Cut Your Handicap

Individual national governing bodies are responsible for their handicapping system, but the process usually involves submitting a minimum of three scorecards from an affiliated course verified by a partner who possesses a handicap. British and Irish players, for example, are regulated by the Council of National Golf Unions.

The handicap exists to impart a level playing field for golfers of differing ability, whether they be a man, woman or junior. For example, if one player has a handicap on 14 and another one of seven and the former takes seven more strokes to complete a round, they will be deemed to have performed equally well. Obtaining a handicap means that the number of courses available for you to play on both at home and abroad will increase greatly by virtue of the fact that many only allow entry to players who hold one.

Submitting your scorecards allows for your performances to be tracked and your handicap adjusted accordingly, either up or, hopefully not, down.

Getting Better

Playing like the professionals off scratch ie with a handicap of zero, is the dream of every amateur, but even if that dream is unlikely ever to become reality, cutting your handicap is tangible evidence that your game is getting better. Achieving such improvement does not come easily to the majority of players and requires a great deal of effort in terms of paying attention to technique and not allowing bad habits to creep in. And remember that even the greatest players in the world have to put in the hours ensuring they keep their game sharp, so don't neglect your work on the driving range and practice greens.

Depth of Knowledge

Familiarity with the club course you are playing at can also contribute to that magic number coming down. Whether it is learning how to overcome that difficult dog-leg on the ninth or learning to read the tricky 15th green more efficiently, a greater depth of knowledge should be reflected in your score card. But a word of caution here: no two rounds of golf are ever the same, both in terms of individual performance and conditions outside of your control such as the weather.

Consider, too, whether your existing playing partner is holding your score back. That may sound like a rather pompous statement, and gaining, not losing, friends is all part of the attraction of the game.

Nevertheless, whatever your level of ability you will respond to the challenge of a better player who drives further, hits better approach shots and more easily turns the screw on the putting green than your regular companion.

Greater Challenge

There is no suggestion here that you abandon the latter, simply that as you get more serious about your game, then perhaps leaving time in your schedule for the other man or woman in your golfing life may bring its own rewards.

In turn, as your scores improve thanks to the greater challenge, then when you meet up with your long-standing partner you will be able to help their game improve, too. So, everyone's a winner.