What does a Score Differential do for your handicap?

Just as not all golfers are created equal, not all golf courses are clones. Designs vary. Degree of difficulty fluctuates, too.

What does that mean? For one thing, it means that a score of, say, 82 on Course A may represent a less (or more) impressive performance than a score of 82 shot on Course B. It depends how tough the track is and what tees you play.

In either case, though, you will type in the same number when you post your round toward your handicap. (Don’t have a handicap? You can register for one here.)

Which raises another question: how does the handicap system ensure that the score you have recorded is an accurate reflection of your performance?

The answer is something called the “Score Differential.”

The Score Differential measures the performance of a round in relation to the difficulty of the course played by taking into account the Course Rating and Slope Rating, which are listed on the scorecard. The Score Differential also factors in daily playing conditions. Let’s say bad weather made the course more challenging than usual. The Score Differential can adjust for that, too.

There’s some math involved here. The good news is, you don’t have to do it. When you post a score toward your handicap, the system crunches the numbers automatically. Something similar applies if you only play nine holes. The system automatically generates an 18-hole Score Differential by combining the nine you completed with an expected score for the nine holes you didn’t play. As the term suggests, an expected score is what a player with a given handicap would be expected to shoot on those particular holes.

That’s the beauty of the handicap system. For all the differences in golfers and golf courses, we can all compete on a level playing field. 

If you still need a handicap, sign up for one here.