High Quality Content by WIKIPEDIA articles! A handicap is a numerical measure of a golfer`s potential playing ability based on the tees played for a given course. It is used to calculate a net score from the number of strokes actually played during a competition, thus allowing players of different proficiency to play against each other on somewhat equal terms. The higher the handicap of a player, the poorer the player is relative to those with lower handicaps. "Official" handicaps are administered by golf clubs or national golf associations. Exact rules relating to handicaps can vary from country to country.