Calculating Matchplay Handicaps
Matchplay handicaps use a handicap format that some people find confusing. To help you understand how to work out the handicaps you need, here is a full explanation.
World Handicap System
The World Handicap System has introduced a series of changes, including the assessment of all courses based on their respective difficulty levels. Each set of tees now needs a separate rating for Male and Female players. This includes a Slope Rating and a Course Rating.
The Course Rating shows how challenging the course is for a Scratch Golfer. A scratch golfer is defined as a player who can play the course with a Course Handicap of zero.
The Slope Rating is how difficult the course is for a bogey golfer, compared to a scratch golfer. A bogey golfer is defined as a golfer with a Course Handicap of 20 for men and 24 for women.
When playing in mixed competitions, ladies would be given courtesy shots based on the difference in the SSS for each course. This has been replaced, as explained below.
Single Tee
Matchplay handicaps are worked out differently when using a single tee than when using multiple tees. We’ll start by looking at a matchplay competition where a single tee is in use.
Under the World Handicap System, golfers no longer have a Handicap, but a Handicap Index. This allows a course handicap to be calculated based on the course’s difficulty. The Course Handicap is worked out using the following formula:
Course Handicap = Handicap Index x Slope Rating / 113 (not rounded) + (Course Rating – Par)
So a golfer with a Handicap Index of 15.7, playing on a course with a Slope Rating of 135, a Course Rating of 73 and a par of 72, would have a Course Handicap of:
15.7 x 135 / 113 = 18.6 + (73 – 72) = 19.6, rounded to 20
There are 3 steps to calculating handicaps for matchplay using one set of tees.
Step 1: Course Handicaps
For each player, convert their Handicap Index into a Course Handicap
Step 2: Handicap allowances
For individual matchplay, the allowance is 100%. For pairs, it is 90%.
If you are playing pairs matchplay, adjust each handicap to 90% of the Course Handicap, rounding to a whole number. This gives the Playing Handicaps.
Step 3: Handicap difference
Adjust each Playing Handicap so the lowest handicap plays off zero.
Example:
Player 1: Handicap Index 8.9
Player 2: Handicap Index 14.2
Player 3: Handicap Index 19.8
Player 4: Handicap Index 24.5
Slope Rating: 129
Step 1: Course Handicaps
Player 1: 8.9 x 129 / 113 = 10.16, rounded = 10
Player 2: 14.2 x 129 / 113 = 16.21, rounded = 16
Player 3: 19.8 x 129 / 113 = 22.60, rounded = 23
Player 4: 24.5 x 129 / 113 = 27.97, rounded = 28
Step 2: 90% Allowance
Player 1: 10 x 90% = 9
Player 2: 16 x 90% = 14.4, rounded = 14
Player 3: 23 x 90% = 20.7, rounded = 21
Player 4: 28 x 90% = 25.2, rounded = 25
Step 3: Adjusted for the lowest handicap
Player 1: 9 – 9 = 0
Player 2: 14 – 9 = 5
Player 3: 21 – 9 = 12
Player 4: 25 – 9 = 16
Mixed Golf
Things became slightly more complicated when the group consisted of both male and female golfers, but the calculation is the same.
In mixed golf, different tees will be used, typically the competition tees for the men and the red tees for the ladies. With tees no longer being gender specific, this further confused things.
There are 3 steps to calculating the matchplay handicaps.
Step 1: Course Handicaps
For each player, convert their Handicap Index into a Course Handicap, as shown above.
Step 2: Handicap allowances
For individual matchplay, the allowance is 100%. For pairs, it is 90%.
If you are playing pairs matchplay, adjust each handicap to 90% of the Course Handicap.
Step 3: Handicap difference
Adjust each Playing Handicap so the lowest handicap plays off zero.
Example:
White Tee: Slope Rating: 133, Course Rating: 72.3, Par: 72
Red Tee: Slope Rating: 125, Course Rating: 73.7, Par: 73
Player 1: White Tee, Handicap Index 6.8
Player 2: White Tee, Handicap Index 15.4
Player 3: Red Tee, Handicap Index 16.7
Player 4: Red Tee, Handicap Index 22.6
Step 1: Course Handicaps
Player 1: 6.8 x 133 / 113 = 8.00 + (72.3 – 72) = 8.3, rounded = 8
Player 2: 15.4 x 133 / 113 = 18.13 + (72.3 – 72) = 18.43, rounded = 18
Player 3: 16.7 x 125 / 113 = 18.47 + (73.7 – 72) = 19.17, rounded = 19
Player 4: 22.6 x 125 / 113 = 25.00 + (73.7 – 72) = 26.7, rounded = 27
Step 2: 90% Allowance
Player 1: 8 x 90% = 7.2 = 7
Player 2: 18 x 90% = 16.2 = 16
Player 3: 19 x 90% = 17.1 = 17
Player 4: 27 x 90% = 24.3 = 24
Step 3: Adjusted for the lowest handicap
Player 1: 7 – 7 = 0
Player 2: 16 – 7 = 9
Player 3: 17 – 7 = 10
Player 4: 24 – 7 = 17
Before the WHS came into force, all players would use the Par & SI from the forward set of tees, regardless of the tee from which they were playing. This is no longer the case and each player should use the SI for the tees from which they are playing.
Still have a question? Post it in the comments below.
NOTE: Some comments might have been added before the new WHS rules took effect.
is it possible for one team to play off the club tees and the other from championship tees ? Handicaps will obviously then be calculated accordingly .
Hi Johan,
Yes it is. Some golf clubs allow this in their competitions already.
However, you should check with the competition organisers to see if any specific tees need to be played from.
My partner (female) and I (male) are playing in a mixed pairs foursomes (ie alternate shots) knockout match on Friday at our home club.
My WHS handicap index is 22.0, her’s is 13.7 – our opponents have 22.8 (man) and 20.0 (lady).
Course rating is 66.7 (men’s white) slope rating 119
for lady’s (red) – course rating 68.9 , slope rating 118
Can you please identify how many shots we will give them and explain the calculation.
Can’t get my head around this….
I was playing off 16.1 index, Course hcp 18, slope 125.
I shot 91, put my score in MyEG and it has knocked 2 shots off, coming out at 89. But when playing with my mate, playing off 20.4 index, Course hcp 23. He shot 90 put his scores into MyEG and it didn’t take any shots off, so his final score was 90.
This has happened every time I’ve entered scores into MyEG.
Can anyone explain this??
Hi Scott,
Your score will be adjusted, which will show in the EG app. This happens so your worst shots on any hole are too high. For example, if you took 10 shots on a par 3, where you get 1 additional shot, this would be adjusted to 7 shots. It is easy to think about this as the number of shots you would take in stableford format to get a score of 0.
Hi,
We were playing a doubles match play tie, after applying 90% and course rating etc we all agreed our handicaps were as follows – 1st opponent 6 and his partner 11
My handicap 14 my partners 16.
Would opponent 2 with the 11 handicap be giving shots on stroke index holes 6 to 10 or would both give us shots on the harder stroke index holes ie 1 to 6 and 10 and 1 to 3 and 5?
Hi John,
The handicaps in ascending order are 6, 11, 14 & 16.
The lowest handicap is 6, so all of the handicaps are adjusted so that the lowest handicapped player does not get any shots.
The adjusted handicaps are 0, 5, 8 & 10.
Player 1 (0) does not get any shots
Player 2 (5) gets a shot on holes with the index 1-5
Player 3 (8) gets a shot on holes with the index 1-8
Player 4 (10) gets a shot on holes with the index 1-10
Hi Karl, for fourball matchplay what is the rule when you have a plus golfer. What are the handicaps for player a plus 3, player b 6, player c 13 and player d 14 in the match
Thank you
Hi Karl,
In this case, the Plus 3 player is moved to 0, giving the other players an additional 3 shots.
Need help as no of us can agree on shits to be given ! Please can someone give me there opinion on following….
Golfer 1 12.7
2 14.2
Both male playing away on course that is 127 slope and cr70.8
Against two ladies ( home team)
Golfer 1 21.1
2 25.7
Ladies slope is 137 cr 74.7
What’s shots should be given from lowest me 12.7
Please help someone
Hi Simon,
In that scenario, the handicaps are 0, 1, 14 & 19.
The ladies play the red tees, the men the whites.
The lowest nett score wins on each hole.
When allocating the strokes, do men use the men’s hole handicap designations and women’s the women’s designations ? Sometimes the hole handicap designation is different for men and women.
Probably a very simple question.
In previous 4 Ball pairs Matches (Congu) shots given/received were 90% of the differnce in handicap
e.g.15 HC (lowest) gave 1 shot to 16 hc
Is it correct that this is no longer the case?
i.e A Course HC of 15 now gives 0 shots to a Course 16
Thanks
Hi Peter,
The 90% allowance is still used for 4-balls and is shown in Step 2 above.
The course handicap is calculated, the 90% adjustment is made and then the shots are reduced by the lowest handicap.
We are playing 2 ladies in the Ultimate matchplay. My understanding is that we take our exact handicap from the white tees and we play 90% of that figure, and the ladies do the same from the red tees. Is this correct. Thanks.
Hi Kevin,
You work out yuor Course handicaps, as shown above, then you all reduce by 90%, before adjusting for course rating and the lowest handicap.
Hi ,
When playing a pairs matchplay against two golfers of the same handicap..6 adjusted to 5.
Are they both adjusted to zero?
Kind Regards.
Stewart.
Hi Stewart, It would depend on the handicaps of the other golfers. However, if they are the lowest handicaps, then yes, they would both the adjusted to 0.
We(2 men)are playing 2 ladies tomorrow in a matchplay comp.
Do we use our own pars/stroke indexes or the ladies?
If it’s our own not only will I be giving 9 shots to a lady who’s handicap is only 3.2 above mine but we would have to give her 2 shots on the last as it plays as a par 5 for ladies and she gets a shot!
An early reply would be very much appreciated as we’re playing tomorrow afternoon!!
Hi Doug,
You play using your own Par and SI values. You use the values for the White tees and the ladies use the values for the Red tees.
How did you play?
Hi Karl,
Doug highlights a question that I’ve been trying to get an answer for. I think Doug is conceding shots twice in his example. He’s giving away 9 shots to the lady because the mixed tee adjustment is based on medal scoring method (as in the current guidance) and already factors in the difference in pars between the two cards. The problem here is that he’s also giving away extra shots on top of this adjustment on the ladies par 5s where his own is par 4.
If we were to instead use the stableford scoring method for mixed tee adjustments, he may be conceding 9 strokes in total including the strokes being assigned to the ladies’ par 5s. When using individual par/SI to assess win on each hole, I think all players should have the same total ‘points to play to handicap’ over the full 18 holes and this is the stableford scoring adjustment to mixed tees. Your thoughts will be appreciated.
Hi, This has been asked a few times and I am looking into it at the moment. I will post an update when I have a definitive answer.
Surely in match play the difference in par is irrelevant
That’s correct. It is the player with the lowest nett shots on the hole who wins.
Under the WHS rules do ladies no longer receive extra shots In mixed golf when there is a difference in the SSS?
Hi Moira,
That’s correct. Instead you use the slope rating and course rating to work out how many shots each player gets, from each of the tees in use.
I have been told that in mixed competitions the ladies no longer get extra shots if there is a difference in SSS under the new slope format.
Is this correct ?
The difference is 4.
Hi Moira,
Yes, this is correct. SSS is no longer used and instead, you get your shots based on the Slope Rating and difference in Course Rating.
Hi Karl,
I believe this explanatory article is mixing terminology incorrectly.
You state that:
Playing Handicap = Handicap Index x Slope Rating / 113
It’s my understanding that it should say:
Course Handicap = Handicap Index x Slope Rating / 113
The Course Handicap then converts to a Playing Handicap for competition purposes and changes depending on the format of play.
Course Handicap x Handicap Allowance = Playing Handicap
Hi David, thanks for spotting this. You are absolutely correct and I have updated the article.
Is 3/4 of Handicap still tenable for either singles or Doubles Matchplay?
I don’t think they are, which is why the competition format has changed.
Hi Karl
In match play, player A (25 handicap) plays from the seniors tees and player B (2 handicap) from the regular tees. The rating and slope are applied and the player playing the forward tees has his handicap adjusted by 2 strokes, thus player B gives player A 21 strokes instead of 23. This seems fair, and it’s as fair as you can get it when competing in stroke play, where the total score is the comparison. However, in match play, where you assess hole by hole, it does not seem to work quite as equitably.
Here is the example from my club; the three hardest holes on the course are 9, 10 and 11. Regardless of which tees are being played, player A receives two strokes per hole from player B.
Hole# 9 Player A 340 yds Player B 400 yds
Hole#10 Player A 330 yds Player B 390 yds
Hole#11 Player A 340 yds Player B 405 yds
One can argue that it all works out by the end of the round, but in match play, there are only 18 scores that matter, not 75 or 125. Winning one hole is significantly more impactful than gaining a stroke or two on any given hole.
If Player A is given the option of playing the match from either tee, it seems a no-brainer that he would certainly prefer the forward tees despite giving up two strokes on the overall cap compared to gaining these huge advantages on the three pivotal holes. Still gets two strokes per hole, yet is given a 50 to 60 yard head start.
This is a real advantage in my opinion, not just perceived, and i do not find any commentary that addresses what appears to be an obvious imbalance.
Very curious to hear what you have to say on the matter.
Hi Karl,
I do hear what you are saying, as this is something that is commonly brought up in mixed pairs matchplay.
The only comment I have is that the player is not given the choice of the tees in use. These will be specified in the competition rules.
From my point of view: When there is a large difference in handicap, the holes where the higher handicapper has shots are that players chance to win a hole. Where they do no get extra shots, those are the holes they have to work hard, just to halve. If I am playing off 24 against a golfer who plays off 14, then I have 10 shots. However, my game is likely to be more erratic and therefore I need the extra shots.
Karl
Just to point out that your calculation above for 90% of a playing handicap of 19 is not correct – it’s 17.1, rounded to 17 (not 18). Apart from that, this is very helpful. Thank you! (and the downloaded ultimate guide has it correct)
Thanks Barb. That has been corrected!
Hi
Think there is a typo in the example of 4 ball matchplay.
(Player 4: 28 x 90% = 25.2, rounded = 22)
Thanks for spotting that Howard, it has been updated.
Karl
What shots we giving when our handicaps are +2 and 1 and we’re playing guys off 13 and 5 , I’m all just confused
My partner off 1 is also a woman
Hi Mike,
The article has been updated to cover the new WHS rules.
Playing a betterball comp on Saturday : 2 ladies versus 2 men. No problem working our handicaps. However, issue is with recent introduction of WHS, how do we calculate the ‘courtesy’ shots? Course rating (for men) off white is 71.6. Course rating (for ladies) off red is 71.1.
Hi Denise,
The article has been updated to cover the new WHS rules.
Can you please advice us what handicap to use CONGU handicap is no longer active.
WHS is now the only handicap in use as from 2nd November 2020.
Hi Robert,
The article has been updated to cover the new WHS rules.
Hi. I Believe have understood the match Play handicap system. Do the same Workings apply to stroke play? For instance my partner and i are a female team, playing in stableford comps and most other competitors are male teams, with a few male and female teams. We Women play off Red and Men off white tees, apply the 90%, but do the women get any adjustments between the sss of those tees? Or do we just compete on the si for the red and white tees? Thanks
Hi Penny,
Yes the same rules will apply. The only difference is that in Strokeplay or Stableford, you play based on the Par & Stroke Index of the tees you play from. In Matchplay, you base all scores on the front set of tees in use.
The full guidance is available from CONGU: http://www.congu.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/MIXED-GOLF-SSS-SI.pdf
Hi Karl
Thankyou for that . I remain in discussion with the organisers of a competition and hope you might give an opinion on the situation. I played in on Tuesday. I emailed the link you supplied to the organisers and did the workings for my handicap as follows. Sss white tee 74, sss red tee 71. Men played from white, ladies (of whom we were very few) played from red. My handicap is 35. I added the 3 stroke difference of the sss, then worked out 90% of 38, making it 34.2, rounded down to 34. The organisers took the 3 stroke difference, then added 3 back on as that is the par difference between the two tee off position, then did 90% making my handicap 32, which is what I was told I had to play on. I duly did, but before I enter any more mixed competitions I feel I need to have clarity on this topic. Kind regards
Hi Penny,
That is not how I understand the guidance issued by CONGU for Matchplay competitions.
What was the competition Format? Strokeplay, Stableford, etc.
It was a stableford pairs 4 ball best ball (I think!)
I would ask the competition organisers why they did that and see what reasons they give.
Hi Penny, as the white tee had a higher SSS, as I understand it, it is they that should receive the extra shots if this was Medal or Matchplay so why were you increasing your handicap? As yours was Stableford, you should look at the difference between the SSS and the Par in each case and, if that is the same for the whites and the reds then there would be no adjustment so the organisers have got this right. That said, if you are referring to your course handicap then shouldn’t it be 85% of this under the WHS, not the old 90%?
Hi Nicki,
You no longer get extra shots from the SSS. Under WHS, this is done through the difference in Course Rating.
Can I please clarify the following situation. I’m playing with my wife in Round 1 next week. So her handicap is increased based in the differences in men’s and ladies course SSS. However what card do we use the the shot allocation ? men’s for the men and ladies for my wife ?
Keen to resolve.
Thanks
Paul
Hi Paul,
You should use the Par & SI of the front tees in use, as per CONGU guidance.
If you are using White & Red tees, then all players should use the values for the Red tees.
If you are in a competition, the rules will tell you which tees to use.
Please could someone tell us what our handicaps will be
The 2 men we are playing are 1 and 14
Our handicaps are 24 for a man and 23 for a woman
Our course is 6355 yards off white tees
White Tee SSS is 71
Red Tee SSS 73
Many thanks
The article gives you everything you need to work it out for yourself.
However, the SSS difference is 2, so add 2 shots to your handicap, taking you to 25.
The lowest handicap is 1, so take 1 off each handicap, giving you: 0, 13, 23 & 24.
Then apply 90%, giving you 0, 11.7 = 12, 21.7 = 22 & 21.6 = 22.
You then play each hole based on the SI & Par of the Red tees.
In your article, you calculate the 90% and then add the mixed tee difference but, in your answer above, you add the mixed tee difference and then take 90% of the total. Option one produces a playing handicap of 23 as opposed to 22 with option two. Which of these two is the correct one?
Hi Nicki,
The answer in the comments was asked under the CONGU rules, not the WHS rules.
This ha now changed so do the ladies get their shots on the the red tee SI and men get theirs from the SI on the white card?
Hi Josh,
Yes, they do. THere is also extra shots added, or taken away, depending on the Course Ratings too.
Karl
Can you confirm that if it is mixed pairs the stroke index is taken from the men’s
Hi Dana,
This is subject to a lot of debate. For Stroke play and Stableford, it is recommended that each player uses the Par & SI from the tees they are playing off. However, for matchplay, CONGU recommend that it should be the forward set (shortest) of tees.
This can all be read in the CONGU Guidance: http://www.congu.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/MIXED-GOLF-SSS-SI.pdf