How the Golf Handicap Works
You can find our more on our unique handicap scoring sytem, by clicking here
With one single, global system in place for the first time, golfers will be able to obtain and maintain a Handicap Index and use this on any course around the world.
The Golf Club Great Britain handicapping scheme will be implementing this system so your handicap with us will be in line with official club handicaps.
All players establish a Handicap Index which provides you with a portable measure of your demonstrated playing ability that is consistent with how all other golfers will be measured worldwide.
To calculate your initial handicap
When you submit your first three cards, we take the ‘average’ of these cards to establish your initial handicap. This is calculated by taking the difference of the Gross score and the course rating (similar to the old SSS) off the yellow tees for each card. Gross scores are NOT adjusted for initial handicapping purposes. The highest handicap for both men and ladies is now 54
For example, three scores of 88, 90 and 95 on a course with a course rating of 72 will result in an initial handicap of (16+18+23) = 57 divided by 3 = 19. Therefore giving you an initial playing handicap of 19. Scores are not adjusted for initial handicap assessment.
However, for ongoing handicapping gross scores have to be adjusted down to a net double bogey.
Please note that even if you are scoring stableford points, you can now only enter a gross score for handicapping purposes, so these must be clearly shown on any cards you submit, with the total gross clearly added up.
Stableford points are no longer entered for handicapping purposes
Maximum Hole Score
The maximum hole score for handicap purposes is nett double bogey and, if the format of play allows, you can pick up once you have the reached the maximum limit.
For any hole, whatever your handicap and stroke allowance, you can score a maximum of 2 over par AND if your handicap allows one shot, you can score a maximum of 3 over and if your handicap allows 2 shots, you can score a maximum of 4 over.
Example
A Par 4 index 18:
If your handicap is 1 – 17, you receive no shots so your maximum score is 6
If your handicap is 18 – 35, you receive one shot so your maximum score is 7
If your handicap is 36 + you receive 2 shots so your maximum score is 8
There is now NO Buffer Zone