A 12 handicapper plays an 8 handicapper. What handicap holes does the 12 get strokes?

Question

I think most will be wrong. Give a valid reason for your answer.

Answer 1

On the four most difficult holes. The poorer player of the two can't play the better player even up on the four most difficult holes.

Answer 2

On The 4 Hardest Holes Being The 12 Is Playing An Eight. 1 Thru 4.

Answer 3

I have this argument all the time with the guys I play with. Most people, like Ted P. will take the difference between the two handicaps and apply them to the toughest holes. This is wrong, and completely defeats the purpose of a handicap in the first place. The 12 gets a stroke on the handicap holes 9-12, the 8 doesn't. Both players stroke on holes 1-8. If anything the 8 toughest holes "cancel out" each other and play "even", but even that's the wrong way to do it. The poorer player gets the extra help on the holes where he has the best chance of making par, and netting birdie, and his opponent doesn't get that help.
End of discussion.

Answer 4

The 12 handicapper gets 1 stroke on each of the 4 hardest holes. handicaps 1,2,3, & 4.

Answer 5

Match Play: 12 - 8 equals 4, therefore looking on the MATCH index of the card, the 12 marker will receive shots on holes indexed 1,2,3,4.

Stroke Play: Just take the handicap of at the end

Stableford, VSS.: Stroke index the 12 marker gets shots on holes indexed 1 thru to 12

Al thou I have seen this system used on courses, playing match play, again 12 - 8 equals 4, therefore you look at the first four holes on the score card, with the corresponding MATCH index for each hole is where they get shots. Hole number might be rated 8 so the 12 marker gets a shot on number 8, hole two might be rated 14, he gets a shot on 14

Answer 6

The 12 handicapper gets strokes on the 12 most difficult holes. The 8 handicapper gets strokes on the 8 most difficult holes.

If you are asking about their relative scores, then the difference comes in the holes ranked 9th through 12th in difficulty.

Answer 7

WIhat a great question!

I'm going to give you two answers - so one of them is going to be right.

First answer according to USGA rule book -

Is it match play or stroke play?

In stroke play it wouldn't matter since the difference of the 4 strokes would balance out in the net score.

In match play you would each take your strokes on the designated holes. Which would give the difference on handicap holes 9-12.

Second answer - How I (and every other golfer) have always done it.

Stroke play - Doesn't matter which holes you pick. At the end of the round the 8 has to win by 5 or more to win the match.

Match play - Give the strokes on the handicap holes 1-4. My logic or valid reason is these are the hardest holes and they need the strokes on the harder holes. Otherwise you would be giving him strokes on the easier holes.

Answer 8

Well if you go to a nice golf course you will have the handicap in each hole on the scorecard so anything under 12 handicap on each hole the lower handicap if he makes par or better gets points and anything over and when a number equal to the other handicap he makes par or better he gets points abd well if there are more people in the group well it keeps going down the line but I will recommend on the side unless you are under 15 handicapped don't get involved in betting games just get your game down to probably a 12 handicap or 10 so its close to scratch player, just take a class with a real professional so he/she can point out the little mistakes the 12 handicaper is having. It usually is a mental aspect of the game, or maybe to work harder on approaches or putting. Or even course management.
Good luck take care. And just practice a little bit more it will pay off.

Answer 9

Long debated...............usually the four toughest handicapped holes but depending on whether a sanctioned event or a wagering event it could be the 4 par 3's or par 5's depending on the agreement

Answer 10

on the 12 most difficult scores. usually on the score card it will say what handicaps are for each hole. like #3 at my course is the hardest hole so it has a handicap of 1. so from handicap holes 1-12 you get strokes on. and handicap holes 1-8 he gets strokes on.