A +14 handicap in golf means that a player is expected to score 14 strokes over par for a round of 18 holes. Par is the number of strokes that an expert golfer is expected to take to complete a hole or a round, and it varies from hole to hole and course to course. So, if the course you are playing on has a par of 72, then a +14 handicap means that you are expected to complete the round with a score of 86.
Handicaps are used in golf to level the playing field between players of different skill levels. They allow players of varying abilities to compete against each other fairly. The higher the handicap, the more strokes a player is allowed to deduct from their score to account for their skill level.
In your case, with a handicap of 14, you are expected to play 89 strokes for the round. However, golf is a game of variability, and sometimes players may score better or worse than their handicap suggests. In this particular round, your friend scored 82, which is three strokes better than par, while you scored 85, which is one stroke worse than par.
But when handicaps are applied, the true comparison between your scores is made. Your friend played 7 strokes over par, which is exactly what his handicap predicted. On the other hand, with your handicap of 14, you would have been expected to play 89 strokes, which is four strokes worse than par. Therefore, even though your friend had a lower score in terms of absolute strokes, once handicaps are applied, you would have won this round of golf.
Handicaps in golf are meant to level the playing field and provide a fair competition among players of different skill levels. It allows players to compete against each other on an equal basis, regardless of their individual abilities. So, even if your friend scored lower in this particular round, the handicap system ensures that you are recognized as the winner based on the expected performance relative to par.
It is worth noting that handicaps can change over time as players improve or their skills decline. Regularly updating and maintaining accurate handicaps is essential for fair competition in golf. Handicap systems vary from country to country, but the underlying principle remains the same – to provide a fair and equitable way of comparing players’ performance.
A +14 handicap in golf means that a player is expected to score 14 strokes over par in a round of 18 holes. Handicaps are used to level the playing field and allow players of different skill levels to compete fairly. In the specific scenario you mentioned, even though your friend had a lower score in terms of absolute strokes, once handicaps were applied, you would have won the round. Handicaps provide a fair way to compare players’ performance relative to par and ensure fair competition in golf.