GHIN Definitions

Handicap Index: Your Handicap Index® represents your demonstrated playing ability. It is a portable number, so you can use it from course to course and tee to tee. It is based on the Score Differentials™ from your past rounds – that is, your performance relative to the difficulty of the courses and tees played, as well as the playing conditions during each of those rounds.   What is a Handicap Index®?

Course Handicap: A Course Handicap represents the number of strokes needed to play to par from the tees being played based on your handicap index and the course rating and slope. FAQs - Calculate Course Handicap and Playing Handicap

Playing Handicap: A Playing Handicap is the actual number of strokes you receive or give during a round and is the number used for the purposes of the game or competition. This number is often the same as a Course Handicap, however, if a handicap allowance of less than 100% is applied, or if the format is match play, or if players are competing from tees with different pars, it may be different. FAQs - Calculate Course Handicap and Playing Handicap

Target Score: A target score is the score you will shoot if you play to your handicap. Course Handicap™ + par of the tees you’re playing = your target score. If your Course Handicap is, say, 20, and par is 70, your target score is 90. Forget Par – Aim for Your ‘Target Score’ Next Round

Low H.I.: A Low Handicap Index is the lowest Handicap Index® achieved over the 365-day period preceding the most recent score in your scoring record. The Low Handicap Index serves as a reference point against which your current Handicap Index can be compared. FAQs - What is my Low Handicap Index?

Soft Cap: If your Handicap Index increases by 3.0 strokes within a year, the soft cap slows the rate of additional movement beyond 3.0 strokes by 50%. Soft Cap and Hard Cap

Hard Cap: The hard cap sets a max increase of 5.0 total strokes within a year. Soft Cap and Hard Cap

Slope Rating: Slope Rating measures the relative difficulty of a golf course for players who are bogey players compared to those who are scratch players. FAQs - What is Slope Rating?

Course Rating: An indication of the difficulty of a golf course for the scratch player under normal course and weather conditions. Course Rating vs. Slope Rating

Bogey Rating: An indication of the difficulty of a golf course for the bogey player. Course Rating vs. Slope Rating

To Par (Adj. Score): The maximum postable score for each hole played is limited to a net double bogey, equal to double bogey plus any handicap strokes you are entitled to receive on that hole based on your Course Handicap™. FAQs - What is the maximum hole score?

Score Differential: Measures the performance of a round in relation to the relative difficulty of the course that was played, measured by the Course Rating™ and Slope Rating™. The result of the daily playing conditions calculation (PCC) is also included in the Score Differential calculation, which may provide an adjustment if course and/or weather conditions significantly impacted scores on that day. FAQs - What is a Score Differential

PCC: At the end of each day, the playing conditions calculation takes place automatically to determine if scores made at the course were significantly higher or lower than the expected scores of the players who made them, primarily due to weather and/or course set up. FAQs - What is the Playing Conditions Calculation (PCC)?

Score Types: H = Home, A = Away, C = Competition, N= Nine hole Round, P = Penalty, E = Exceptional Round.