What Is A Golf Handicap, Beginner Golfer (Video) - by Pete Styles
What Is A Golf Handicap, Beginner Golfer (Video) - by Pete Styles

Listening to golfers talk about the game, you’ll often hear them talking about handicaps and how so-and-so has got this numbered handicap, I’ve got this numbered handicap, but I’m trying to improve my golf handicap down to this level. And as a non-golfer that can all sound a bit confusing when you’re looking from the outside in, thinking what are these handicaps and how do they help.

Let me tell you, basically golf handicaps are fantastic; they’re the most amazing thing in golf because they make things a level playing field. Handicap is effectively a head start for a golfer, so as a less experienced or a lower standard of golfer, you’re allowed a head start, over a better or more experienced golfer, so that ultimately when you get to the 18th hole, and you’ve finished your round of golf, it should be a level playing field. So the person that plays better in relation to their ability on that given day should win the game.

So we have gross scores and we have net scores. The gross score is simply the number of times that you hit the ball in any given round, and the net score is the gross score less off your handicap. So as a professional golfer my handicap is zero, so my gross score or my net score are always the same. A beginner when they’re playing, a gent, when he’s beginning to play the game, a man is allowed a 28 handicap and ladies are often allowed more shots, maybe a 36 golf handicap. So, if I play golf with two of my clients, a man that’s never played before and a lady that’s never played before, if I go around the golf course in 72 shots which is level par for most golf courses, that’s the number of shots a professional should take. My male client he goes round the golf course in a 100 shots and the female client that I have goes around the golf course in a 108 shots.

My gentleman playing partner he takes off his 28 handicap from his 100, he gets it down to 72. We’ve tied the game. My female playing partner, she takes off her 36 handicap, 36 off 108, I’ll do the math for you, 72. I shoot 72 net, he shoots 72 net, she shoots 72 net, we’ve all tied the game. So as a professional against two beginners we’ve all tied the game. Now if the gentleman went out and he a better than average game for his ability and he shot 99, he now wins, even though at 72 shots, I’ve actually beaten him by 27 shots, because he’s got a 28 handicap he wins by one shot. So it’s a great way of making it a level playing field and giving yourself a head start.

As you improve your handicap comes down and golfers are often looked at and judged by the level of their handicap. If you ever want to start a conversation with a golfer, just ask him about their handicap and they’ll waffle on for ages about their handicap was this, he’s now this, but it should be this. It really lets you know where you stand and how your ability is improving in relation to your friends.

So if I’m playing with somebody at tennis let’s say, and I’m not very good at tennis and you’re really good at tennis, it’s a bit of a one sided game, and actually it spoils your enjoyment because I never get the ball back over the net, but in golf, I’m playing my ball, you’re playing your ball. It doesn’t matter if we’ve different abilities and different standards, you don’t affect me, I don’t affect you. And at the end of the game if you reduce your handicap of your gross score to your net score, we should end up with a nice level playing field, and if I’ve played well for my day, I’ll beat you, but likewise if you play well on your day you can beat me.

So hopefully that explains handicaps. They do get a bit complicated at sometimes but hopefully just think of it this way, a handicap is your head start and as you’re improving your head start get less and hopefully that makes some sense.

2012-07-30

Listening to golfers talk about the game, you’ll often hear them talking about handicaps and how so-and-so has got this numbered handicap, I’ve got this numbered handicap, but I’m trying to improve my golf handicap down to this level. And as a non-golfer that can all sound a bit confusing when you’re looking from the outside in, thinking what are these handicaps and how do they help.

Let me tell you, basically golf handicaps are fantastic; they’re the most amazing thing in golf because they make things a level playing field. Handicap is effectively a head start for a golfer, so as a less experienced or a lower standard of golfer, you’re allowed a head start, over a better or more experienced golfer, so that ultimately when you get to the 18th hole, and you’ve finished your round of golf, it should be a level playing field. So the person that plays better in relation to their ability on that given day should win the game.

So we have gross scores and we have net scores. The gross score is simply the number of times that you hit the ball in any given round, and the net score is the gross score less off your handicap. So as a professional golfer my handicap is zero, so my gross score or my net score are always the same. A beginner when they’re playing, a gent, when he’s beginning to play the game, a man is allowed a 28 handicap and ladies are often allowed more shots, maybe a 36 golf handicap. So, if I play golf with two of my clients, a man that’s never played before and a lady that’s never played before, if I go around the golf course in 72 shots which is level par for most golf courses, that’s the number of shots a professional should take. My male client he goes round the golf course in a 100 shots and the female client that I have goes around the golf course in a 108 shots.

My gentleman playing partner he takes off his 28 handicap from his 100, he gets it down to 72. We’ve tied the game. My female playing partner, she takes off her 36 handicap, 36 off 108, I’ll do the math for you, 72. I shoot 72 net, he shoots 72 net, she shoots 72 net, we’ve all tied the game. So as a professional against two beginners we’ve all tied the game. Now if the gentleman went out and he a better than average game for his ability and he shot 99, he now wins, even though at 72 shots, I’ve actually beaten him by 27 shots, because he’s got a 28 handicap he wins by one shot. So it’s a great way of making it a level playing field and giving yourself a head start.

As you improve your handicap comes down and golfers are often looked at and judged by the level of their handicap. If you ever want to start a conversation with a golfer, just ask him about their handicap and they’ll waffle on for ages about their handicap was this, he’s now this, but it should be this. It really lets you know where you stand and how your ability is improving in relation to your friends.

So if I’m playing with somebody at tennis let’s say, and I’m not very good at tennis and you’re really good at tennis, it’s a bit of a one sided game, and actually it spoils your enjoyment because I never get the ball back over the net, but in golf, I’m playing my ball, you’re playing your ball. It doesn’t matter if we’ve different abilities and different standards, you don’t affect me, I don’t affect you. And at the end of the game if you reduce your handicap of your gross score to your net score, we should end up with a nice level playing field, and if I’ve played well for my day, I’ll beat you, but likewise if you play well on your day you can beat me.

So hopefully that explains handicaps. They do get a bit complicated at sometimes but hopefully just think of it this way, a handicap is your head start and as you’re improving your head start get less and hopefully that makes some sense.