Handicaps Level the Playing Field

Several of you have requested to know how our handicaps are calculated. We are very lucky to have Lester Wilson playing at our course. For a number of years he has been the go to man for the record keeping of all the mens' as well as the ladies' handicaps for our clubs. He uses a computer program which calculates both our course handicap as well as a USGA (United States Golf Association) index. Lester gave me a copy of the actual formula that the computer uses to do the calculations and, trust me, you wouldn't want to do it long hand.

The important thing to know is that we need to record every score for every game we play whether it is only 9 holes or 18 on ladies' day as well as any other day you play in order to have the most up to date handicap. The computer keeps a running total of your games and uses the best 10 game scores out of your last 20 games to apply the formula . Then the computer spits out a handicap for us which is posted weekly at the caddie shack. As Lester explained, a couple of really bad scores will usually not change your handicap, but a couple of really good scores will lower your handicap and since the computer uses only your best 10 scores that handicap will stick around for quite a while. If you always score about the same score, your handicap will not change significantly over the season.                                         

Our course does not have an official USGA rating  at this time although our cards indicate that we do. These ratings are usually determined by an official  USGA group that actually comes around, looks at your course and evaluates each hole plus the over all course to determine a Mens' and Ladies' slope and course rating. In Canada this group also collects actual score cards from members to determine  the course handicap for each individual hole. Lester could not tell me the exact date that our course was last rated but he thought it was probably when it was first established. Since we do not have an official course rating for Lake Tamarisk we cannot officially use our handicap from here at other courses but I know that the tournaments that we are invited to over the winter allow us to use the index from here as a courtesy. 

At most courses you are only allowed to use a maximum handicap of 36 or 37 in order to enter tournament play. At our club however we have discussed and agreed to establish a handicap maximum at 48 for our regular weekly games and in house tournaments. This allows for an even playing field for our diverse membership.  It should be noted though that in order to enter our Invitational Tournament or tournaments at other clubs that the maximum handicap will remain at 37.

If you are a new member you will need to enter five 18 hole games before the computer will calculate a handicap for you.

So why have handicaps and how do we use them?

Both played well according to handicaps

To calculate your gross score you simply add up your scores for each hole. As an example, say my score was 95 then my gross score would be 95. To calculate my net score I would take my gross score and subtract my handicap.  My handicap is 21 so my net score would calculate as 95-21=74.  If, for example, I was playing with a person with a 41 handicap and her gross score for the round was 115, we would end up with the same net score,  115-41=74. Interesting! Since par for ladies at Lake Tamarisk is 74, according to the handicap system we have both shot a score that is right on average for our beautiful Lake Tamarisk course. Way to even the playing field!  In order to see what par is for a particular golf course you need only consult their score card and you will see that information as well as a lot of other useful information. 

I know this information isn't new for all you old timers  but I am simply clarifying for inquiring newbies.  Next year I will have a newly retired friend who will be learning to play golf and I would like her to have a place to go to for information.  Have you read your score card lately? You might be surprised at the information you can find there.