When a member of course A played on his home course he was ok, but when he and his handicap went to tougher courses B. C, or D he wasn’t quite as good as the player with the same handicap he found there. Conversely, when he went to flatter, easier golf course he had an advantage over the same handicap player there.

Or putting it another way_ the water, bunker, gorge or rough that the scratch player found 175 yards from the tee, didn’t affect his game as much as it did the higher handicap.

After millions of scores went into the computer a slope was developed to measure the difficulty of golf courses for the average player. The net result is more strokes rewarded when playing a more difficult course and less when playing an easier course.

A slope rating is a number from 55 (easiest) to 155 (hardest) with 113 the average and can be issued by an authorized Golf Association after approval by the USGA.

When you go to course B or C with slope ratings over 130, with your handicap from course A, which has a slope rating under 130, you are going to get some strokes from the player with the same handicap or receive even more if you are playing a lower handicap player.

To make that determination, you consult the course handicap index table to find your stroke entitlement. If you feel this is complicated, it will only affect you playing away from your home course or when you are playing different tees on your home course.

This system makes your USGA handicap equitable and portable.