| In golf a handicap is essentially the rating of a | | | | hope to go round the course in six shots more |
| player's skill in relation to the par for the course. | | | | than the course par. Men can generally have a |
| For the novice golfer, it is very important to | | | | maximum handicap of 28 even if they take more |
| understand the terminology and to know how to | | | | than twenty eight shots over par. For ladies the |
| calculate their golf handicap. | | | | maximum is 36. |
| Let's start with a scratch player. A scratch player | | | | The Scorecard |
| is a very good player for whom the measure of | | | | When you look at the scorecard you will see that |
| par is how he should play around the course, i.e. if | | | | it is arranged in columns. The first column gives |
| the course is par 73 then he should take 73 shots | | | | the yardage or distance of the hole which is |
| to get around. If he is playing a hole of up to 250 | | | | measured from the tee to the center of the |
| yards in length we assume he should hit the | | | | green when going down the middle of the |
| green in one shot and then take two putts to | | | | fairway. Next is the par of the hole which is |
| hole the ball. This hole is a par 3. | | | | followed by the stroke index. The stroke index is |
| Any hole between 251 yards and about 470 | | | | a measure of the difficulty of the hole, with 1 |
| yards is classed as a par 4, where a scratch | | | | being the hardest and 18 the easiest. After these |
| player will take two shots to hit the green, | | | | come columns for writing down your score. |
| followed by two putts. A par 5 is anything over | | | | The local rules of the course can usually be found |
| 470 yards and in this case we assume our | | | | on the back of the score card, along with details |
| scratch player will take three shots to hit the | | | | of how to calculate handicaps for different |
| green, again followed by the regulation two putts | | | | competitions. The local rules give you instructions |
| to hole the ball. | | | | about out of bounds areas on the course and |
| If you add up the pars of all eighteen holes this | | | | such things as whether you are allowed to |
| will give you the par for the course. Any player | | | | remove stones from bunkers. |
| who can go round in scratch will be either of club | | | | So now you know how to score, all that remains |
| professional standard or international amateur | | | | is for you to get out there and have a go. Good |
| standard. If you were a 6 handicap you would | | | | Luck! |