[pick-it-up]

Just thought I'd post this after reading the YG v OG thread.

Feel free to add or correct anything.

From:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golf_handicap

Determining a player's handicap

A golfer's net score is determined from his or her gross score (the number of strokes actually taken) by subtracting his or her handicap from the gross score. The net scores of all the competing golfers are compared and (generally) the lowest score wins.

A player's handicap is intended to show a player's potential, not their average score, as is the common belief. A player will play to their handicap less than 25% of the time. The USGA refers to this as the "average best" method. So in a large, handicapped competition, the golfer who shoots the best with respect to his or her abilities and the normal variations of the score should win.

While there are many variations in detail, handicap systems are generally based on calculating an individual player's playing ability from his or her recent history of rounds. Therefore, a handicap is not fixed but is regularly adjusted to increases or decreases in a player's scoring.

A golfer whose handicap is zero is called a "scratch golfer." A golfer whose handicap is 20 is called a "bogey golfer." It is possible to have a handicap below 0; these are referred to as 'plus' handicaps, and at the end of the round, a 'plus' handicap golfer must add his handicap to his score. A professional golfer plays off scratch, but has no actual handicap.

In the United States, handicaps are calculated using several variables: The player's scores from his or her most recent rounds, and the course rating and slope from those rounds. A "handicap differential" is calculated from the scores, using the course slope and rating, and the player's handicap differentials are used to calculate the player's handicap.

Course and Slope Rating:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Golf_ha...ting_and_slope

Basic Handicap Calculator:
http://www.rangergolf.com/_handicapt..._handicap1.htm


Calculating Course Handicaps, Handicap Differential and Handicap Indexes:
http://www.pgaprofessional.com/handi...ml#calculators


Course Rating and Slope Database Lookup (USGA)
http://www.usga.org/playing/handicap...ing_lookup.asp

USGA Handicap System Manual:
http://www.usga.org/playing/handicap...em_manual.html