Golf Handicap

The golfshake.com system currently calculates golf handicaps for the UK and Ireland according to the exact same specification and rules used by the UK handicapping system and for the US using an identical system to the USGA.  All other countries use the UK method although further systems for other countries will be added soon.

UK Handicap

The following requirements are needed to allow the system to calculate your golf handicap :

• The round played must be 18 holes.
• The course/tee played must have the scorecard SSS (Standard Scratch Score) stored on the golfshake.com system.
• A golf handicap will only be set once 3 rounds have been added, based on the above criteria.
• Once the first 3 rounds are added, the handicap will be calculated as an average of these rounds.
• Your golf handicap will be adjusted accordingly based on the following information relating to the UK system.

The handicapping system is based on current game performance. Your last round score will generally affect your golf handicap.

Unlike The ESC under USGA , the UK system allows (nett +2) maximum for men and (nett +3) for women, on any hole if a male player of handicap 17 shoots 8 on a par 4 SI 1, the maximum score allowed for that hole is 7.

Standard scratch for the course somewhat resembles Course Rating in the USGA system. ( 71,73,72 etc.). The calulatons are then started as follows :

Gross Score = Number of strokes - Standard Scratch

Adjusted Gross Score = Gross Score - hole adjustments described above (max nett double bogey)

The following golf categories are then used :

So for example the followng applies :

• Work out the Rounds Adjusted Score ie Gross score with 'nett double bogey' adjustments
• Determine the Rounds Net Score. e.g. Adjusted Gross Score - Current golf handicap
• Determine what Category this Golfer falls into based on current handicap.
• If Net Score is greater than Golfers Category Buffer Zone then simply add 0.1 to Golfers Handicap
• If Net Score Ranges from 0 to Buffer zone handicap is then unchanged.
• If Net score is negative then for each shot less than 0, the Golfers Handicap is reduced by the amount specified by the category he/she is currently in.

Your starting handicap of 24 puts you in Category 4. The following are the adjustments made to your handicap based on subsequent rounds submitted :