Handicapping system

Recently read a thread and noted one commenting about his handicap. The contributor stated his handicap and said that in USA it would have been different ,ie, infact lower.

What are the handicapping systems around the world?

If I'm not totally mistaken, in the USGA system, your handicap is calculated by taking an average of the scores of the 10 best of your 20 last rounds.

In Sweden, we have a system where the score is first converted to Stabelford points, then the number of points (above 36) determines how much your handicap is lowered determined by a lookup table. The lower your initial handicap is, the less the points count. If you are below 4.0 (or thereabouts), you can only lower your handicap in official tournaments.

If you want to raise your handicap, you can only raise it 0.1 each round no matter how many (or few!) points you collect. Additionally, you can only raise your hcp if you pre-announce it or if it is a tournament.

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Regards, Peter
(WITB)

Yep, I think thats the R&A version, at least thats how it is in Ireland.
Also there is the buffer zone.
This is an amount of shots over par you can be without getting the 0.1 back on.
Depending on your handicap the buffer zone is larger or smaller.

Exactly what we have here as well - just forgot about it. I think for higher hcp it's 4 points and for lower it's 2 points.

I suspect the European countries use R&A rules and US and Canada use USGA rules. Don't know about the rest of the world though.

Here to get a handicap five cards have to be handed in. They must be stroke rounds (three of which are from your home club).

Ladies can have a handicap up to 45. Gents up to 36 but the Club can set limits. My home club - the gents can be no more than 32.

When you break, the amount of which you break, is dependant on your handicap.

There is a buffer zone if you don't play to your handicap (if over).

There is no buffer zone in this instance for those with handicaps 4 or less.