Membership Handicaps 

Calculating Handicaps for Ryder Cup Matches using the World Handicap System

Definitions

Course Rating - shows how hard the course is for a scratch golfer.  A scratch golfer is defined as a player who can play the course with a course handicap of zero. 

Slope Rating - how difficult the course is for a bogy golfer, compared to a scratch golfer.  A bogey golfer is defined as a golfer with a course handicap of 20. 

We must first convert the individual handicap index into a course handicap.  We do this by using the following formula: 

Handicap Index x   Slope Rating  /  113  = Course Handicap 

Example:    AJ Jones Handicap index is 19.7, the slope rating 126 if playing Mackay to Cameron / 113 =  21.96 (22) 

For Match play, there are 3 steps 

Step 1:  For each player convert their handicap index into a course handicap 

Step 2: For individual match play, the allowance is 100% of your course handicap.  However if you are playing in pairs, similar to our first day of the ryder cup (Four Ball Matches) the allowance is 90% of your course handicap.   (course handicap x .90)  

Step 3: Handicap Difference - adjust each playing handicap so the lowest handicap plays off zero. 

EXAMPLE 

Benson   10.5    x 126 / 113 = 11.7 rounded to 12 

Ross 11.9 x 126 / 113 =13.2 rounded to 13

Milbert 14.0 x 126 / 113 =15.6 rounded to 16

Huck 17.9 x 126 / 113 =19.9 rounded to 20 

Slope  Rating 126

In single match play on a course with the slope of 126,  figuring Ross is playing Benson, Ross would receive one stroke.   Huck would receive 4 strokes.  

IF however, this was a four ball match (teams of Huck and Milbert vs Benson and Ross) we would need to adjust the course handicaps to 90% then determine handicap difference.  

EXAMPLE 

everything remains the same in the above example, now we determine 90% allowance. 

Benson course handicap = 12 x .90 = 10.8  round to 11

Ross course handicap = 13 x .90 = 11.7 round to 12 

Milbert course handicap = 16 x .90 = 14.4 round to 14

Huck course handicap = 20 x .90 = 18     round to 18

Adjust for lowest handicap 

Benson :   11-11 = 0 

Ross: 12-11= 1

Milbert 14-11= 3

Huck 18-11=7

The official handicaps in this group for a two man vs two man best ball have now been determined.