Each golf course is different, which is why a handicap index is in no way the same as a course handicap. A handicap index, developed by the U.S. Golf Association, is a statistical indication of a player's potential overall. A course handicap is an allocation of strokes for a player on a specific course that raises the level of par to that player's potential.
Origin
Dean Knuth, the USGA's former director of handicapping, helped develop the slope system. Courses before had been rated by length, with no consideration for difficulty, and according to what a zero-handicap golfer should score. The problem was that courses of similar length could vary widely in difficulty, so handicaps couldn't apply across all courses. Knuth, a former Naval officer and math whiz, sought a solution and came up with the slope rating and handicap index to make up the slope system, and it was first adopted by the Colorado Golf Association in 1983.
Handicap Differentials
In the slope system, each score needs adjusting to a common standard to make the handicap index "portable" among all courses. To find a score differential, take the adjusted gross score, subtract the course rating, then multiply that result by 113. Divide that result by the slope rating, and round that result to the nearest tenth.
Handicap Index
The handicap index uses a sample of scores to provide an idea of how a golfer can perform. The minimum sample for play in USGA events is the best 10 of 20 score differentials. Those differentials are averaged and multiplied by 0.96, then all numbers after the tenth digit are dropped, without rounding, for the handicap index.
Course Handicap
A course handicap lets a player with a handicap index know how many strokes he would need on any particular course. The USGA oversees the ratings of courses nationwide, mostly via volunteers. To find a course handicap, ask in the pro shop for a conversion table that takes into account the slope rating of the tee box you want to play. Match your handicap index on the chart to find how many handicap strokes you'll receive.
Equitable Stroke Control
In 1993, the USGA instituted Equitable Stroke Control to keep bad hole scores from unduly inflating handicaps. ESC puts a cap on hole scores that varies according to players' handicaps. A player with handicap of 4 or fewer can make no worse than a double bogey; handicaps 5 through 9 max out at seven strokes per hole; handicaps 10 through 14 max out at eight strokes; 15 through 19 can take up to a nine; and 20 handicaps and higher top out at 10 strokes. Scores are adjusted after the round, and the scores submitted for the handicap differential formula are called "adjusted gross scores."
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