Hi Linda,
Can I ask you a question regarding handicaps? Sometimes I play on a par 66 course. Some people say you play to your full handicap; others say it must be reduced by 3. Can you help????
Lulu
Dear Lulu,
The par designation at a course does not determine your Course Handicap®. Your Course Handicap is determined by your Handicap Index® and the Slope Rating® from that particular set of tees.
Every player who keeps an official handicap has a Handicap Index. This is the number that includes a decimal (e.g., 18.2). It is used to determine your Course Handicap when you play different courses.
Let's use the example of a player with an 18.2 index on a very easy course with a Slope Rating of 102. The Course Handicap Table (every golf course should have one) shows this player to have a Course Handicap of 16. If this player next plays a course with a very difficult Slope Rating of 135, her Course Handicap will now be 22.
You can calculate your Course Handicap online. Go to:
http://www.usga.org/handicapping/course_ratings/Using-a-Course-Ratings/, and click on Course Handicap Calculator.
Players are often confused by the two handicap terms. Again, your Handicap Index is a number with a decimal (e.g., 18.2) that will convert to a Course Handicap (a whole number, e.g. 22) that will vary depending on the slope rating of each course that you play. Your Course Handicap at a course that has a low Slope Rating will be lower than your Course Handicap at a course that has a higher Slope Rating.
Linda
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