GAA – San Diego
Golf Handicaps - An Overview
Understanding Golf Handicaps and their Role

|Table / Contents |Page # |
| | |
|Golf Handicaps – An Overview |2, 3 |
|Course Rating Primer |4, 5, 6, 7 |
|What's the Purpose of Handicap System? |7 |
|What is Course Rating? |8 |
|What is Slope Rating? |8 |
|Why is Slope Rating Called "Slope"? |9 |
|How are Course Rating and Slope Rating Determined? |9,10, 11 |
|What is Course Handicap? |11 |
|How Many Scores to Establish Handicap? How many rounds does it take to establish a USGA Handicap |12 |
|Index? | |
|How is Handicap Index Used on the Course? |12 |
|Are 'Handicap' and 'Handicap Index' the Same? Do the two terms mean the same thing ... or something|12 |
|different? | |
|What is Equitable Stroke Control? |12, 13 |
|How Do I Know My ESC Limits If I Don't Yet Have a Handicap Index? |13, 14 |
|Are there Maximum Per-Hole Scores? Is it true that the USGA has maximum scores for each type of |14 |
|hole? | |
|What is Handicap Differential? |14 |
|What is "GHIN"? |14 |
|Why Is My Score Usually Higher than My Handicap? |15 |
|How Do I Establish a Golf Handicap? |15 |
|How is Handicap Index Calculated? What is the Golf Handicap Calculation? |16 |
|Do I Have to Have a Handicap Index? |17 |
|Do I Have to Join a Club? Do I have to be a member of a golf club to get an official handicap? |17 |
|Can I Start My Own Club? Can I start my own golf club for handicapping purposes? |18 |
|How Do I Know on Which Holes to Take Strokes? |18 |
|Playing from Different Tees, Determining Strokes When Players are Playing from Different Tees |19