by Terry Benjamin
Track progress, set goals for your game
If you're looking to be a more engaged golfer this year, getting a Handicap Index is a great first step. (USGA/Bill Hornstein)
For golfers who play fewer than 15 rounds a year, routinely shoot in the 90s or higher, or prefer to play for fun, a Handicap Index allows you to track your progress and work toward goals individualized to your ability and playing preferences. Whether you’re looking to improve and lower your number, play more rounds, or try more courses for the first time, a Handicap Index enables you to keep track of your golf experiences.
Rethink success For many golfers, shooting par isn’t a realistic goal. With a Handicap Index, golfers can instead set their sights on more achievable scores for their round, and even on specific holes. This can be done in the following ways:
Find your Course Handicap: the number of strokes you need to play to par from the tees you’re playing. The longer the tees you’re playing from, the higher your Course Handicap will be.
Determine your Target Score: a reasonable goal for your round based on your individual ability and course difficulty, not the par on the scorecard. It’s calculated by adding your Course Handicap to par.
Dot your Scorecard: the Stroke Index – or “Handicap” row as it’s displayed on a scorecard – generally represents the difficulty of each hole ranked 1 to 18. By knowing your Course Handicap, you can determine the number of strokes it should take to play to your handicap on each hole. For example, if your Course Handicap is 12, then 1 over par (a bogey) would be considered a good score on holes allocated 1 through 12. On holes allocated 13 through 18, making pars is within reach if you play them well.
Sign up to get your Handicap today! Click hereto get started!Have fun competingCompeting in golf doesn’t have to mean club championships, member-guest tournaments, or other high-pressure events. For many golfers, a Handicap Index allows you to play and compete with golfers of different abilities in a more fun and relaxed environment where stakes might only involve bragging rights or post-round drinks. Your Handicap Index can be used in low-pressure formats of play such as four-ball match play, four-ball stroke play, 1 or 2 best of 4 games or Stableford, and you can also use it in formats of play that are not acceptable for score-posting purposes but still allow for fun competition – such as foursomes (alternate shot) or scrambles.
(This article first appeared on the USGA website, and is used here by permission.)
Competing in golf doesn’t have to mean club championships, member-guest tournaments, or other high-pressure events. For many golfers, a Handicap Index allows you to play and compete with golfers of different abilities in a more fun and relaxed environment where stakes might only involve bragging rights or post-round drinks. Your Handicap Index can be used in low-pressure formats of play such as four-ball match play, four-ball stroke play, 1 or 2 best of 4 games or Stableford, and you can also use it in formats of play that are not acceptable for score-posting purposes but still allow for fun competition – such as foursomes (alternate shot) or scrambles.
(This article first appeared on the
USGA website
, and is used here by permission.)
