Hi,
A golf handicap is simply a number of strokes that you (effectively) get to subtract from your score. The number is determined by your previous scores. In the USA, the USGA establishes the rules and does the calculations. http://www.usga.org/handicap/index.html is a good place to look. As you see, both the golfers and the courses are handicapped and the value for the golfers is a bit complex to calculate.
Now, how the handicap is used is pretty simple. In stroke play each player's final score for the round is the number of strokes he took minus his handicap. In match play (where each hole is a separate contest), the difference in the handicap determines how many strokes are "given" to the higher handicap player. On the score card next to each hole is a number that tells what the "precedence" of the holes are. So, for instance if Joe gives Bob four strokes, he gives one stroke on each of the four holes with the lowest (1 through 4) precedence. If the difference is more than 18, then two strokes are given on the lower precedences and one on the higher.
If you want the full gory details (not really necessary unless you're on a rules committee), then look at the rules in the USGA site.
--Pete
A golf handicap is simply a number of strokes that you (effectively) get to subtract from your score. The number is determined by your previous scores. In the USA, the USGA establishes the rules and does the calculations. http://www.usga.org/handicap/index.html is a good place to look. As you see, both the golfers and the courses are handicapped and the value for the golfers is a bit complex to calculate.
Now, how the handicap is used is pretty simple. In stroke play each player's final score for the round is the number of strokes he took minus his handicap. In match play (where each hole is a separate contest), the difference in the handicap determines how many strokes are "given" to the higher handicap player. On the score card next to each hole is a number that tells what the "precedence" of the holes are. So, for instance if Joe gives Bob four strokes, he gives one stroke on each of the four holes with the lowest (1 through 4) precedence. If the difference is more than 18, then two strokes are given on the lower precedences and one on the higher.
If you want the full gory details (not really necessary unless you're on a rules committee), then look at the rules in the USGA site.
--Pete
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