It is a misconception that a golf handicap is only used for competition. Although that is a big reason, it is not the only reason. Having an official Golf handicap can be beneficial for a few reasons.
The United States Golf Association (USGA) is the official way in the United States to get a handicap index. In Louisiana, this is done through the Louisiana Golf Association. They use a complex algorithm that calculates your handicap by using an average of your best 8 scores of your last 20.
Your handicap is based on your potential and not your actual average scores. An honest golfer will only shoot their handicap one out of every ten rounds they play. That means a golfer with a 10 handicap index will not have an average score of 10 over par. Using myself as an example, I have a handicap index of 1.6 with an average score of 75.9. Many golfers believe that because my index is 1.6, I should shoot 1 to 2 over par every round. However, you can see from my average score that this is not the case.
Your handicap index is used so you can go to any golf course worldwide that has a slope and course rating and determine a course handicap for your round. This will change every round based on the difficulty of the golf course from the tee you choose to play. More on how you can use this below, but the USGA has a great explanation of this. Click Here to Read.
The only downside of the golf handicap system is it is only as accurate as a golfer is honest. Golf is a game of integrity, and so is the handicap system. Although the USGA and R&A, golf's governing bodies, have found ways to limit cheating the system, golfers have still found ways to cheat it. Although every score posted to your handicap is supposed to be attested, meaning it needs to be witnessed, golfers can still post rounds if they play alone. The system does take this into consideration, but I am not sure to what extent. Then there are also guys who only post high scores so their handicap will be higher when they go play in a competition. Although this is common, it also ends up being temporary, as once they shoot a lower score in a competition, 1 of 2 things will happen. They may wi,n but they will get a reputation as a sandbagger, potentially leading to being barred from future events. The second part is if the committee of the competition posts their scores from the event, it will be marked as a tournament score, which weighs more in the system than a regular round. This leads to a lower handicap index, and because of the tournament designation, it makes it much more difficult for that golfer to post higher scores to raise their handicap again.
Now that you understand a little bit about how a golf handicap works, here are 3 reasons why every golfer should have one.
Game Improvement -
This is probably the most important reason to have a handicap. Having one is a measurable way to track your game improvement. Yes, there are a lot of apps out there where you can track your scores and stats, but as good as many of them are, there is no better way to measure your improvement than with an official handicap. I personally use The Grint to have the best of both, but it is my handicap index I look at more to see my improvement than my average score. The handicap system takes into account the difference of par and difficulty. An average score is just that, and average. Whether you play a par 62 or par 73, because the handicap system uses the course and slope ratings and not the par of the course, it will determine your ability and improvement.
Target Score -
Once you establish a handicap index, you can then use that at any golf course to determine a target score. Although you may not shoot your target score, it gives you a score to try and get as close as possible to or beat. You can learn how to calculate your course handicap using the course and slope rating of the tee you decide to play, but it is best to use the USGA GHIN app. It is free, and you can select the course and tee you are playing, and it will tell you what your course handicap is for that round.
Competition -
Wheter you want to play in official events or just compete against friends, having a golf handicap equals the playing field. Again, using an app would be best for the calculations, but whether you and your opponent play the same tee or different tees, you can play against each other fairly. Playing from the same tee is relatively simple to figure out; however, if you play from different tees, you need to take into account the difference in difficulty between tees. If you play one tee forward than your opponent and the course rating for you is 73.5 but 75.2 from your opponents' tee, you need to take into account the 2-stroke difference and either deduct two shots from your course handicap or add two to your opponent's course handicap for fair competition. Again, having an app that automatically calculates that like USGA or The Grint apps makes this easy. The other side of competiton is many golf courses are now requiring an official handicap to play in 2 and 4 man events. This is to prevent the same "stacked" teams from winning over and over. Team handicaps or flights are created to level the playing field and make the competition more fair and more fun.
If for no other reason than tracking your game improvement, a golf handicap is well worth it. It is also a good starting point if you want to play on any amateur tours or official competitions as when you register, you will play against other golfers of your own ability.
If you do not have a handicap and would like to get one today, visit the Louisiana Golf Association website to sign up or find a local authorized golf course near you. Not in Louisiana? Visit the USGA website to find your local association or golf course where you can sign up.
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