Golf league handicap calculator
Most weekly leagues don't use a player's official Handicap Index. They keep a league handicap from the rounds played in the league. Here is how it usually works, with a calculator.
The usual method
- For each league round, take the score over par: a 44 on a par-36 nine is +8.
- Look at the last few rounds (often five) and keep the best of them (often three).
- Average those, then take an allowance of it (often 90%) and round.
- Until a new player has a few rounds, use a starting handicap the secretary sets.
Over nine holes, handicaps are nine-hole handicaps. The strokes fall on the hardest holes first, by the stroke index on the scorecard (the handicap row). In match play only the difference counts: a 12 against an 8 gets four strokes, on the four hardest holes.
Choosing the numbers
| Setting | Common choice | What it changes |
|---|---|---|
| Rounds counted | 5 | Fewer rounds follow form more closely; more rounds are steadier. |
| Best of those | 3 | Counting the best rounds keeps one blow-up from inflating a handicap. |
| Allowance | 80–100% | Below 100% trims the edge higher handicaps get in match play. |
| Starting handicap | From the player's index, or a first night's score | Used until a new player has enough league rounds. |
| Highest handicap | 18 for nine holes | A cap keeps very high handicaps from deciding matches. |
Tapin works league handicaps out after every card, with the settings the secretary picks, and shows each player's handicap for the week on their match and scorecard.