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Golf Handicap - How it works

Golftree provides membership and an internationally recognised handicapping scheme to golfers both in the UK and around the world.

Your handicap is updated every time you play and record your scores. This is calculated the same way a golf club would and can be viewed/tracked online. To obtain your initial handicap simply submit three scorecards.

How your initial handicap is calculated

First you need to establish what your starting handicap would be. Once this is done, each handicap round played contributes to an adjustment (up or down), depending upon your performance in that game.

What you need is the following information:

  1. Three scorecard for games played over a 18 hole course.

  2. The course standard scratch score (SSS) of the Tee you are playing on. Usually ranges between 70-74.

 
   

Adjusting your Gross Score

The maximum allowance is double bogey (+2) maximum, on any hole. Therefore, if a player takes 8 shots (gross score) on a par 5, the maximum score allowed for that hole is 7 (adjusted Gross Score).

From the example on the right, add three adjusted gross scores i.e 84, and divide by 3. i.e. 84 / 3 = 28. So your starting handicap would be: 28.0
Round Strokes Standard Scratch Gross Score Adj. Gross Score
1
110
71
39
35
2
103
72
31
24
3
100
72
28
25
       
84
 

Buffer Zones - adjusting your handicap

Your current handicap determines which buffer zone your fall into, and subsequently how your handicap increases or decreases. So with a handicap of 28.0 we would be in Buffer Zone 4.

Where the net differential is within Buffer Zone, no adjustment to handicap is made
Category Handicap
Range 		Buffer
Zone 		Reduction (shot) Increase
(Round)
1 0.1 - 5.4 +1 -0.1 0.1
2 5.5 - 12.4 +2 -0.2 0.1
3 12.5 - 20.4 +3 -0.3 0.1
4 20.5 - 28.4 +4 -0.4 0.1
5 28.5 > +5 -0.5 0

 

How does your Handicap Change?

Handicap adjustments are worked out on your adjusted golf score for the round. The maximum score you can get for each hole is 2 shots above its par. The maximum mens handicap is 28 and 36 for ladies.

If you score 6 on a par 3 your adjusted score will be worked out on a score of 5 for that hole. If you scored 5 and get a shot for the hole your adjusted score for that hole would be 4.
  Your
score		 Adjusted
score
Par 3 6 + 5
Par 4 7 + 6
Par 5 8 + 7
 

Calculating the change

  • Subtract your adjusted score from the Standard Scratch Score (SSS) for the course.

  • Take this value (Gross Score) and subtract your current handicap to get your Net Score.

  • Take your handicap category (1,2,3,4,5) and determine the adjustment based on your buffer zone.

Examples for a Category 4 golfer.

 
How does my handicap increase?
Adjusted Score - SSS = Gross Score

Gross Score - Handicap = Net Score

If Net Score > Buffer then ADD 0.1

Running Handicap + 0.1

New Handicap calculated		 103 - 70 = 33

32 - 28 = 5

5 is > +4

28.0 + 0.1

28.1

 
How does it stay the same?
If your H/Cap Range was within you buffer zone then there would be no change in you handicap.
Adjusted Score - SSS = Gross Score

Gross Score - Handicap = Net Score

Net Score is within buffer of +4

No Change to handicap		 101 - 70 = 31

31 - 28 = 3

3 is < +4

28.0

 
How does my handicap reduce?
Adjusted Score - SSS = Gross Score

Gross Score - Handicap = Net Score

Net Score < Handicap so reduction
is 0.4 per shot

Running handicap - reduction

New Handicap Calculated		 95 - 70 = 25

25 - 28 = -3

3 * 0.4 = 1.2


28.0 - 1.2

26.8