Handicap

1. This is the number over par a certain player should shoot in an average round. For example, a player who normally shoots 75 on a par 72 course would have a 3 handicap. Other factors are also taken into consideration like the difficulty of the course, which tees you are playing, and whether or not the round is a tournament. Handicaps are then used when playing competitively as a form of measuring the playing field (players with a 10 handicap get 10 strokes on the round, etc).

2. The handicap of a hole is ranked in the form of how difficult the hole is compared to the rest of the holes on the course. The hardest hole on the course is the "1 handicap" and the easiest hole is the "18 handicap" with the rest of the holes also ranked in between. The reason it is done in this order is to make it easier on those playing in tournaments where player handicaps are used. If a player is a 5 handicap, he will get a stroke on the 1,2,3,4, and 5 handicap holes.