2004 #2 Slope and Handicaps

The Scene:
You arrive at Beech Mountain to play golf. The course has been re-rated. You didn’t have a chance to play all winter so you had no scores to bring back. But the handicap they give you is two stokes higher than the one you had when you left here last fall. 

What would you do?

A. Tell the Pro that the handicap computer is broken.
B.  The Slope is higher than last year. That means the course is harder. That’s what increased your handicap. But that means that you are not as good a player as you thought you were.

C.  Your handicap index is the same as it was last year. You get a higher course handicap (and more strokes) because the courseis harder.

C is correct.
Your handicap index is the true measure of your golfing skills. It is the same no matter where you play. Your course handicap is the number of strokes you are given to play a particular course.

The Slope indicates the difficulty of the course you are playing. The average Slope for a course is 113. If your golf course is of average difficulty your course handicap (the number of strokes you are given) will be the same as your handicap index. If your golf course is harder (the Slope is higher) you’ll be given more strokes and if your course is easier (the Slope is lower (under 113)) you will be given fewer strokes.

Last year the Slope at Beech Mountain was 113. If your handicap index was 25.1, your course handicap would have been 25. This year the Slope is higher, 120. If your handicap index is still 25.1 your course handicap would now be 27. You are still just as good a golfer as you were last year. You are just being given extra strokes to play a harder course.

Note: If you are a 27 and a friend of yours at a different course is a 25, that doesn’t mean she is a better golfer than you. Ask what her handicap index is. That is the only thing you can compare.

REMEMBER: It is your handicap index that indicates your golfing skills, not your course handicap. Your index is the number with the decimal place.