The history of our game has origins in Scotland going back to 1457, but there are earlier references to games very similar recorded 200 years before that in Holland.
The game of golf, as we know it today, is generally considered a Scottish invention. But what about the origins of handicapping which today provide us with a competitive playground
even though we have a huge range of abilities?
The first reference to handicapping in golf goes back to 1687 when betting was a big part of playing the sport, but it wasn’t until the mid‐nineteenth century that a more general way of allocating shots became common. Allan Robertson was generally considered the game’s first professional and he made a significant portion of his income by wagering on the golf course. He created the concept of giving strokes based on four different allocations.
Third‐one, a stroke given every three holes
Half-one, a stroke given at every alternate hole
One more, a stroke given at every hole
Two more, two strokes given at every hole
By 1881, many clubs adopted the approach of averaging a golfer’s best three scores and then deducting the course rating. Here started the most common debate in our sport with records showing that letters were sent to the newspapers complaining that the system was not fair.
Just before the turn of the century the approach was becoming more accurate in trying to present a system that would provide more portability. This was an era when national golf associations were being formed and one of their key responsibilities was to oversee handicapping. The pressure was on as the attention of the golfing public heightened and there was a push to address the inaccuracy of course ratings. A common formula was required.
Over 100 years on and we still have a course rating and handicap system that provides much discussion. But we have mathematicians, professors and historical data available to influence a better approach.
In 2020 we welcome a world handicap system which is taking the best of all systems in use and providing one basic approach. The R&A and USGA have consulted widely and we the playing ability of a player on a 16.7 handicap in Kenya, Slovakia, Argentina or New Zealand, should be the player of the same ability. We see this as an exciting time for handicapping and should help with equitable play, however as in the past, it will be important for every golf club to have a handicap committee or at least a handicapper to oversee player trends.