In a four-player scramble the recommended allowance is 25% of the lowest Course Handicap, 20% of the next, 15% of the next and 10% of the highest. Foursomes is 50% of the team's combined handicap. Greensomes is 60% of the lower Course Handicap plus 40% of the higher. The full table is just below.
The ChartRecommended handicap allowances by format
| Format of play | Type of round | Recommended allowance |
|---|---|---|
| Stroke play | Individual | 95% |
| Individual Stableford | 95% | |
| Individual Par/Bogey | 95% | |
| Individual Maximum Score | 95% | |
| Four-Ball | 85% | |
| Four-Ball Stableford | 85% | |
| Four-Ball Par/Bogey | 90% | |
| Match play | Individual | 100% |
| Four-Ball | 90% | |
| Other | Foursomes | 50% of combined team handicap |
| Greensomes | 60% low / 40% high | |
| Pinehurst/Chapman | 60% low / 40% high | |
| Best 1 of 4 stroke play | 75% | |
| Best 2 of 4 stroke play | 85% | |
| Best 3 of 4 stroke play | 100% | |
| All 4 of 4 stroke play | 100% | |
| Scramble (4 players) | 25% low / 20% / 15% / 10% high | |
| Scramble (3 players) | 30% low / 20% / 10% high | |
| Scramble (2 players) | 35% low / 15% high |
Source: The R&A, Rules of Handicapping, Appendix C, Handicap Allowances (recommended allowances table).
These are recommendations. For organized competitions, the Committee should state the allowance in the Terms of the Competition, so your event's own rules come first. Each allowance is applied to the unrounded Course Handicap as the final step in working out the Playing Handicap (Rules 6.1 and 6.2 of the Rules of Handicapping).
Worked examplesHow each team format adds up
In the scramble and greensomes rows, "low" is the player with the lowest Course Handicap on the team and "high" is the player with the highest. Each percentage is taken of one player's Course Handicap, and the results are added for the team. The examples use whole-number Course Handicaps to keep the arithmetic easy to follow. Appendix C applies allowances to the unrounded Course Handicap.
| Format | Course Handicaps | Arithmetic | Team handicap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scramble, 4 players | 8, 10, 20, 30 | 25% of 8 is 2. 20% of 10 is 2. 15% of 20 is 3. 10% of 30 is 3. 2 + 2 + 3 + 3. | 10 |
| Scramble, 2 players | 10, 20 | 35% of 10 is 3.5. 15% of 20 is 3. 3.5 + 3. | 6.5 |
| Greensomes | 10, 20 | 60% of 10 is 6. 40% of 20 is 8. 6 + 8. | 14 |
| Foursomes | 12, 18 | 12 + 18 is 30. 50% of 30 is 15. | 15 |
Source: percentages from The R&A, Rules of Handicapping, Appendix C; the Course Handicaps are made-up examples.
The two-player scramble lands on a half stroke. Appendix C does not give a rounding rule for team handicaps, so your committee sets the rounding. Check the Terms of the Competition for it before you post your team's number.
Pinehurst and Chapman use the same 60% low and 40% high split as greensomes, so the greensomes example works for them too. The three-player scramble works like the four-player one, with 30%, 20% and 10%.
Foursomes and four-ball match play
In match play the allowance usually works off the lowest handicap in the match, who plays off zero. The others receive the difference between their own handicap and that lowest one, after the allowance is applied. Appendix C gives two examples with four players:
- Four-ball match play, 90%. Player A plays off zero. Player B receives 7 strokes (90% of the difference in Course Handicap from player A), player C receives 15 (90% of 17) and player D receives 26 (90% of 29).
- Foursomes match play, 50%. Where players A and B are Team 1 and players C and D are Team 2, Team 2 receives 19 strokes (50% of the difference between each team's combined Course Handicaps).
Appendix C notes that in four-ball match play the strokes received stay the same even if the lowest-handicap player is unable to play.
Individual stroke playWhen 95% moves up or down
The 95% for individual stroke play is set for a medium-sized field, 30 to 100 players. For fewer than 30 players Appendix C says a 100% allowance could be considered. If there is a significant share of higher-handicap players, a lower allowance could be considered, for example 90% instead of 95%. The table shows the direction of the change from 95%.
| Field size | More lower handicap players | Normal distribution | More higher handicap players |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small (under 30 players) | Higher | Higher | Same |
| Medium (30 to 100 players) | Higher | Same | Lower |
| Large (over 100 players) | Same | Same | Lower |
Source: The R&A, Rules of Handicapping, Appendix C, Clarification C/1 (recommended allowances relative to 95%).
Using itHow to use this chart
Start from each player's Course Handicap, not the Handicap Index. The course handicap calculator turns an index into a Course Handicap for the tees you are playing. Then find your format in the table and apply the percentage.
Once you have a team handicap or a Playing Handicap, the strokes received chart shows which holes the strokes fall on. If a term in the table is unfamiliar, the golf glossary covers the common ones.
If your event is run by a club or a league, read the Terms of the Competition first. The committee can set a different percentage or a rounding method, and its number is the one that counts that day.
Watch forCommon mistakes
Using the Handicap Index. Allowances go on the Course Handicap. A 10.0 index can be a very different Course Handicap from one course to the next.
Mixing up "low" and "high". In the scramble rows the biggest percentage goes to the lowest-handicap player and the smallest to the highest.
Using one four-ball number for both formats. Four-ball stroke play is 85% (90% for Par/Bogey). Four-ball match play is 90%.
Treating the table as a rule. It is the recommended allowance. Your committee, or your National Association or Regional Golf Association, can set another.
Plus handicaps. A player with a plus Playing Handicap moves up towards zero when an allowance is applied, including the rounding. Appendix C's Four-Ball example at 85%: a player with a Course Handicap of +4 gives 3 strokes back to the course.
FAQQuick answers
What is the handicap allowance for a scramble?
For four players it is 25% of the lowest Course Handicap, 20%, 15%, and 10% of the highest. For three players it is 30%, 20% and 10%. For two players it is 35% of the lower and 15% of the higher.
What is the handicap allowance for foursomes?
50% of the combined team handicap. In the Appendix C match play example, Team 2 receives 19 strokes, which is 50% of the difference between the two teams' combined Course Handicaps.
What is the handicap allowance for greensomes?
60% of the lower Course Handicap plus 40% of the higher. Pinehurst and Chapman use the same split.
Do I apply the allowance to my Handicap Index?
No. Allowances are applied to the unrounded Course Handicap as the final step in working out a Playing Handicap. Use the course handicap calculator for the Course Handicap first.
How do I round a team handicap?
Appendix C gives no rounding rule for team handicaps, so your committee sets the rounding. It should appear in the Terms of the Competition.
Does my club have to use these percentages?
No. They are recommended. The National Association sets handicap allowances or can hand that to a Regional Golf Association or a golf club, and for organized competitions the Committee should state the allowance in the Terms of the Competition.