How many strokes do I get in league formats?
Rule- USA
- USGA
- World Handicap System
- Rules of Handicapping
- Golf leagues
- All ages
- 2024 rules
- Players
Your Playing Handicap = Course Handicap (unrounded) × the handicap allowance for the format, rounded to the nearest whole number (.5 rounds up) (Rule 6.2a).
Recommended allowances (Appendix C):
| Format | Allowance |
|---|---|
| Individual stroke play (also Stableford, Par/Bogey, Maximum Score) | 95% |
| Four-Ball stroke play / Four-Ball Stableford | 85% |
| Individual match play | 100% |
| Four-Ball match play | 90% |
| Foursomes | 50% of combined team handicap |
| Scramble (4 players) | 25% / 20% / 15% / 10%, low to high |
| Scramble (2 players) | 35% low / 15% high |
- In match play, the lowest player plays off zero and the others get the allowance applied to the difference. For example, in individual match play at 100%, if A's Course Handicap is 10 and B's is 18, B gets 8 strokes.
- These are recommendations for a normal field; the league Committee may adjust them for other field sizes or make-ups.
Added 21 Oct 2026