a Handicap Index to the golfer.
Using a Handicap Index
A "Handicap Index" is a number issued by a golf club that represents the potential ability of a player on a course of standard difficulty. The Handicap Index is expressed as a number taken to one decimal place that is updated and re-issued at established revision dates. A player is responsible for knowing his Handicap Index issued at the most recent revision. A player must convert his Handicap Index to a Course Handicap. For example, a Handicap Index of 16.2 would be converted to a Course Handicap of 20 at a course with a Slope Rating of 140, using the Course Handicap Table.
Course Handicap
A "Course Handicap" is the number of handicap strokes a player receives from a specific set of tees at the course being played.
To convert a Handicap Index to a Course Handicap, a player locates his Handicap Index on a Course Handicap Table to find the corresponding Course Handicap. Each set of rated tees will have a different Course Handicap Table for men and women based on their respective Slope Ratings for those tees. It is the player's responsibility to determine his correct Course Handicap, and to know the holes at which handicap strokes are to be given or received.
The Course Handicap Table is designed to determine Course Handicaps. It is for use only with the Handicap System by authorized golf associations and golf clubs that have Course Ratings and Slope Ratings.
Issued by the XYZ
Golf Association
CLUB NAME LMC COUNTRY CLUB
COURSE (TEES) BACK
SLOPE RATING 140
COURSE RATING 72.7
For : Men_X_ Women___
Handicap Course Handicap Course
Index Handicap Index Handicap
+3.5 to +2.9 +4 16.6 to 17.3 21
+2.8 to +2.1 +3 17.4 to 18.1 22
+2.0 to +1.3 +2 18.2 to 18.9 23
+1.2 to +.5 +1 19.0 to 19.7 24
+.4 to .4 0 19.8 to 20.5 25
.5 to 1.2 1 20.6 to 21.3 26
1.3 to 2.0 2 21.4 to 22.1 27
2.1 to 2.8 3 22.2 to 23.0 28
2.9 to 3.6 4 23.1 to 23.8 29
3.7 to 4.4 5 23.9 to 24.6 30
4.5 to 5.2 6 24.7 to 25.4 31
5.3 to 6.0 7 25.5 to 26.2 32
6.1 to 6.8 8 26.3 to 27.0 33
6.9 to 7.6 9 27.1 to 27.8 34
7.7 to 8.4 10 27.9 to 28.6 35
8.5 to 9.2 11 28.7 to 29.4 36
9.3 to 10.0 12 29.5 to 30.2 37
10.1 to 10.8 13 30.3 to 31.0 38
10.9 to 11.7 14 31.1 to 31.8 39
11.8 to 12.5 15 31.9 to 32.6 40
12.6 to 13.3 16 32.7 to 33.4 41
13.4 to 14.1 17 33.5 to 34.3 42
14.2 to 14.9 18 34.4 to 35.1 43
15.0 to 15.7 19 35.2 to 35.9 44
15.8 to 16.5 20 36.0 to 36.4 45
INSTRUCTIONS
The maximum Handicap Index is 36.4 for men and 40.4 for women.
Note: A maximum Handicap Index will convert to a Course Handicap that exceeds these numbers on golf courses with Slope Ratings greater than 113.
Example: A woman player with a Handicap Index of 38.1 will have a Course Handicap of 45 on a course with a Slope Rating of 133.
A player may have a local handicap above these limits, but it shall be identified as a local handicap by the letter "L" following the number on a handicap card or report. When such local handicaps are used for inter-club play, it is recommended that they be reduced to the maximum Handicap Index specified above.
Players Competing from Different Tees or Men and Women from Same Tees
Different tees usually have different Course Ratings. Since Course Ratings predict the scores of scratch golfers, the higher-rated course is more difficult, and the player playing from the set of tees with the higher Course Rating receives additional strokes equal to the difference between the Course Ratings, with .5 rounded upward.
Example 1: If men playing from the middle tees where the men's Course Rating is 70.3 compete against men playing from the back tees where the men's Course Rating is 72.6, the men playing from the back tees will add two strokes (72.6 - 70.3 = 2.3 rounded to 2 strokes) to their Course Handicaps.
Example 2: If women playing from the forward tees from which the women's Course Rating is 73.5 compete against men playing from the middle tees from which the men's Course Rating is 70.9, the women will add three strokes (73.5 - 70.9 = 2.6 rounded to 3 strokes) to their Course Handicaps.
Men and women playing from the same set of tees will have different Course Ratings. Since the women's Course Rating will be higher, women receive additional strokes equal to the rounded difference between the Course Ratings, with .5 rounded upward.
Example: If women playing from the middle tees where the women's Course Rating is 77.3 compete against men playing from the middle tees where the men's Course Rating is 70.9, the women will add six strokes (77.3 - 70.9 = 6.4 rounded to 6 strokes) to their Course Handicaps.
The adjustment shall be added to the players' Course Handicaps even if it causes a Course Handicap to exceed the maximum possible for the Slope Rating of the set of tees being played.
Applying Handicaps Correctly in Competitions
Players shall follow Rule 6-2 of the Rules of Golf using their
Course Handicaps, in order to apply handicaps correctly in competitions.
Rule 6-2 is stated below with one change: the words "Course
Handicap" have been substituted for the word "handicap"
in Rule 6-2 of the Rules of Golf, as required by the Handicap
System.
Before starting a match in a handicap competition, the players should determine from one another their respective Course Handicaps. If a player begins the match having declared a higher Course Handicap which would affect the number of strokes given or received, he shall be disqualified; otherwise, the player shall play off the declared Course Handicap.
In any round of a handicap competition, the competitor shall ensure that his Course Handicap is recorded on his score card before it is returned to the Committee. If no Course Handicap is recorded on his score card before it is returned, or if the recorded Course Handicap is higher than that to which he is entitled and this affects the number of strokes received, he shall be disqualified from that round of the handicap competition; otherwise, the score shall stand.
Note: It is the player's responsibility to know the holes at which handicap strokes are to be given or received.