How do I figure out my handicapp? Right now I avg. 97 on a par 72.?

Answer 1

Ticktag's formula is right on. What he forgot to tell you is that you don't count every differential towards your "index" or average. The number of scores you use to determine what your index is depends on how many scores you have.
If you have:
6 or less -- use your lowest 1 differential
7 or 8 ---- use your lowest 2 differentials
9 or 10 --- use your lowest 3
11 or 12 --- lowest 4
13 or 14 -- lowest 5
15 or 16 --- lowest 6
17 ---- lowest 7
18 ---- lowest 8
19 --- lowest 9
20 --- lowest 10

Only your last 20 scores will count towards your index. Then you need to multiply the average of your differentials by .96 to get your "index".
Also your index is not necessarily your "handicap". That would be determined by the slope of the course you are playing on that day, and can be calculated by taking your index and multiplying it by the slope of the course (and tees) you will be playing, then dividing by 113: (index * slope) / 113.

Once you have an index established, you will also have to abide by the USGA ESC rule, or "Equitable Stroke Control" which prevents you from using an inflated score to raise your handicap because of one or two really bad holes. This rule states that you must, for the purposes of calculating your index, limit the maximum number of strokes you can take on any one hole, based on your course handicap. The chart looks like this:
For course handicaps:
9 or less -- double bogey is the max
10 thru 19 -- 7 is the max
20 thru 29 -- 8 is the max
29 thru 39 -- 9 is the max
40 or more -- 10 is the max

The link below has it all spelled out.

Answer 2

The handicap system is defined and authorized by the USGA in the U.S. To get an official golf handicap index, you need to be a member of a golf club or national golf association.

If you just want to calculate the number for fun, calculators are available on web sites (see link 1 below). You need at least five rounds of golf. If you have more than 20, then just use the most recent 20.

If you want to know the exact formula, it is published by the USGA (see link 2 below). This includes the 0.96 scale factor called "Bonus for Excellence" as well as the rounding and truncation rules.

Answer 3

It's been a while since I've done this so don't take it for the "gospel" truth. 97-72=25. O.K., so you are averaging 25 over par per round according to your stats. I believe the next step is to take 80% of 25, which comes to 20. This is your handicap. Another way of saying it is that you are a "20" handicaper. So, according to this formula, your 97 actual becomes a 77 with the handicap added in. Good luck.

Answer 4

Just having your average score and the course par is not sufficient to calculate your real handicap but you could be playing off to a 24 handicap.

To calculate your handicap accurately, you'll need both course and slope ratings to get your handicap. The formulae -
(your score - course rating) x 113 / slope rating

You can get the course/slope rating from the scorecard and all courses have different ratings. You can calculate this after each round you played and add up each round's score & divide by the no of games to get your actual handicap index.

E.g. Game 1: (97 - 70.2) x 113/126 = 24.0
Game 2: 23.6
Game 3: 22.3
Game 4: 24.1
Game 5: 23.4

Your handicap index= (24.0+23.6+22.3+24.1+23.4) / 5 games = 23.5

Answer 5

USGA sanctioned leagues take 96% of the difference between par and your score.

Answer 6

take about 80% of that so around 19 handicapp