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Uncle Snoopy and his buddy Woodstock enjoy squaring off head-to-head against each other, but they especially like playing together as partners in a team competition. How do they know how many strokes to give or receive when they compete against each other-or as a team against other players?
The answer depends on the type of game they're playing. Each format requires a different handicap allowance. Why?
The USGA Handicap System is designed to promote equity in head-to-head stroke play or match play. In these cases, both Uncle Snoopy and Woodstock convert their USGA Handicap Indexes to Course Handicaps for the particular course and tees they are playing.
In stroke play, Uncle Snoopy and Woodstock receive the full number of strokes corresponding to their individual Course Handicaps. Say, for example, they play at Beagle Haven Country Club. Uncle Snoopy's USGA Handicap Index of 11.6 translates into a Course Handicap of 13, while Woodstock's Index of 18.4 gives him a Course Handicap of 20. Uncle Snoopy and Woodstock subtract their Course Handicaps from their gross scores to determine their net scores and the winner.
A different situation transpires in match play. Woodstock receives seven strokes, the number of strokes represented by the difference in their Course Handicaps; he takes them on the seven lowest handicap holes designated on the scorecard.
When additional players join in, the USGA recommends handicap allowances to provide equity in other forms of play. A few words of explanation: Higher-handicapped players generally produce a wider range of hole-by-hole scores than better, more consistent players. This means that if full handicaps are used and a team can choose its best net score on each hole, the team getting the most strokes has a definite edge.
The USGA designed recommended allowances that need to be applied in these circumstances to make sure these games are fair and negate the advantage of higher-handicapped players. Course Handicaps are first determined for each player, then the recommended allowances are applied.
- Four-ball match play, where two golfers play their better ball against the better ball of two other players: the lowest-handicapped player at scratch. The other three get the full difference between their Course Handicaps and the lowest Course Handicap. Let's suppose that Uncle Snoopy has the lowest handicap, so he plays at scratch; Woodstock, Charlie Brown, and Schroeder receive strokes representing the difference.
- Four-ball match play vs. par or bogey, where two golfers play their best ball against par or bogey: each man player receives 90% of his Course Handicap; each woman player gets 95% of her Course Handicap.
- Best-ball-of-four match play vs. par or bogey, where four play their best ball against par or bogey: each man player receives 80% of his Course Handicap; each woman player gets 90% of her Course Handicap.
- Four-ball stroke play, where two competitors play as partners and their lower score is that side's score for the hole: men receive 90% of their Course Handicaps; women get 95% of their Course Handicaps. The USGA recommends that the spread between partners' Course Handicaps be limited to eight strokes. If the spread is greater, reduce all Course Handicaps by an additional 10%. USGA studies have shown that teams with a wide handicap spread will have an unfair advantage.
- Best-ball-of-four stroke play, where four players score with their best ball at each hole: men receive 80% of their Course Handicaps; women get 90% of their Course Handicaps.
- Two-best-balls-of-four stroke play, where four players score with their two best balls at each hole: men receive 90% of their Course Handicap; women get 95% of their Course Handicaps.
Regardless of what form of play is used, if players are competing from different tees or men and women are competing from the same tees, the player with the higher Course Rating receives additional strokes equal to the rounded difference between the Course Ratings after the handicap allowances are determined for the appropriate format.
The USGA recommends these handicap allowances to help Uncle Snoopy, Woodstock, and other golfers enjoy games when they team up together or play as partners with others in multi-ball team events. Remember, Course Handicaps are determined, then allowances are applied. High and low handicappers can compete on a level playing ground-and all teams in the competition will receive a fair shake in the process!
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