"PLUS" Handicap Index

[iacas]

If I've been playing courses where the slope rating is significantly higher, my handicap would only increase as the slope decreases. Example, I'm a 9.8 on the courses I have been playing. However, at my brother's course, using the course handicap calculator, I'm a 12.

You're not a + handicap golfer. Though it's confusing, a + handicap is someone who has to give shots back to the course - someone better than scratch.

If you're a 9.8, you get 10 strokes on a course with a slope of 120 and 12 strokes on a course with a slope of 135. If you were a +3.0 index, you'd give three strokes to the course on the 120 rated course and 4 strokes to the 135-rated course. That's where it seemingly "flips," and the PDF I linked to earlier explains why - tougher courses allow better players to "separate" themselves more easily. P.S. Don't confuse your handicap index with your course handicap, either. Your course handicap is always in whole strokes. Your handicap index is always to one decimal place (even if it is .0).

[golf_junkie27]

You're not a + handicap golfer. Though it's confusing, a + handicap is someone who has to give shots back to the course - someone better than scratch.

Yes, I realize I'm not a + handicap. I thought a + handicap would actually get better as the slope decreases. Based upon your statement on giving back shots, 3 strokes on the 120 and 4 on the 135, that's not the case.

Thanks for clarifying.