What is a golf handicap ?

What is a golf handicap index ?

Basically a golf handicap index is a numerical measure of a golfer's potential ability. The lower the number the better the player.

Getting a handicap will help make your golf matches against other players fair by eliminating the guesswork in the allocation of strokes for players of varying abilities. The purpose of the Handicap System is to make the game of golf more enjoyable. The System provides a fair tee handicap for each player, regardless of ability, and adjusts a player’s Handicap up or down as the player’s game changes. At the same time, the System disregards high scores that bear little relation to the player’s potential ability

Having a recognised Birdie Handicap also allows players to travel away from their home course or area and compete with players to whom they do not know and still have a fair match