The golf handicap explained, from first card to Handicap Index
From your first three cards to a number that travels with you. A clear guide to the World Handicap System, its formulas and what they mean on the first tee.
Section
Golf
The handicap, the swing, the etiquette nobody explains and the ground under your feet.
Golf rewards patience more than strength and asks for a little knowledge before the first tee: how the handicap makes players of every level comparable, what a sound swing is built on, how to keep pace and care for the course, and why a links plays nothing like a parkland.
Your first round of golf, etiquette and pace of play without the fear
Nobody expects a beginner to play well. What matters is staying safe, keeping up and caring for the course, and all three are easier than they look.
Golf swing fundamentals, grip, posture and the first good contact
Most swing faults begin before the club moves. Here are the basics every good coach starts with, from the grip and posture to a balanced finish.
Links, parkland, heathland and desert courses, how the ground shapes your game
The same swing can produce very different golf depending on the ground beneath it. How the main course types play, and how to adapt your shots and your packing.
Try the tool
Handicap Calculator
Course Handicap for today’s tees, score differentials and your Handicap Index under the World Handicap System.
More to explore
The other sections
- PadelFour players, two walls and a solid racket: the fastest growing racket game, explained from the first serve.
- TennisLove, deuce and tiebreaks, clay against grass, a serve you can trust and where to stand in doubles.
- Active LivingWarm-up, strength and recovery: the habits that keep you playing for decades.
- TravelGolf holidays, padel in Spain, tennis camps and how to fly with your kit.
- Gear & StyleClub fitting, strings and tension, the right soles and what to wear at the club.