Handicap

The USGA Handicap System™ enables golfers of all skill levels to compete on an equitable basis. This section of the site will help golfers understand why having a Handicap Index® is important. There are links to "The USGA Handicap System" manual, the USGA's handicapping equivalent of "The Rules of Golf", and a Course Handicap™ calculator to allow players to convert their Handicap Index to the Course Handicap for any course that has been properly rated. Articles and resources are available for anyone interested in starting a golf club or for current Handicap Committee chairmen who need assistance in maintaining handicaps for their respective clubs. The current version of the USGA Handicap System went into effect on Jan. 1, 2012, and the next revision will take effect on Jan. 1, 2016. Any modifications to the System are noted on this Web site. 

 

 

 

 

Browse the 2012-2015 Rules

Appendix E Exceptional Tournament Score Probability Table
 

 

Handicap Index Ranges

Net Differential

5.9 or less

6.0-12.9

13.0-21.9

22.0-30.9

31 or greater

0 to -0.9

5

5

5

5

5

-1.0 to -1.9

10

10

10

8

7

-2.0 to -2.9

23

22

21

13

10

-3.0 to -3.9

57

51

43

23

15

-4.0 to -4.9

151

121

87

40

22

-5.0 to -5.9

379

276

174

72

35

-6.0 to -6.9

790

536

323

130

60

-7.0 to -7.9

2349

1200

552

229

101

-8.0 to -8.9

20111

4467

1138

382

185

-9.0 to -9.9

48219

27877

3577

695

359

-10 or less

125000

84300

37000

1650

874


The values in the table represent the probability of shooting a net differential* EQUAL TO OR BETTER THAN the range in the left column.

*A net differential is the Handicap Differential for a particular score minus the player's Handicap Index.  This becomes a negative value when the differential for a score is lower than the player's Handicap Index. 

Example: A player with a Handicap Index of 10.5 shoots a 74 from a set of tees with a USGA Course Rating of 70.2 and a Slope Rating of 126.
 

(74 - 70.2) = 3.8 x 113 / 126

 

= 3.4 Handicap Differential

3.4 - 10.5

 

= - 7.1 Net Differential


From the chart, the probability is 1 in 1,200 of this occurring.