Simple golf handicap calculator

Handicaps in golf can cause confusion. We’re here to clear it up.

Picture this: You step up to the first tee and smoke a drive 270 yards down the fairway. Your opponent then launches a moonshot that starts left, then slices all the way to the right rough, where it settles about 50 yards short of yours.

Usga course handicap table

Without handicaps, your opponent could be in for a long day, but when you learn you’re giving him 12 strokes, the playing field is suddenly leveled.

Your golf handicap is what makes this level playing field possible.

A golf handicap is a number that represents a player’s potential ability.

For example, a player with a course handicap of 3 has the potential to play that course in 3-over par on an above-average day, or roughly 20% of the time.

Golf handicaps are used to allow players of all abilities to compete against each other on a level playing field.

The lower a player’s handicap, the better that player is.

We mentioned that handicaps can cause confusion, and some of the terminology is to blame.

For example, a pla

usga handicap index formula

how do you calculate your golf handicap index