Plus Handicap
A plus handicap is a handicap better than zero — the player must add strokes to their score instead of subtracting them.
The plus handicap is the sign of golf at a very high level. While most players with their handicap are credited with strokes, the logic is reversed for plus players. A player with a handicap of +2 must play two strokes better than par to reach his net target. The plus handicap is written with a plus sign in front of the number, for example +1.4. Anyone who holds a plus handicap regularly plays under par and belongs to the absolute elite of amateur golf or is on the verge of turning professional.
In practice, this is what the scorecard shows: a plus player plays a round on a par-72 course and scores 71 strokes. Gross, that is one stroke under par. Calculated with his handicap of +2, his handicap-relevant result is 73 — in this round he has not confirmed his handicap but played slightly over par. Conversely, for an under-handicap round he must stay clearly below par. Many plus players are low handicappers who have played their way into the low single digits and continued to improve.
Typical misconception: the plus handicap is not a bonus but proof of consistent class. It does not come from a single brilliant round but from many handicap-relevant results close to or under par. The conversion to unfamiliar courses via the course handicap also works in mirror image for plus players — on difficult courses the stroke allowance drops towards zero instead of rising. For normal club golfers, the plus handicap remains a distant goal, but it shows where the scale ends.
FAQ
How does the plus handicap work on the scorecard?
The logic is reversed: instead of subtracting strokes, the player adds them to his gross score. If someone with a handicap of +2 plays a round in 71 strokes on a par-72 course, his handicap-relevant result is 73. For comparison: with a normal handicap, the handicap strokes are deducted from the gross score.
How do you play your way into the plus range?
Only through consistently good, handicap-relevant results close to or under par — a single brilliant round is not enough. The path leads through many tournament results in which you play your way step by step below your handicap. Most plus players were first low handicappers in the single digits and improved further over the years.
What happens to a plus handicap on an unfamiliar course?
When converting to the course handicap, everything runs in mirror image to a normal handicap. On a difficult course, a plus player's stroke allowance drops towards zero; on an easy course it rises further into the plus. This feels unusual but follows the same calculation logic as for all other players.