What is a course handicap?

The formula used to calculate your handicap index takes into account the difficulty of the golf course using two numbers: the rating and the slope. The rating defines a level of difficulty for a 'scratch' golfer, while the slope describes how much harder the course will play for a less skillful player (e.g. handicap 18). But, even so, issues can arise during matches between players if you were to just use your index.

The reason for this is that if the course is made a great deal narrower, it still may not pose too many problems for the scratch golfer (who hits it down the fairway straight everytime), but will certainly cause a higher handicap golfer - who may spray their shots - to have many more problems. Because a golfer's handicap (and as a result the number of strokes they give or receive) is fixed, an unfair advantage is created as a golfer playing on a harder course will give less strokes to less skillful players than they deserve.

Course handicaps address this issue by taking into account the slope of the course. In addition starting with the new World Handicap system, the rating/par is also taken into account which has an impact if you play on different tees from your competitor.

If two friends of handicaps 10 & 20 play an 'easy/wide' course (rating 67, slope 105, par 72) and then a narrow/hard course (rating 73, slope 135, par 72), the harder course will become much harder for the worse player than for the better player. Using course handicaps we can correct that difference. When the two friends play the first course, they play with course handicaps of 4 and 14, with ten shots given to the worse player. But when they play the second, they play as a 13 and a 25, with twelve shots given to the worse player.

So, when you go to a course and play a match with a friend, calculate your course handicaps - it will ensure a fair game between the two of you.