Handicap Allowances Section II Some competitions require allowances of Course Handicaps; otherwise, some teams would have an unfair advantage.
Individual match play: The low handicapped player plays to scratch and the other player receives 100% of the difference.
Four-ball match play: In this better-ball-of-two team match, the lowest handicapper plays at scratch. The other three get the full difference between their Course Handicaps and the lowest Course Handicap.
Individual stroke play: Everyone plays at full Course Handicap.
Four-ball stroke play: Men get 90% of their Course Handicaps; women get 95%. The USGA recommends that the spread between partners' Course Handicaps be limited to eight strokes. If it's more after the allowance, then reduce Course Handicaps of the partners with a spread greater than 8 by 10%. Otherwise, teams with a wide handicap spread will have an unfair advantage.
Best-ball-of-four stroke play: Men get 80% of their Course Handicaps; women get 90%.
In a tournament that takes place over several weeks, the Course Handicap that is used is up to the Tournament Committee, but the USGA recommends that golfers be allowed to use their USGA Handicap Indexes that are current on the day of play.
