Understanding Handicap Systems?

[Deleted]

Hello,



I play some irl but never really understood handicap systems. One thing someone may be able to clear up is: I often hear players talk about getting their handicap down but the really good players handicap numbers are better if they are higher. Are they talking about getting their negative score down counter intuitively?



Thanks,

-Mike

[edi_vedder]

Take a look at this tweet directly from the TGC site:

Explaining the Handicap System

That should probabely answer most of your questions.

[Deleted]

Thanks Thomas. I think I get it. There is a plus but the plus actually means below zero (weird, but some things in golf are just that way) so when a golfer says they are trying to get their handicap down they mean a plus higher number or in the case of non-pluses (positive, which I'm guessing most amateur players are) they actually mean lowering that number. For the + handicappers it really means negative below zero so it is still referred to as lowering their handicap. And I'm also guessing that a scratch player is at zero (where we all started thanks HB). Not confusing at all.