A handicap allows you to compete with golfers of different skill levels. A handicap puts everyone on the same playing field and makes for a more competitive golf outing. Your handicap can also help you see, over time, how your golf game is evolving and help you focus on areas that need improvement. In essence, your handicap is the number of strokes over par you average on any given round of golf.
Course Rating
The scorecard you pick up from the Pro Shop at the course will usually have a course rating. This rating is a statistic generated by a professional golf association that, in essence, tells you how easy or hard a course is overall, and how easy or hard any particular hole on that course is as well. These numbers are factored into your handicap. Course ratings are generally between 65 and 77, and indicate what a "scratch" golfer (one whose handicap is zero) on an average day would shoot on the course.
Slope Rating
Slope ratings are used to indicate how a "bogey golfer" (someone who averages a bogey on each hole) would fare on the course. Slope ratings tend to be in the 100 to 150 range, but don't indicate the number of strokes as the course rating does. The slope rating is targeted at the average golfer, or someone who shoots bogey or worse on each hole, and is a better indicator of course difficulty for most weekend golfers.
Calculating a Handicap
The easiest way to figure out an accurate golf handicap is to use a handicap calculator. Many golf websites offer this as a free service, and some will even store the results of all the rounds you play (see Resource). Pick a golf course you know relatively well. Track your score for each hole and write down your overall score for the round for at least five full rounds (18 holes). Enter your scores into a handicap calculator, along with the course and slope rating, for each course you play. The calculator will then determine your handicap. You can register with a national golf body (such as the U.S. Golf Association) for an official handicap index.
Function
The most common use of the golf handicap is to allow golfers of varying skill levels to compete against one another. The easiest way to do this is to figure out the score of your round and compare it to your handicap. For instance, if your handicap is 32, that means you usually shoot 32 over par for an average round of golf. If you go out and shoot 95 on a par-72 course, that means you have shot 23 over par, or nine under your handicap. For competition purposes, you have just shot a round of -9.
When all golfers in your group know their handicaps, they can calculate their scores and compare them after the round.
Benefits
In the beginning, your handicap will fluctuate greatly as you play and record rounds. But over time, your handicap will become a more accurate reflection of your golfing ability. Your handicap will also come in handy if you ever want to get into amateur competitive golf, as many tournaments and events use a player's established handicap to determine skill level.
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