A handicap is a number representing how many strokes above par a golfer typically scores in a round. A scratch golfer (handicap 0) plays around par. A 20-handicapper typically shoots about 20 over par. Lower is better.
Your handicap lets players of different abilities compete fairly — the better player gives the weaker player strokes.
Each hole on a course is ranked by difficulty from 1 (hardest) to 18 (easiest) — this is the Stroke Index. Your handicap determines how many extra strokes you receive, starting from the hardest holes:
A player with handicap 5 gets one extra stroke on the 5 holes ranked SI-1 through SI-5.
A player with handicap 20 gets one extra stroke on all 18 holes, plus a second stroke on the 2 hardest holes (SI-1 and SI-2).
Your net score on a hole is your gross (actual) score minus any handicap strokes you receive there. If you score a 5 on a par-4 where you get a handicap stroke, your net score is 4 — a net par.
Net scoring levels the field because every player is compared against their own net par, not raw par. High handicappers can score pars and birdies just like low handicappers.
Gross scoring uses your actual stroke count with no handicap adjustments. Points (in Stableford) or comparisons are made directly against the course's par. It's used for scratch or low-handicap competitions where all players compete on a level field without adjustments.
Stableford distributes handicap strokes per hole using SI. Points are earned against your net par on each hole. You can also play Stableford gross (no strokes), scoring directly against raw par.
Quota builds your handicap into your quota target (36 − handicap) instead of distributing strokes per hole. You always score on gross — a par on hole 1 earns the same points regardless of your handicap. The difference shows up in the target you need to beat, not the points you earn.
Set up a round in this format and share the link with your group — live scoring, free, no account needed.