Learning how to score with a golf handicap can be somewhat complex if you want to dig in to understanding how it is calculated. However, for the purpose of this article we will just cover the basics so you can understand how to play the game and mark your scorecard. When scoring with a golf handicap you must belong to a club that will calculate your handicap and make that handicap number available as it may change over time.
What is a Golf Handicap
So what is the golf handicap number and what is it used for? A handicap enables all players to be able to compete against each other on an even playing field no matter what the level of skill each player may have. When using a handicap the player will receive one stroke per hole according to the number of their handicap. So if the handicap is 4 the player will receive 4 strokes on 4 holes, at the end of the game they will subtract these strokes from the grand total of their score. So the better a golfers skill level is the lower the handicap number. Professionals do not have a handicap, and some times the number can be less than zero where the player must add these to their strokes.
How to Mark The Scorecard With a Handicap
Marking the score card with a handicap is very simple. One of the rows on the card is marked handicap and you will see numbers that correspond to each hole for the course. These random numbers are the ranking number for the hole. Each hole may be a bit more difficult to play so the most difficult will be 1 and the least difficult will be 18. At the beginning of the game each player must look at the score card and take the highest rated holes that correspond to their handicap number. This means the holes with a handicap rating 1-6 are the holes where the will take a stroke on 6 of the highest rated holes.Taking a stroke does not mean adding one it means that it will be subtracted. The card at the beginning of the game can be marked with a dot on the holes where the handicap stroke will be taken. When scoring the handicap the normal score can be marked with the handicap score placed above the normal score on that hole. At the end of the game both scores can be added up and marked one above the other with the handicap number on the bottom.
How Many Handicaps Strokes Can Be Taken
When playing by yourself the amount of strokes taken will be the actual handicap number. However when there is a group of players competing against each other they will play off of the person with the lowest handicap. So in other words if there are three players and one handicap is 10, one is 15 and one is 20 then the person with 10 will not take any strokes and the one with 15 will take and the one with 20 will take 10 strokes. Your just subtracting the lowest number from everyone.
A person who has a handicap of zero is called a scratch golfer and a golfer who has a handicap of about 20 is called a bogey golfer. Understanding how to score with a golf handicap may sound difficult but really once the game is played it should be picked up pretty easily.
Jeremy has written great information about golf these articles can be found at Golf Course Directory. Learning about golf can be complex at times if you would like improve your knowledge please visit How To Score In Golf.
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