HANDICAP ALLOWANCES
As recommended by the European Golf Association
F-1. PLAYERS COMPETING FROM DIFFERENT TEES; OR MEN AND
WOMEN COMPETING FROM SAME TEES
The Course Rating reflects the playing difficulty of the golf course for a Scratch Golfer.
The Course Rating and the Slope Rating, together one of the foundations of the EGA
Handicap System, reflect the playing difficulty of the golf course for players with a
handicap other than scratch.
The course with the higher Course Rating is more difficult. When players compete in
the same competition but play from different tees (men vs. women, but also men
vs. men or women vs. women) or when men and women play from the same tees,
the player playing from the set of tees with the higher Course Rating should receive
additional Handicap Strokes equal to the difference between the Course Ratings.
However, the formula of the EGA Playing Handicap (see clause 19.3) compensates for
that difference and automatically adjusts the Playing Handicaps accordingly.
Different tees may also have a different Par, but Par is not a standard of the difficulty
of a golf course. Par is only included in the formula of the Playing Handicap because
the EGA Handicap System is also based on Stableford scores for reasons of Stroke
Control (see Appendix J, The relevance of Par).
This means that in Stroke Play and Match Play Handicap Competitions, when players
compete in the same competition but play from tees with a different Par, the players
playing from the set of tees with the higher Par receive additional strokes equal to
the difference between the Par of the sets of tees.
First, the Playing Handicap should be determined and then the additional strokes are
added to the Playing Handicap of the player(s) playing from the tees with a higher Par.
EXAMPLE 1:
If, in a Stroke Play or Match Play competition, men playing from the Men’s Standard
Tees where the Par is 71 compete against women playing from the Ladies’ Standard
Tees where the Par is 72, the ladies must add one stroke to their Playing Handicap.
Note: For handicapping calculations the additional stroke(s) must be disregarded !!
EXAMPLE 2:
Mrs. A and Mr. B are partners in a mixed foursome competition (Stroke Play or
Match Play only). The men play from the Men’s Standard Tees where the Par is 71
and the women play from the Ladies’ Standard Tees where the Par is 72.
Mrs. A has a Playing Handicap of 21 and Mr. B of 7. Mrs. A must add one stroke
to her Playing Handicap, so she will play off 22. The Playing Handicap of the team is
50 % x (22 + 7) = 29 / 2 = 14.5 rounded to 15
If less than full Playing Handicaps are recommended in such competitions (e.g. Fourball
Stroke Play), the percentage reduction in playing handicaps must also affect the
adjustment for the difference between the Pars. In that case the following procedure
is recommended:
1. Determine the Playing Handicaps.
2. Apply the adjustment for the difference in Pars.
3. Apply the Handicap Allowance for the appropriate form of play (e.g. 90 percent).
EXAMPLE 3:
In a Four-ball Stroke Play competition the men play from the Men’s Standard Tees
where the Par is 71 and the women play from the Ladies’ Standard Tees where the
Par is 72.
Mrs. A has an Playing Handicap of 16.
The Handicap Allowance for this competition is 90 percent of her adjusted playing
handicap : 90 % x {16 + (72 - 71)} = 90 % x 17 = 15.3 rounded to 15
EXAMPLE 4:
Mrs. A and Mr. B are partners in a mixed greensomes competition (Stroke Play or
Match Play). The men play from the Men’s Standard Tees where the Par is 71 and
the women play from the Ladies’ Standard Tees where the Par is 72.
Mr. B has an Playing Handicap of 8 and Mrs. A of 21.
The recommended Handicap Allowance is 60 percent of the lower handicap + 40
percent of the higher handicap:
Mr. B receives 60 percent of 8 = 4.8 strokes.
Mrs. A receives 40 percent of her adjusted playing handicap: 40 % x (21 + 1) = 8.8
strokes
The team receives 4.8 + 8.8 = 13.6 rounded to 14
F-2. HANDICAP ALLOWANCES
The European Golf Association recommends that the following Handicap Allowances
shall apply in the following forms of play.
A National Association may at its discretion make the recommendations mandatory.
The reference to handicaps in all cases refers to EGA Playing Handicaps.
F-2/1 MATCH PLAY
Handicap Strokes to be taken according to the Handicap Stroke Index.
Singles:
The player with the higher handicap receives the full difference between the Playing
Handicaps of the two players.
Foursomes:
The side with the higher sum of the Playing Handicaps of the partners receives 50 %
of the full difference between the aggregate handicap of each side (0.5 is rounded
upwards).
Example:
Players A (Playing Handicap 11) and B (Playing Handicap 18) play a match against
Players C (Playing Handicap 6) and D (Playing Handicap 12)
A and B receive: 50% x [(11 + 18) - (6 + 12)] = 50% x (29 − 18) =
50% x 11 = 5.5 - rounded upwards 6 strokes
Note: In Mixed Foursomes Match Play, Handicap Strokes are taken as assigned on the
Handicap Stroke Index for men.
Four-ball:
The player with the lowest Playing Handicap, who shall play from scratch, to concede
Handicap Strokes to the three other players based on 90 % of the difference between
the Playing Handicaps.
Note: In Mixed Four-ball Match Play, Handicap Strokes are taken as assigned on the
player’s respective Handicap Stroke Indices.
Greensomes:
The partner with the lower Playing Handicap receives 60 % of his Playing Handicap
and the partner with the higher playing handicap receives 40% of his Playing
Handicap. Both figures are added before rounding. The final figure (= the playing
handicap of the side) is rounded (0.5 upwards).
The side with the higher playing handicap receives the full difference between the
handicaps of the two sides.
If, in the above formats, players play from different tees with a different Par, see
clause F-1 in this Appendix (see above).
F-2/2 BOGEY, PAR AND STABLEFORD COMPETITIONS
Singles:
The player receives 100 % of his Playing Handicap.
Foursomes:
The side receives 50 % of the sum of the Playing Handicaps of the partners.
(0.5 rounded upwards).
Four-ball:
Each partner receives 90 % of his Playing Handicap.
Greensomes:
The partner with the lower Playing Handicap receives 60 % of his Playing Handicap and
the partner with the higher Playing Handicap receives 40 % of his Playing Handicap.
Both figures are added before rounding. This final figure (= the playing handicap of
the side) is rounded (0.5 upwards).
Handicap Strokes to be taken according to the Handicap Stroke Index.
Players with a “plus” handicap give one or more strokes to the course commencing
at stroke index 18.
In a mixed foursome or greensome Handicap Strokes are taken as assigned on the
Handicap Stroke Index for men.
In a mixed four-ball Handicap Strokes are taken as assigned on the player’s respective
Handicap Stroke Indices.
In the above formats, when players compete in the same competition but play
from different tees with a different Par, NO EXTRA adjustment for the difference in
Pars will be applied to their playing handicaps since the formula of the EGA Playing
Handicap (see clause 19.3) compensates for that difference.
F-2/3 STROKE PLAY
Singles:
The player receives 100 % of his Playing Handicap.
Foursomes:
The side receives 50 % of the of the sum of the Playing Handicaps of the partners
(0.5 rounded upwards).
Four-ball:
Each partner receives 90 % of his Playing Handicap.
Handicap Strokes to be taken according to the Handicap Stroke Index.
In mixed four-ball stroke play Handicap Strokes are taken as assigned on the player’s
respective Handicap Stroke Indices.
Greensomes:
The partner with the lower playing handicap receives 60 % of his Playing Handicap
and the partner with the higher Playing Handicap receives 40 % of his Playing
Handicap. Both figures are added before rounding. The final figure (= the playing
handicap of the side) is rounded (0.5 upwards).
In the above formats, when players compete in the same competition but play from
different tees with a different Par, see clause F-1 (see above).
Note 1: Handicap Allowances in a handicap competition must be laid down by the
Committee in the conditions under which the competition is to be played (Rules of
Golf, Rule 33-1).
Note 2: The Committee in charge of a competition to be played over an extended
period may provide in the Conditions of the Tournament, that a player’s Exact
Handicap may be changed during a competition.
Note 3: In handicap competitions over 36 holes, Handicap Strokes should be given or
taken on a basis of two 18 holes rounds.
Note 4: Sudden death play-off. When extra holes are played in handicap competitions,
Handicap Strokes should be taken in accordance with the Handicap Stroke Index.
Note 5: Players with a “plus” handicap give one or more strokes to the course
commencing at stroke index 18.