The USGA Handicap System Explained

Every golfer needs to be fit to be able to perform better. Practice improves and raises the game of each golf player. Proper diet and working out regularly can help the golf player become more flexible and strong so that the performance can be easily improved when the proper resources are used.

Aside from the fitness of the golfer, the player must also regularly practice and play with other players as well. Playing with golfers with the same skill may not be as challenging as playing with other golfers that have honed their skill. That is why back in the early 20th century, the United States Golf Association has introduced the handicap system. The purpose of the handicap system by the USGA is to attempt to level the playing field for golfers that have different abilities and skills for the players to compete equally. Without the handicap system, a player with an average score of 92 against a player with an average score of 72 cannot be done.

The handicap system gives the weaker player strokes on certain holes in the golf course. There is an option to deduct a stroke or as others coin it, take a stroke wherein a stroke is deducted from his score on the hole. After the round, both the golf players with different degrees of skill can figure out a net score which can be computed from their gross score minus the strokes they were allowed to take on a certain hole. The handicap system that was established by the USGA was later refined in 1980 which during this time introduced the slope rating for golf courses. The course rating is now used to rate the difficulty of a golf course.

The course rating for the golf course is the number of strokes from a certain set of tees that are expected to be played by the golfers. For example, if a golf course has a rating of 74.8, it means that 74.8 is the average score f the best 50 percent of round played by the golfers. For bogey golfers, a slope rating represents the difficulty of the course rather than the course rating. The slope rating can range from 55 to 155 and the slope rating of 113 is considered as the average difficulty for bogey golfers.

A golfer\'s official USGA handicap index can be calculated from a complicated formula that takes into consideration the adjusted gross score, the course and slope rating. Five rounds are all that may be needed in order to calculate the handicap index of a golf player. Eventually after several outings, the best 10 out of every 20 rounds can be used to calculate the handicap index. Once the index is issued, the golfer can now then determine his course and his course handicap.

To take part of the USGA handicap system, a golf player must join a club that is qualified to use the handicap system. Most golf courses have clubs so it is not that difficult to join one.