Golf Handicaps

What is a Golf Handicap?

The definition of a golf handicap is “a numerical measure of an amateur golfer's playing ability”. A golf handicap can be used to calculate a so-called "net" score from the number of actual strokes played and allows players with differing proficiency skills to play against each other on equal terms. Golf handicaps are administrated by golf clubs or national golf associations.

The SAGA (The South African Golf Association) recommends that golf handicaps be calculated twice a month, at the most. The SALGU (The South African Ladies Golf Union) also recommends that handicaps be calculated twice a month and be posted on the 1st and 15th of every new month.

How Handicaps are Calculated:

There are three steps in the golf handicap calculation process. In order to calculate your golf handicap correctly, take note of the following and apply the steps listed below to your personal golfing statistics:

A minimum of five scores and a maximum of twenty are required to get started. For each score, the USGA course rating and slope rating for the courses played are also required. Using these figures, calculate the handicap differential for each round entered, by using this formula:

(Score - Course Rating) x 113 / Slope Rating

For example, your score may be 85, the course rating 72 and the slope 131.

This differential is calculated for each round entered.

Find out how many differentials are used. Not every differential resulting from Step 1 will be used in the next step. If only five rounds are entered, only the lowest differential will be used. If 20 rounds are entered, only the 10 lowest differentials should be used. The chart below shows how many differentials should be used, based on the number of rounds entered.

Get an average of the differentials used, by adding them together and dividing by the number used (i.e. if five differentials are used, add them up and divide by five).

Multiply the result by .96 (96-percent). Drop all the digits after the tenths, but do not round off. The result is the handicap index.

The following is stipulated in the SAGA handicap manual and should be implemented with effect from 1st January 2003 and concerns the appropriate manner of calculating golf handicaps in South Africa:

If a player over the age of 65 takes the option of being allowed to play off the forward tees, his adjusted score for handicap purposes shall be determined using the regular club rating.

As from 1 January 2003, the SAGA changed the rule on maximum strokes allowed per hole. A golfer may take as many double drops as his/her handicap allows.

For example: If you are a 10 handicap you may take your double drops as they occur, until you have taken 10 doubles. Thereafter, you may only take a single drop with a ring. If you are a 17 handicap you can take a double drop on any hole when occuring, unless you have taken a maximum of 17 doubles already. This rule applies to all golfers, no matter what their handicap.

The handicap window is extended to the best 10 scores of the last 20 scores

Handicaps must be revised at least once a month.

Should a player fail to return a score on the handicap system, he shall have a differential equal to the best of his last differentials recorded as a penalty score. Should a player persist in this practice, disciplinary measures as described in the SAGA Handicapping Manual, shall be instituted.

• Compute golf handicaps in the following ways: Lowest 10 of the last 20 differentials
• Substitute SAGA for SAGF
• Substitute 10 for 6 and 20 for 12
• Formula Used:
• Sum {10 best from the latest 20 diffs} X 85% ( 115% ) = Handicap ( +HC’s)

A handicap shall not be issued to a player who has returned fewer than 5 scores.

• A 9-hole course played twice consecutively, constitutes a stipulated 18-hole round, same day and session - 9-hole courses.
• The following also constitutes a stipulated 18-hole round : ( new ) 2 consecutive 9-holes played on the same 9 or 18-hole course
• on different sessions (e.g. am/pm of the same day )
• on different dates ( e.g. Saturday/Sunday )
• Provided that no other round of golf is played between the two 9-hole rounds
• Not accepted for handicap purposes (important)
• 1 x 9 holes
• 1 x 9 holes played, multiplied by two.
• Playing 9 holes with 2 balls (2 scores from different sets of tee)