Players are awarded a Handicap Index based on the average of the best 8 rounds from their last 20 games. The official description is the average of the best 8 Score Differentials from the last 20 acceptable scores. The handicap index may change by a half stroke or so when the 20^th score of the 8 counting scores drops out when it is either appreciably low or high.

The Course Handicap is the Handicap Index adjusted by the slope rating and the difference of course rating and par. Course Handicap™ is the Handicap Index® x (Slope Rating™ / 113) + (CR-PAR).

For example, the course rating is 121 for the yellow tee course for both men & women. The slope adjustment is 121 divided by 113 equalling 1.07. For a Handicap index of 15 the Course Handicap is 16.06 plus (CR-Par). Women play to a course handicap of 16.06 + 0 and men to a course handicap of 14 as the course rating minus par is -1.8. The handicap allowance is then calculated according the format of play.

The Course Rating an indication of difficulty of a golf course for a scratch golfer under normal course and weather conditions. For the yellow course this is 64.2 for men and 68 for women. See table below for the range of tees.

Adjusted Gross Score is a way to adjust a player’s score to compensate for disastrous holes. Scores at such holes are reduced to net double bogey. There is no change from the old system.

Score Differential is the adjusted gross score less the course rating, adjusted where necessary by an allowance for playing conditions (Playing Conditions Calculation) times 113 divided by the course slope (121). A man playing with a Playing Handicap of 15 on the yellow course with an adjusted gross score of 85 would have a score differential of 85 – 64.2 x 113/121 minus PCC =  20.8 x 0.933 = 19.4. This value is rounded to one decimal place.

Playing Handicap is the actual number of strokes a player gives or receives for the round being played. A man with a handicap index of 15 playing a medal round on the yellow course will receive 95% of their course handicap of 14.3 which is 13.5 giving a playing handicap of 14.

Playing Conditions Calculation (PCC) is an adjustment to reflect how harder or easier the course played on the day of a competition. Values of -1, 0, 1, 2, & 3 are applied in the calculation of score differentials. It is arrived at by
Calculating the expected score for each player