Understanding the Golf Handicap

Everyone has a golf handicap that they must deal with. These handicaps will often allow the player to take extra strokes and can help you get an improved score on some golf courses. After a handicap is assessed, you will find that your number will usually fall in the 1 to 28 range if you are male and 1 to 36 ranges if you are female.

When you have your handicap score, you will find that this is the number of strokes you are allowed to have deducted from your score. The only different would be a scratch player who is not allotted any deductions on the course and will be required to complete the 18 holes played based on the standard scratch score that has been allotted the course that is being played.

The standard scratch score is based on several factors. This includes the overall size of the course, any conditions that would prove to be difficult. What you need to understand is that this score is different from par usually and it is merely a guide for those who are using the handicap system.
As a rule, the handicap system is only in place on approved clubs that allow amateur golfers to play on their courses. The club will require that they player submit to them a series of score cards and the club will calculate the lowest score and then subtract that from the scratch score of the course to determine what this individual's handicap is going to be.

What you are going to need to keep in mind is that every handicap can be presented in different ways. Some courses will only allow for a handicap to be done on particular holes, while others might lump together all the points and have them in place for the entire course instead. This will depend on the rules that are presented on the course, so keep that in mind.

You will find that scoring in this manner works by taking the allotted handicaps and using them when completing the score card, with the player that has the lowest final score being deemed the winner in the golf match. Keep in mind that some restrictions may be put into place for competitions and they can have an overall bearing on the final score that you have as well.

There is no doubt that golf is perhaps one of the most popular games that people tend to enjoy playing. What you will need to do is take the time to understand all the different aspects of this game and how they are going to directly affect you when you are heading out to the course. By doing that, you ensure you have the knowledge to play the game fairly and when you combine that with a good level of playing; you can certainly have a great deal of success while playing a round of golf.