How the League Calculates Handicaps

The Handicap Committee uses computer software purchased by the League to calculate handicaps. The software follows the USGA Handicap Formula (Section 10) of the 2008-2011 USGA Handicap System Manual except the League has reduced the USGA minimum number of scores for a valid Handicap Index from five to three. This change allows new League members to get a handicap sooner for Special Events.

The Handicap Committee uses the USGA Equitable Stroke Control (ESC) procedure to minimize the possibilities of distorting a handicap. The ESC sets the maximum score a golfer can post on any hole depending on the golfer's Course Handicap. Handicap calculations are based on Handicap Differentials derived from the Adjusted Gross Score, USGA Course Rating/Slope and a slope rating of a course of standard difficulty (113).

Nine-Hole Course Rating/Slope for Schaumburg Golf Club

Men Tournament Baer Players
Red 33.9/121 33.5/118 32.9/117
       
Women Tournament Baer Players
Green 34.0/124 33.6/114 34.0/114
       
    Updated: September 2008

The number of lowest (best) scores used for Handicap Differential calculations is determined by the following table:

Total Number of
Number of Lowest Scores
Scores To Be Used
3 - 6 1
7 - 8 2
9 - 10 3
11 - 12 4
13 - 14 5
15 - 16 6
17 7
18 8
19 9
20 10

An example Handicap Index calculation is as follows.

A man's adjusted gross scores for nine-holes from the red tees were:

51T, 51B, 47T, 55T, 45P, 48T, 50T, 49P, 48B, 52P, and 49T

The letters after the scores are the courses... Baer, Tournament, and Players. From the eleven scores, the four lowest scores are picked:

47T, 45P, 48T, and 48B

Now we need to calculate the Handicap Differentials for the lowest (best) scores and round the results to the nearest tenth (.05 or more is rounded upward):

(47T - 33.9) x (113 / 121) = 12.23388430 = 12.2
(45P - 32.9) x (113 / 117) = 11.68632479 = 11.7
(48T - 33.9) x (113 / 121) = 13.16776860 = 13.2
(48B - 33.5) x (113 / 118) = 13.88559322 = 13.9

Then average of the Handicap Differentials, multiply by .96, and drop the numbers after the tenths. The result is the golfer's Handicap Index:

(12.2 + 11.7 + 13.2 + 13.9) / 4 = 12.75 x .96 = 12.24 = 12.2

The Course Handicap is used in Special Events. A golfer's Course Handicap is determined by multiplying a Handicap Index by the Slope Rating of the course played and then dividing by 113 (the Slope Rating of a course of standard difficulty). The results are rounded the nearest whole number (.5 or more is rounded upward). The Course Handicap for the Tournament would be:

(12.2 x 121) / 113 = 13.06371681 = 13