The term “handicap” is often used in the world of golf, but to outsiders it can seem like a complicated concept. We explain what a golf handicap means, how it is calculated, and why it is such an important part of the sport.
Golf handicap
A golf handicap is a number – from 0 to 54 – that indicates how well a golfer plays compared to an average player. Here, the lower the better. It represents the number of strokes a player, based on his or her skill level, can expect to play above or below “par” on a course. Par is the number of strokes an experienced player would need to complete a golf course.
Equal
A handicap allows players with different skill levels to play fairly against each other. For example, if a player with handicap 10 plays against someone with handicap 20, the player with handicap 20 gets an advantage of 10 strokes. This makes it possible for recreational golfers to enjoy matches against more experienced players without the outcome being predetermined.
How do you get a handicap?
When you are just starting to play golf, you often start with lessons with a golf professional. Once the professional feels you have sufficient mastery, you are issued a golf course permit card, which allows you access to certain courses. To obtain an official handicap, you must first take a golf rules exam. You can do this before or after getting your golf course permitting.
When you know the rules and have your golf course permit, you can play a so-called qualifying card on a course. You do this together with someone who already has a handicap. If you achieve at least 36 stableford points while playing this card, you will receive a handicap of 54 or lower. You will then receive an NGF (Dutch Golf Federation) card on which your handicap is recorded. By playing qualifying cards more often, you can gradually lower your handicap, and each year you will receive a new NGF pass with your current handicap on it. Good to know if you like to play some golf!