Are you an avid golfer and think you’re ready to join the ranks of serious competitors? Congratulations, you’ve come to the right place.
There are things you need to go over, though.
A golf handicap is an ingenious way devised by golfers to allow people of varying skill levels to enjoy friendly competition with each other. The system does this by measuring a player’s typical or, in some cases, best score. Check out this golf handicap calculator by golfworkoutprogram.
Handicap allows golfers to compete reasonably and still enjoy the sport. It gives you control over your difficulty level for any given course and allows the casual players the potential to learn from professionals; who would otherwise tee off on-par with scratch players or even better.
The following article will explain the fundamentals of golf handicap and how to participate in the sport.
How Does It Work?
According to Statista, the revenue of golf courses and country clubs in the US will amount to approximately $24,7 billion by 2024.
Golf handicap works through a system where players are assigned a score to play. It is the player’s ‘Handicap.’ Each round, their current handicap can be compared against another player’s average score at that course.
The resulting number is a ‘handicap allowance,’ which can then be applied to a player’s score at that course, thus making their potential score representative of what they typically score or even better.
Getting Started
One of the first things you’ll need before starting your golf handicap is an official USGA Handicap Index. To get one, you’ll need to register with the United States Golf Association’s GHIN service.
GHIN is an acronym for Global Health Information Network. The US government created it mainly to manage the health care records across multiple systems.
It is one of the services used by golfers globally.
The GHIN system takes care of the golf handicap process by collecting scores for every player in the US who wants one.
You can Register with GHIN through their website or through an app called MyScorecard golf. Once you are registered, you’ll need to create a username and password that will allow you to access your handicap directly, as well as communicate with other golfers and course personnel.
Getting a Handicap Index can be done by playing 9 or 18 holes at any golf course where handicaps are kept on record for their members. Be sure to show up early, as many classes run out of scorecards quickly during peak hours.
Benefits of a Golf Handicap
Golfers of all levels can enjoy the benefits of a handicap, but it is most useful for those with a lower skill level. It lets you compete evenly on the playing field with people who may be far superior or inferior to you. It makes the game more enjoyable and gives everyone a fair shot at winning.
The process of assigning a handicap is designed to level the playing field by putting less experienced players on equal footing with more skilled ones. It does this by giving both of them an allowance or “handicap” to apply to their score for each course they play. The number essentially ‘evens out’ the competition by making it easier for the weaker players to keep up with the pros.
Golf handicap works similarly to how par is used in other sports. If you are an average player, it can be used to measure your progress or give you something more challenging than just shooting for par on each hole.