HANDICALC® supports a wide range of golf formats — from singles stroke play and match play to fourball betterball, foursomes, greensomes, Texas Scramble, Pinehurst and team events — and applies World Handicap System™ methodology allowance percentages suitable for each type of play. These allowances help ensure fairness across both social and competitive rounds for golfers, clubs and golf societies.
Allowances shown are typical and based on published World Handicap System™ methodology; competition Terms may vary. Always follow your club's Terms of Competition where they differ. If you need a format not listed here, contact us about custom configurations.
All formats HANDICALC® supports, with their typical WHS™ allowance and whether the percentage applies to stroke play or match play.
| Format | WHS™ Allowance | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Singles (stroke play) | 95% | Stroke play |
| Singles match play | 100% | Match play |
| Fourball betterball | 85% | Stroke play |
| Foursomes | 50% combined | Stroke play |
| Greensomes | 60% / 40% | Stroke play |
| Pinehurst / Chapman | 60% / 40% | Stroke play |
| Best 1–4 of 4 | 85% / 85% / 100% / 100% | Stroke play |
| Texas Scramble | 25/20/15/10% | Stroke play |
| Total Score of 2 – Match Play | 100% | Match play |
| Best 1–4 of 4 (Par/Bogey) | 85% / 85% / 100% / 100% | Stroke play |
| Custom formats | Contact us | Stroke play |
Singles (stroke play)
Stroke play
Singles match play
Match play
Fourball betterball
Stroke play
Foursomes
Stroke play
Greensomes
Stroke play
Pinehurst / Chapman
Stroke play
Best 1–4 of 4
Stroke play
Texas Scramble
Stroke play
Total Score of 2 – Match Play
Match play
Best 1–4 of 4 (Par/Bogey)
Stroke play
Custom formats
Stroke play
Detailed explanations of every format, the logic behind the WHS™ allowance, and a worked example for each.
Standard individual scoring (medal or Stableford). Each player competes independently.
Formula
Playing Handicap = Course Handicap × 95%
Example
CH 14 × 95% = 13.3 → PH 13
Head-to-head match between two players, awarding strokes based on Playing Handicaps.
Formula
Playing Handicap = Course Handicap × 100%
Example
CH 14 × 100% = PH 14
Two-player teams. Each player plays their own ball; the better net score counts.
Formula
Playing Handicap = Course Handicap × 85%
Example
CH 14 × 85% = 11.9 → PH 12
Partners play alternate shots using the same ball, taking alternate tee shots.
Formula
Playing Handicap = (Player A CH + Player B CH) × 50%
Example
(CH 14 + CH 10) × 50% = 24 × 50% = PH 12
Both players drive, the team selects the best tee shot, then alternate shots are played.
Formula
Playing Handicap = (Low CH × 60%) + (High CH × 40%)
Example
(CH 14 × 60%) + (CH 10 × 40%) = 8.4 + 4 = PH 12
Both partners tee off, then play their partner's ball for the second shot. The team selects the best ball after two shots and plays alternate shots to finish the hole.
Formula
Playing Handicap = (Low CH × 60%) + (High CH × 40%)
Example
(CH 14 × 60%) + (CH 10 × 40%) = 8.4 + 4 = PH 12
Each golfer plays their own ball; the team score uses the best 1, 2, 3 or all 4 scores depending on competition rules.
Formula
Best 1 of 4: 85% each | Best 2 of 4: 85% each | Best 3 of 4: 100% each | Best 4 of 4: 100% each
Example
Best 2 of 4: CH 14 × 85% = 11.9 → PH 12
All players tee off, the best ball is chosen, and all players play each shot from that position.
Formula
4-player teams: 25% + 20% + 15% + 10% (lowest to highest) | 3-player teams: 30% + 20% + 10%
Example
4 players: CHs 5, 12, 18, 24 → (5×25%) + (12×20%) + (18×15%) + (24×10%) = PH 9
Both players in a team complete each hole. Their combined net score is compared against the other team to determine the match play result for the hole.
Formula
Playing Handicap = Course Handicap × 100% for each player
Example
Player A CH 14 × 100% = PH 14, Player B CH 10 × 100% = PH 10
Similar to Stableford/medal versions, but each hole is scored as +1, 0 or −1 versus par/bogey using the best 1, 2, 3 or 4 net scores.
Formula
Same allowances as Best 1–4 of 4: Best 1/2: 85% each | Best 3/4: 100% each
Example
Best 1 of 4: CH 14 × 85% = 11.9 → PH 12
HANDICALC® can support society-specific or non-standard formats with bespoke allowances.
Formula
Bespoke allowances based on competition rules
Example
Contact us to discuss your custom format
The same format can have different allowances depending on whether you are playing stroke play or match play. Stroke play rewards consistency over 18 holes; match play rewards winning individual holes. The WHS™ reflects this difference.
In match play, you receive your full Course Handicap (100%) because the hole-by-hole nature of the game means the advantage of having more strokes is less pronounced than in stroke play. In stroke play, the allowance is reduced (85%, 95%) because the cumulative score over 18 holes gives higher-handicap players a statistical advantage.
Rule of thumb: Match play allowances are always higher than stroke play for the same format. In singles, the gap is 5 percentage points.
HANDICALC® handles every format automatically. Just choose your course, tee and format — and get the correct WHS™ playing handicap instantly.
