Playing Handicap, made clearer
Handicap allowance For the format you play
Understand how Course Handicap becomes Playing Handicap, then see how How Many Strokes guides golfers through your club’s configured formats.
Choose the relevant format, enter the player and tee details, and review the result before the round.
Use the allowance specified for the competition. The reference percentages on this page are The R&A’s recommendations.
Three terms, one clear sequence
From your index to the strokes you play with
Course Handicap relates to the course and tee. Playing Handicap takes the format of play into account.
Handicap Index
A portable measure of demonstrated playing ability, used as the starting point for a course calculation.
Course Handicap
The course and tee calculation adapts the Handicap Index to the course being played.
Playing Handicap
The format’s handicap allowance and any applicable adjustments determine the strokes used for that competition.
A useful rules reference
The format makes a difference
Four-Ball stroke play and Four-Ball match play use different recommended allowances. Team formats can combine player handicaps in different ways.
The National Association establishes handicap allowances or delegates that responsibility. For an organised competition, the Committee specifies the allowance in the Terms of the Competition.
The examples here are a selected reference, rather than the full format list. Check your competition’s Terms and the applicable association guidance.
| Format | Recommended allowance |
|---|---|
| Individual stroke play, including Stableford | 95%Subject to the field-size and authority guidance below |
| Individual match play | 100% |
| Four-Ball stroke play, including Stableford | 85% |
| Four-Ball match play | 90% |
| Foursomes | 50%Of the combined team handicap |
| Greensomes | 60% lower + 40% higher |
| Scramble · four players | 25% / 20% / 15% / 10%From lowest to highest handicap |
| Scramble · two players | 35% lower + 15% higher |
The R&A recommends 95% for individual net stroke play events with 30–100 players. Field size and the make-up of the field can justify a different allowance under the applicable guidance. Appendix C also covers further formats.
In match play, the lowest Playing Handicap normally plays off zero, with others receiving the difference. See Appendix C for allocation details.
Rules reference checked against The R&A on 31 October 2026
The How Many Strokes calculator
A clear route from format to result
When the feature is enabled, golfers can choose an available match format and enter their details on the terminal.
Open Handicap Allowance
Select the allowance option alongside the usual Course Handicap entry.
Choose the format
Pick the format offered for your club and competition. Check whether it is stroke play, match play or a team format.
Enter the player details
Enter the player handicaps and the course, tee and gender options requested for the selected format.
Review the result
Read the displayed player or team handicap and check the selected course, tees and player details.
The screenshots illustrate a configured setup. Confirm the applicable allowance and format with the competition Terms. See the HCP tools and configuration options
Look behind the result
Check the tees and the calculation
For formats with several players, review each player’s handicap and tee selection. Options such as “Tee for Scoring” appear where relevant to the selected format.
In mixed-tee events, different pars can affect the calculation. The adjustment depends on the format and on how the result is recorded.
Open the detailed result to see the information and allowance calculation behind the displayed handicap.
Useful before the first tee
Help golfers start with the right information
The format, course and tee are practical details to settle before the round. Keep the relevant handicap tools close alongside the club’s daily golf information.
A useful club app brings these needs together with course conditions, pins, rules and opening hours. News and offers can sit alongside that useful visit.
Tools within reach
On the screen and on a phone
Choose the access route for your players. The available tools and formats depend on your club’s setup.
Clubhouse screen
Make course-handicap conversion and allowance tools available before players head out.
Club Web App
Open configured club information and handicap tools by QR code or browser link, without an App Store download or login.
Your Members App
Bring handicap tools and practical golf information into your club’s own iPhone and Android app.
Good to know
Frequently Asked Questions
Clear answers about allowances, format choices, tees and access to the tools.
Is Handicap Index the same as Playing Handicap?
Each term has a different role
The Handicap Index is the starting measure of playing ability. Course Handicap adapts it to the course and tee. The Playing Handicap calculation then applies the format’s allowance and any relevant adjustments.
- Course and tee
- Use the relevant course information for the tees being played.
- Format of play
- Check the allowance and competition settings before using the Playing Handicap for the round.
Are the allowance percentages mandatory everywhere?
Check the authority and the competition Terms
The R&A publishes recommended allowances. The National Association establishes them or delegates that responsibility, and the Committee specifies the applicable allowance in the competition Terms.
- A reference, with context
- The recommended percentage can depend on the format, field size and make-up of the field.
- Your event’s allowance
- Use the allowance adopted for the competition under the applicable association guidance.
Why do Four-Ball allowances differ?
Stroke play and match play are different formats
The R&A’s recommendations distinguish Four-Ball stroke play from Four-Ball match play. Selecting the precise format matters.
- Four-Ball stroke play
- The recommendation is 85%, including Four-Ball Stableford.
- Four-Ball match play
- The recommendation is 90%. Four-Ball Par/Bogey also has its own entry in the official table.
What happens when players use different tees?
Review the format and the scoring basis
Mixed-tee adjustments depend on the format and any difference in par. An extra par adjustment is not applied in the same way in every format.
- Player details
- Check each player’s handicap, tee and the scoring options requested by the calculator.
- Format-specific rules
- Official guidance distinguishes gross or net score formats from Stableford, Par/Bogey and results recorded relative to par.
Can golfers use the handicap tools on their phones?
Keep the tools close before play
The HCP tools can be available through the Club Web App or the separate Members App, depending on your club’s chosen setup.
- Club Web App
- Give members and guests quick QR and browser access without an App Store download or login.
- Members App
- Make handicap tools part of your club-owned app alongside useful course information and configured member services.
Your club, your formats
See the handicap tools for your club
Talk through your courses, tees, supported formats and player access options in a demonstration tailored to your club.
Talk to our team on +45 7239 1000