A basic premise underlies the USGA Handicap System, namely that every
player will try to make the best score he/she can at each hole in every
round he/she plays, regardless of where the round is played, and they will
post every acceptable round for peer review. The following introduction was taken from the
USGA Web site.
Thanks to the USGA Handicap System, all golfers can
compete on an equal basis. The USGA Course Rating System ensures that golf
courses are rated in relation to all other courses. The System adjusts a
player's USGA Handicap Index according to the difficulty of a course. As a
result, no matter who golfers play with -- or where they play -- they can
enjoy a fair game.
Since its inception in 1912, the USGA Handicap
System has made it possible for golfers of differing abilities to enjoy fair
competition. Today, there are more than 4.5 million golfers who have USGA
Handicap Indexes issued by golf clubs.
It is important to note that the USGA
does not issue Handicap Indexes directly to golfers.
The USGA Handicap Index is expressed as a number taken to one decimal
place and is updated and re-issued at established revision dates. A USGA
Handicap Index compares a player’s scoring ability to the scoring ability of
an expert amateur on a course of standard difficulty.
A player posts scores along with the appropriate USGA Ratings to make up
the scoring record. A Handicap Index is computed from no more than 20 scores
plus eligible Tournament Scores in the scoring record. It reflects the
player’s potential because it is based upon the best scores posted for a
given number of rounds, ideally the best 10 of the last 20 rounds.
A player is responsible for knowing his USGA Handicap Index issued at the most recent
revision. A player must convert his USGA Handicap Index to a Course
Handicap. For example, a USGA Handicap Index of 16.2 would be converted to a
Course Handicap of 20 at a course with a Slope Rating of 140.
