GHIN and Bear It: Why the Handicap System Deserves More Credit

If you want to start an argument, ask five golfers about the USGA’s handicap system — commonly known as GHIN.

Administered by the United States Golf Association, GHIN (and the idea of giving opponents a lot of strokes) gets a lot of eyerolls, especially from better players who can’t stand losing to someone getting a pop a hole.

I get it.

The system isn’t perfect, but it’s time we acknowledge that it’s pretty darn good, and it can make your next Myrtle Beach golf trip even better.

Handicaps allow golfers of different skill levels to play competitive matches, and that’s a good thing. So why do so many people complain about it?

What Your Handicap Really Means
If someone says, “I’m around a 12,” don’t bet money on that round.

Many golfers mistakenly think their handicap is their average score minus par. So, if they usually shoot 89, they assume they’re a 17. That’s wrong.

Your handicap reflects your potential, not your average score. Your index is based on the eight best scores out of your last 20 rounds.

That 102 you shot when you lost your mind and your swing. It doesn’t matter. It won’t count toward your index.

Require a Handicap for your group
One tip for every trip organizer: require everyone to have an active index.

If your group is posting scores consistently, handicaps tend to balance out over the course of a trip. You’ll get the occasional hot round, but it works in the long run and makes things fair.

Count every stroke
Yes, sandbagging is a concern. But the opposite is a bigger issue than most people realize.

Reverse sandbagging happens when you scoop a three-footer, or someone concedes your double bogey putt because “the hole is over.” Those little moments can artificially lower your index.

I’m not saying you shouldn’t accept a conceded putt, but if you want an accurate index, you need to putt out as opposed to picking up all those gimmes from 2 ½ feet.

The Real Weakness? Trust

The system works, when people use it honestly. And that’s where trust comes in.

If your whole group is posting scores regularly, it’s easier to accept it when a 22 fires a 90. On average, a golfer only plays to their index once every four rounds. If there isn’t trust within your group, good rounds tend to be viewed through a more nefarious lens.

If you’re a low handicapper who can’t handle losing to someone “worse,” get over yourself. A high handicapper is going to have good days, and when they do, you might lose.

That’s part of the fun.

Accept the Variance
The one valid gripe from low handicaps? It’s easier to shave two strokes when you’re getting 24 shots than when you’re only getting five.

That’s true, and there isn’t much that can be done about that.

High handicappers are also more likely to blow past their index by the 16th hole, but nobody remembers those rounds. We remember the time someone “got hot” and beat us.

If you want tighter matches, more fun, and fewer arguments, make sure everyone has a GHIN and is posting scores.

It won’t eliminate all complaints, but it will make your next Myrtle Beach golf trip a lot more enjoyable and a whole lot fairer.