2006-08-30 11:58:15 · 10 answers · asked by Anonymous in Sports ➔ Golf
A handicap in golf is an equalizer, something to help even out play. Every hole and course has a par, a set number of strokes that it is expected are necessary to complete the hole or round. If the par on an 18 hole course is 72 and your average score is 80, you have an 8 handicap. This is unimportant if you are playing alone, but most golfers don't.
If you have an 8 handicap and your opponent has a 2 then your opponent must beat you by at least 6 strokes ( the difference between your handicap and his/hers) to win the round. The handicap is used to help equalize play and make it more competitive when golfers play together who are not well matched skill wise.
Obviously, handicap also becomes a kind of barometer as to the skill level of the player. The better the player, the lower the handicap.
2006-08-30 12:26:33 · answer #1 · answered by Magic One 6 · 1⤊ 1⤋
That is so all golfers can play against each other the handicap equals things out it works several ways.
1. Let's say your playing against one person. You have a 10 handicap and your friend has 18. He gets 8 shots. Now let's say your going to play match play. That is when you play by holes not total score. Every time you win a hole you get one point. He will get 1 stroke on the 8 hardest holes. When you look at the score card you will a line that has the number 1 - 18 but in the wrong order. All the even on one nine and the odds on the other. That way he will get 4 shots on each nine on the holes that handicap is 1 through 8. Bottom line you have to win the hole by two shots or one shot to tie.
Stroke play - you play the round and subtract the strokes at the end to see who wins.
They have rating system and slope system
A golfers has what they call a index number for a handicap. When you go to the golf course you look at what is called a slope chart. You find you index on the chart and it will tell you how many strokes you get on that course. I person can't play to the same handicap at every course. A 14 at a very hard course may be a 10 on a easy course.
2006-09-01 03:56:45 · answer #2 · answered by Doug 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
handicap is a measure of your golf skills. golf courses have a thing called "par" which is what score you're supposed to get on a hole, or a round of golf. If you can get that score all the time, or around that score, you don't need a handicap. If you're always 10 swings over that score, than you're a 10 stroke handicap. So if a 9-hole round of golf has a par of 36, but you usually get about 40, you'd be a 4-stroke handicap.
2006-08-30 19:08:14 · answer #3 · answered by Paul 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
good explanations on the handi-cap but since the actual question is about a handy cap, i'd have to say any baseball style cap is the handiest. It goes with any outfit and does not require the care of a straw hat, bicycle cap, etc.
2006-08-31 15:49:52 · answer #4 · answered by James H 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Handicap,add together your scores on at least 5 courses.Courses are rated by difficulty and slope.Par for most courses is 72,By comparing your average scores with the course rating,your average over par is your handicap!
2006-08-30 19:22:17 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
it's a number that tells you how good you play golf
2006-08-30 19:58:54 · answer #6 · answered by hellodolly128 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
A handycap is when you get one less stroke or however many the handycap is and it gives you an advantage.
2006-08-30 20:26:41 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is a hat that they issue to you before going on the course, so you don't get a sunburn on your head. (just kidding)
2006-08-30 19:04:55 · answer #8 · answered by strider89406 5 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The best answer I've ever heard for this is "my partner" =)
2006-08-31 12:54:26 · answer #9 · answered by Tiger223 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
your average over par
2006-08-30 21:14:07 · answer #10 · answered by The Bobster 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋