In golf, a player's handicap index indicates the average number of strokes he shoots over par on a course of average difficulty. In handicap tournaments, players subtract a certain number of strokes from their score in each round according to their handicap. The U.S. Golf Association, the governing organization for golf in this country, provides detailed guidelines for the use of handicaps in its handicap manual.
Step 1
Adjust your handicap according to the course on which you will be playing. The USGA handicap manual refers to this adjusted handicap as a course handicap. To calculate your course handicap, multiply your handicap index by the USGA slope rating for the course and then divide the answer by 113, the USGA slope rating for an average course. Round your answer up or down to the nearest whole number. For example, if you have a handicap index of 8, you will have a course handicap of 9 on a course with a slope rating of 132.
Step 2
Allocate handicap strokes in the order indicated on the scorecard for the course. Most scorecards show the order in which strokes should be allocated with a row of numbers 1 through 18 under the hole numbers. This guide will typically tell you to allocate your first stroke on the hardest hole on the front nine, the second stroke on the hardest hole on the back nine, the third stroke on the second-hardest hole on the front nine and so on. If you have a course handicap of 18, you will get to use one stroke on each hole. If you have a course handicap of 12, you will get to use strokes on the 12 most difficult holes only. If you have a course handicap higher than 18, you will get to use more than one stroke on some holes. Record your gross scores as well as your handicap-adjusted scores on each hole.
Step 3
Add your handicap-adjusted scores for all 18 holes to determine your total handicap score. To check the score, add your gross scores for all 18 holes and subtract your course handicap from the total. This score should equal your handicap score. For example, if you shoot 82 with a course handicap of 9, your handicap score equals 73.
Tips and Warnings
- The allocation of strokes on specific holes matters more in competitive tournament play or match play than in informal stroke play. To calculate your handicap score for a casual round, you can simply subtract your course handicap from your total score.
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