How Golf’s World Handicap System Makes Any Match Fair

If you know me at all, it's no secret that my favorite week of the year is the HGGA Championship, aka my annual buddy's golf trip that I've been going on for more than a quarter century. It's a yearly opportunity to play a ton of mostly bad golf and spend quality time with friends. But there's also a lot at stake that week, at least to us. And that wouldn't be possible without the World Handicap System. Our four-day tournament's format has changed more times than the FedEx Cup throughout the years, but the fire burning within to win our green jacket has never wavered. For us, this is as close to winning the real thing as we'll ever get, and this type of competition is also one of the best ways to improve your game. We had 10 participants in this year's HGGA Championship in Myrtle Beach, with handicap indexes ranging all the way from 3.2 to 25.5, and swings of all shapes and sizes. But thanks to the World Handicap System, we all played as equals. That was reflected by six players being within four shots of the lead heading into the final round. Throughout the back nine, updates were flying as four players spread across three different groups had a great chance to win before Tim Quinn emerged by a single shot. And as defending champ, I got to slip that green jacket on. What I particularly love about the World Handicap System, as opposed to the one I grew up using, is that it updates on a daily basis. So if someone played really well one day on the trip, his handicap index could possibly change ahead of the next round, which would then affect his course handicap for that day. And obviously, that could work the other way if someone didn't play well. So the system accurately determines what level everyone is playing at, which is why we have such a competitive net tournament. The same is true of the Golf Digest Match Play Championship, where my colleagues and I compete in a year-long bracket. Our handicap indexes are always fluctuating, so you don't know how many shots someone is getting until the day of the match. Let me show you how to set up a match with the Gin app using an example from this year's tournament, where Kevin Harrigan played Stephen Hennessy at Pelham Country Club. First, click on Handicap Calculator. Then plug in the course you're playing and the tees, and then add golfers to get a screen that looks like this. In this example, Kevin's 10.6 handicap index went up to a 12.0 course handicap, and Steve's went from 12.7 to 14.0. That meant Steve received two shots that day, which is shown under SO, or Shots Off. And if you're doing stroke play, the Gin app will show how many shots everyone in your group is getting based on the person with the low course handicap that day. Easy peasy. And to show just how well the system works, even world number one Scotty Shepler uses it when he plays against his buddies during off weeks. Is there anything interesting that you do to make it equitable with your friends when you play with them? Whether it might be having to play your worst ball or something? Most of it's just strokes. I think that's one of the great parts about our game is, you know, I can go out there with whoever it is, and we can come up with some sort of a fair match just based on the handicap system. So what are you giving? Depends on the game, but at home, I'm typically playing to a plus seven. I used to be a plus five. They moved me to a plus seven. So now we got guys in the group that are getting, like, two strokes the whole. And I typically still will win more often than not, I feel like. But it's just fun. Like, it's just entertaining. You don't know, like, if you go out there with a 12-13 handicap, you don't know what the heck's going to happen. Yeah, if I'm at home pretty much either Friday or Saturday, I'm playing with somebody that's, I'm giving, you know, 20 strokes. I think we're up to 20 strokes now. And he takes them all. Scotty didn't seem to be thrilled with all the strokes he has to give his friends as a plus seven. But I think the world number one can afford it. And seriously, what other sport is a system that allows regular Joes to compete with the best player on the planet? Anyway, next time you play with your buddies, try setting up a proper match. It will probably make your normal game more fun. And you might even become a better competitive golfer in the process.