Stick with me, ladies, this is not as complicated it may seem.

What are HANDICAP STROKES? The official definition of the Handicap Systems reads "The USGA Handicap System is the ... method of evaluating golf skills so that golfers of differing abilities can compete on an equitable basis.." In other words, the system - your HANDICAP INDEX- is used to level the playing field.

Note: When you post your scores, they are fed to the USGA, which uses a formula to recalculate your INDEX.  If you don't know your current INDEX, you can look it up on the GHIN Handicap Lookup site (scroll down to look up by name).

Because all courses have different degrees of difficulty, each course is assigned a SLOPE number from each set of tees. Using the SLOPE number from the tees you are playing and your INDEX, you can check a USGA chart (all courses have them) to figure out your COURSE HANDICAP - that is, how many strokes you get from those tees on that course.

Figuring Out Your Course Handicap and Your Strokes
At Saddle, the Starter or Pro Shop will always able to tell you what your COURSE HANDICAP is, or you can check the charts in the drawer beneath the posting computer. When playing away, ask at the Pro Shop, or keep a copy of the "Uncle Snoopy" Handicap booklet in your golf bag. Despite its silly name, this booklet is a wealth of information and contains the charts necessary to figure out your COURSE HANDICAP on any course you play. Pick up a copy of the Snoopy Booklet in the Ladies Lounge at the Lodge or at the Pro Shop.

Now, let's say that your INDEX is 30. The back of the SC scorecard tells you that the SLOPE from the red tees is 117. (From the gold tees, the SLOPE is 128).

Today, you are playing the reds, so from the drawer, pull out the chart that says Ladies, Red Tees and look up your INDEX of 30. In the column that says "COURSE HANDICAP" it says 31. That means, at Saddle, from the red tees, 31 strokes or "pops" would be deducted from your score to even out the playing field in a tournament. (From the gold tees, you would get 34 strokes.)

Still with me?

Now that you know the total number of HANDICAP STROKES you get, you can figure out the number of "pops" you get on each hole:

Remember, you get 31 strokes. So first, put a little dot on each of the 18 holes on the scorecard. This shows that you get one stroke on each.

Now, go back and give yourself one more stroke on each of the 13 HARDEST holes on the course to reach your 31 strokes (18 + 13 = 31).

Note: How do you know which are the hardest holes on the course? At the bottom of the scorecard there is a line that says "Ladies' Handicap". Each of the holes has a number, from 1 to 18, indicating how hard the hole is, with 1 being the hardest and 18 being the easiest.

In the "Handicap" column on the scorecard, write in the total number of strokes you get - 31.

Now you're ready to play! As you complete each hole, record the total number of strokes it takes you to put the ball into the hole.  If you are playing in a game/tournament where your "net" score is important, subtract the number of strokes you get on a hole from the number of strokes you actually took to arrive at your net.

See. That wasn't so bad!!! Was it?? Don't forget to pick up a copy of the Snoopy Booklet in the Ladies Lounge at the Lodge.