Whether it’s determining how your game stacks up on a particular course or competing against other players, a Course Handicap and Playing Handicap can be used by golfers with a Handicap Index® to enhance the enjoyment of their round.
Course Handicap is the number used to adjust any hole scores for net double bogey (abnormally high hole score). During recreational rounds, golfers are encouraged to pick up once they’ve reached net double bogey to help with pace of play – but without knowing your Course Handicap, you can’t determine that number in real time.
To find your Course Handicap using your mobile app, select the course and tees you are going to play. Based on the Course Rating™, Slope Rating™ and par of those tees, your Course Handicap will display automatically.
Knowing your Course Handicap before your round also lets you determine your target score – the score you can expect to shoot if you play well. To find this number, add your Course Handicap to the par of the tees being played. Par is 72? A player with a Course Handicap of 20 would have a target score of 92. It’s that simple!
In most cases, your Course Handicap suffices. If you’re playing in a game with friends or a net tournament, there’s another term, and number, that comes into play: Playing Handicap™.
A Playing Handicap represents the number of strokes given or received for the purposes of the competition; generally, this number can also be found using your mobile app. Simply select the handicap allowance being applied, and your Playing Handicap will display automatically.
For example, in four-ball stroke play, the recommended handicap allowance is 85 percent – so a player might have a Course Handicap of 12 and a Playing Handicap of 10.
Here’s an easy way to remember the difference between these two defined terms under the Rules of Handicapping:
Course Handicap: You against the course
Playing Handicap: You against other players