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Faizan
You may have heard the old joke about the golfer who’s asked his handicap and replies, “I’m old,” or “I slice too often.” In reality, golf handicaps help players of all levels enjoy competitive rounds or tournaments on a fairly level playing field. Nevertheless, you may wish to know how your handicap compares to most other golfers. Men’s handicaps go as high as 36.4, while women’s top out at 40.4, but the typical handicap isn’t in the exact middle of either range.
The Handicap System
The number commonly referred to as your golf handicap is technically your handicap index. The index is determined by a formula and is typically based on the best 10 scores among the previous 20 rounds you’ve played. The handicap formula takes into account the relative difficulty of the courses on which you play. Before you begin a round, you use the course’s handicap chart to determine the specific handicap you’re entitled to on that course.
Women’s Handicaps
According to United States Golf Association (USGA) statistics, the median women’s golfer has a handicap index of about 25.9. The USGA survey notes that 45.6 percent of women have handicap indexes of 24.9 or less; 50 percent of female golfers have handicaps of 26 or more, while the other 4.4 percent lie between 25 and 25.9. To put it another way, 25.5 percent of women have handicaps between 23 and 29; 36.9 percent have lower handicaps than this middle group, while 37.6 percent have higher handicaps. So the 23-to-29 range can be considered mid-handicappers.
Men’s Handicaps
The median point among men’s handicap indexes lies somewhere between 13 and 13.9. According to the USGA, 48.1 percent of men boast handicaps below 13, while 46.2 percent have handicaps of 14 or above. The middle 25 percent ranges from approximately 8 to 15.5. The USGA numbers, which are divided into one-handicap increments, show that 36.7 percent of men have handicaps of 10.9 or less, while 35.6 percent have handicaps of 16 or more, leaving 27.7 percent from 11 through 15.9.
Putting Your Handicap to Use
You can use your handicap in a real event in different ways. In a tournament, you might receive a number of strokes when the round is complete. An 18-handicap player, for example, would receive one stroke for each of the 18 holes. A mid-handicap man, therefore, would receive about 11 to 16 strokes per round while a mid-handicap women receives about 23 to 29. In match play, compare handicaps with your opponent and subtract the lower from the higher number. The difference equals the number of strokes given to the player with the higher handicap. If you receive five handicap strokes, for example, subtract one stroke from your score on each of the course’s five most difficult holes, based on each hole’s handicap number.
The Handicap System
The number commonly referred to as your golf handicap is technically your handicap index. The index is determined by a formula and is typically based on the best 10 scores among the previous 20 rounds you’ve played. The handicap formula takes into account the relative difficulty of the courses on which you play. Before you begin a round, you use the course’s handicap chart to determine the specific handicap you’re entitled to on that course.
Women’s Handicaps
According to United States Golf Association (USGA) statistics, the median women’s golfer has a handicap index of about 25.9. The USGA survey notes that 45.6 percent of women have handicap indexes of 24.9 or less; 50 percent of female golfers have handicaps of 26 or more, while the other 4.4 percent lie between 25 and 25.9. To put it another way, 25.5 percent of women have handicaps between 23 and 29; 36.9 percent have lower handicaps than this middle group, while 37.6 percent have higher handicaps. So the 23-to-29 range can be considered mid-handicappers.
Men’s Handicaps
The median point among men’s handicap indexes lies somewhere between 13 and 13.9. According to the USGA, 48.1 percent of men boast handicaps below 13, while 46.2 percent have handicaps of 14 or above. The middle 25 percent ranges from approximately 8 to 15.5. The USGA numbers, which are divided into one-handicap increments, show that 36.7 percent of men have handicaps of 10.9 or less, while 35.6 percent have handicaps of 16 or more, leaving 27.7 percent from 11 through 15.9.
Putting Your Handicap to Use
You can use your handicap in a real event in different ways. In a tournament, you might receive a number of strokes when the round is complete. An 18-handicap player, for example, would receive one stroke for each of the 18 holes. A mid-handicap man, therefore, would receive about 11 to 16 strokes per round while a mid-handicap women receives about 23 to 29. In match play, compare handicaps with your opponent and subtract the lower from the higher number. The difference equals the number of strokes given to the player with the higher handicap. If you receive five handicap strokes, for example, subtract one stroke from your score on each of the course’s five most difficult holes, based on each hole’s handicap number.
Posted in: golf
