On Course....... with Tom Casady - The Handicap, Day 2, The Process

Tom Casady, Edmond, OK (July 21, 2010)  Have you ever wondered, “Why do I have a handicap differential?” Well, the answer is simple, but the process is a little more complicated. The answer is based upon the theory that the best ten (10) scores out of the last twenty (20) scores posted will give the best indication of a player's ability, and the player's handicap differential is the best way to evaluate the best scores. That's simple enough, but what is the process?

The process starts with the player posting his scores correctly after playing a round of golf. A correct score means a round played according to the rules of golf, and the score posted using Equitable Stroke Control (ESC). The process ends when the computers are finished working that score over and spitting out the results: the handicap differential for the round played. Then the ten best are used to establish your handicap index.

Here's how it works. Let's say you post an Adjusted Gross Score (your score adjusted by the ESC) of 98 on a course with a USGA Course Rating of 73.5. The difference of 98 less 73.5 is 24.5. This number is multiplied by 113 (the Standard Slope Rating) which produces 2768.5, which is then divided by the Slope Rating (128) of the course you just played, which gives you the rounded Handicap Differential of 21.6.

The last sequence is to get to your Handicap Index. The best (meaning lowest value) 10 Handicap Differentials are added together and divided by 10 to get an average. Let's say your best add up to 198.6 and averages to 19.86. This average is multiplied by .96 (which = 19.0656), and all digits after the tenth's place are dropped. So now you have your Handicap Index: 19.0. When everyone has a well maintained Handicap Index, everyone can play on a fair playing field with everyone else.

. . . . On Course to save you strokes!


Tom Casady is the Oklahoma Tour Handicap Chairman, a member of the Tournament Committee and is a partner with Scott Chilcutt and Loyd Welch in the operation of the Oklahoma Tour. Tom can be reached @ TC3ofCnC@aol.com.