2020 Golf Handicap Calculation: How to Find Your Score
Defining a golf handicap is one of the keys to judging the level of skill and experience of a player when they are looking to play in a tournament or to judge their round against another player. The calculation of the golf handicap has been completed in the same way since 1911 in the U.S., but on January 1st, 2020 the introduction of the World Handicap System changed the way golf scores are judged. Instead of judging a player's ability based on any of the six different handicap scoring systems in the world, the World Handicap System is making a standardized way of judging scores.
Why Do You Need A Golf Handicap?
Perhaps, the main reason for the use of the golf handicap is that it allows players of all skill levels to play together on the same course and in different events. Without the use of an effective handicapping system, it would be difficult for players to appear on the course together because a player of greater skill would win each match easily. The handicapping system is designed to allow all players to appear on the course at the same time regardless of skill level.
The question of why a player needs to have a handicap is an easy one to answer. Without the use of a golf handicap for each individual it is difficult to judge the play of a player against the difficulty of a course. After using the World Handicap System, a player will be given a numerical score that allows them to apply this to their score at the end of any round of golf they play. For example, a golfer playing of a zero score, or scratch, will finish their round and not take any shots away. However, a player with a ten handicap will be able to reduce their score by ten shots at the end of their round.
Handicaps Have Been Around For Centuries
The idea of handicapping golfers based on their skill and experience level has been around for many centuries with gambling at the heart of its birth. Many of the stories revolving around the start of handicapping rounds of golf came from the use of a weight system in horse racing. Similarly, a local bookmaker taking bets on early games of golf in Scotland would provide odds on the outcome of a game based on specific shots for each player.
In the history of golf, the first recorded entry discussing the use of a handicapping system was by a Scottish student in the late-17th-century who wrote about the use of the system. At this point in the evolution of the game of golf, the handicap system would award a player a stroke on each hole, every two holes, or one-shot every four holes depending on their skill level.
The Changing State Of Handicapping In 2020
The calculations used to judge a handicap had not changed in the U.S. since 1911 when the USGA introduced its system for calculating handicaps until 2020. Handicaps were originally calculated in the U.S. using a simple calculation of handicap index x slope rating/113. In 2020, the USGA and Royal & Ancient, the guardians of the laws of the game, decided to make a change to the way handicaps are calculated.
Throughout the introduction of the World Handicap System, the golfers of the world are looking to make a major change to the way handicaps are judged. Handicaps are now rated using the same calculation of handicap index x slope rating/113. However, to allow every player to feel comfortable when they set out on their round, the final step is now to rate the player against the difficulty of the course they are playing on by dividing by the course rating or par score.
The idea behind this is to ensure each player has an average score that reflects their ability on the course they are playing. Among the major reasons why the handicapping system has changed is to allow the individual the chance to feel comfortable no matter if their home course is Plantation Golf and Country in Fort Myers, FL, or Sheshan Golf Club in Shanghai, China.
How To Calculate Your Handicap
All ten million golfers in the U.S. who have a registered handicap with the USGA have had to recalculate their score to gain a World Handicap System rating. The first step in the move towards creating your handicap is to calculate the handicap index using only three scores of eight 18 or nine holes.
The handicap index is a basic calculation that does not change with the new calculations made for 2020 and beyond. The basic calculation is the average scores of a player over the rounds they have submitted multiplied by .96 and now adjusted for the difficulty of the course they have been playing. To calculate a handicap as simple as possible, the USGA has introduced a computer system that allows a golf club or course to input your scores to complete the calculation automatically.
By adding the step of judging the difficulty of a course, the handicap index is changing the way the golfers of America see their handicap scores. The idea behind using the course rating is to provide each player with a shot on the hardest holes on the course related to their handicap. If a player has a course handicap index of four they are given an extra shot to complete the hardest four holes on the course.
More About the Changes in Handicap Calculations
One of the most important benefits seen by the players in the U.S. is their ability to take their handicap to any area of the world without having to resubmit their recent scores to get a handicap.
To obtain a handicap, a player must be a member of a golf club or form their club to submit their scores to the local USGA handicap representative. The USGA does not handle the individual calculation of a handicap but instead looks to local representatives to complete this task for them.
A major change made to the calculation of handicaps across the U.S. and the rest of the world is the ability to calculate a number using just three of your most recent scores. In the past, the calculation of a handicap was completed using the last five scores of a player meaning a greater level of error could be seen along with a longer time to wait for every handicap to be calculated.