Golf Handicapping
In the early part of the 20th Century the United States Golf Association (USGA), introduced a handicap system into the game. During the 1980s the USGA renamed the handicap system to the handicap index when it added slope rating to the course. The slope rating is comparable to the course rating in that both are used as methods to rate the difficulty of the golf course. The purpose of the handicap was an attempt to level out the playing field between players so those with varying ability could compete on equal ground. An example of this, is a player whose average score is 92 competing with someone who averages 72. Without the handicapping system, these players could not fairly compete against each other. The handicapping system allows the weaker player " to take a stroke" on specific holes on the golf course. This means the player can either take a stroke or deduct a stroke for their score for that hole. At the end of the game, both players figure their net score, which is their gross scores minus the strokes they were allowed. A handicap index does not represent your average score, and if done right it's not what you'll use to give yourself or partners'strokes. It is a number that determines your course handicap. Course handicap is then used to figure how many strokes - if any - you get on each hole. Course handicap is really the crux of the USGA Handicapping System as it is what makes handicapping work by ensuring