In golf, a handicap is a numerical score that measures a golfers playing ability. It represents the number of strokes a player is expected to take above or below the courses par score. The higher the handicap, the more strokes a player is allowed to subtract from their actual score to determine their net score. A lower handicap indicates a more skilled golfer who is expected to have a lower net score. Handicaps help level the playing field and allow players of different skill levels to compete fairly against one another. A players handicap is calculated based on their previous golf rounds scores. For men, the handicap is generally between zero and twenty-eight, and for women, between zero and thirty-six. Essentially, the lower the golf handicap, the more skilled the player is. A players handicap is used to judge how they performed compared to their average level of play opposed to a straight head-to-head matchup. Handicaps allow players to compete and win against more talented golfers based on how they each played that day. Once a player has an official golf handicap, they can factor that in when scoring rounds of golf. The course handicap represents the number of strokes a player receives or gives back based on the difficulty of the course they are playing.