If you are an avid golfer who likes to compete, you probably have a handicap that indicates your skill level. Handicaps and indexes allow golfers of differing skill levels to compete against one another. It is estimated that 2-4 million golfers in the United States maintain a USGA handicap that is updated twice a month during the active golf season.
The United States Golf Association adopted a handicap system in 1911 where 3 of the last 20 seasonal scores were averaged to determine a handicap. Over the years consideration was given to using the lowest 10 of the last 50 scores, and then the lowest 10 of the last 25. The present system which became effective on January 1, 1967 uses the best 10 of the last 20 scores. Also effective on that date, course ratings used decimals instead of rounding off to the next whole number.
At the request of state and regional golf associations, the USGA GHIN service was developed in 1981. The GHIN (Golf Handicap and Information Network) software program provides for scores to be electronically routed from any club within the GHIN network. It is the largest handicap computation provider in the world. According to the latest GHIN stats, the average index for men is 14.3 and 26.5 for women. Since 1991 the index has gone down two shots for men and three shots for women.
What most golfers don’t know is that their lowest 10 scores aren’t averaged to give them a handicap. The USGA Handicap System is a complicated mathematical calculation using your adjusted gross core, the USGA Course Rating, and the Slope Rating. The system doesn’t indicate your current playing average……….it indicates your potential ability as it uses your lowest 10 scores from the last 20 rounds played.
The mandatory Equitable Stroke Control (ESC) was added to the handicap system on January 1, 1999. In keeping with making the handicaps represent a player’s potential ability, the ESC sets a maximum number that a player can post for handicap on any hole depending on their Course Handicap.
To play to your handicap and keep your Handicap Index at approximately the same level, you need to record low scores about 20-25% of the time.
Golfers who are playing well do not understand why their handicap might go up. It depends on which of your lowest 10 scores in the last 20 have been removed.
The more often you play, the more your potential ability will accurately be portrayed. Posting more scores will remove older scores and keep your index current.
Play “In the Zone” With Joan
Entrain Your Mind & Heart for Peak Performances
Leave a Reply