GHAP Explained: Handicap for Golfers Outside US

Aerial view of a coastal golf hole along sea cliffs at sunset with the title What Is GHAP? Handicaps Outside the US

GHAP, short for Golf Handicap for Amateurs Platform, is a data-driven handicap network for amateur golfers, run by a separate organization and offered by TheGrint in every country except the United States. It gives you a handicap for fair games with friends, but it is not a Handicap Index^® under the World Handicap System^™ (WHS^™).

This guide explains what GHAP is, who it is for, how a GHAP handicap is calculated, how it differs from an official Handicap Index, and what it costs. TheGrint is a GHAP partner app, so golfers outside the U.S. can get and use a GHAP handicap there.

If you play outside the United States, you can start a GHAP handicap in TheGrint with a one-month free trial, then keep it for $9.99 per year, or get it included with a Pro Membership on TheGrint.

What is GHAP?

GHAP is a separate handicap system with its own methodology, terminology and course-difficulty data. It measures an amateur golfer's playing ability to create a handicap for fair competition, and a GHAP handicap is meant to work across GHAP partner platforms.

GHAP distributes its handicap system through partner platforms (ghap.golf), and TheGrint is a GHAP partner.

Three things GHAP is not:

Not a Handicap Index. GHAP does not use the World Handicap System.
Not a Handicap Index from the USGA^®. GHAP is not sanctioned by the United States Golf Association^®, and a GHAP handicap is not interchangeable with a GHIN^® record.
Not owned by TheGrint. GHAP is an independent partner.

Who is GHAP for?

GHAP is for golfers outside the United States who want a handicap inside the app they already use to keep score. It is available in TheGrint in every country except the U.S.

Golfers who play mostly with friends. A GHAP handicap gives a group of mixed abilities a common number for fair games.
Golfers without a national handicap. Outside the U.S., official handicaps come from national golf associations under the World Handicap System. TheGrint does not integrate with national handicap systems such as Golf Canada or England Golf; outside the U.S., GHAP is the handicap TheGrint offers.
Pro members outside the U.S. GHAP is included with a Pro Membership on TheGrint for eligible golfers outside the United States.

GHAP is not for golfers in the United States, where TheGrint sells the official USGA Handicap ID through your local Allied Golf Association (AGA). Nor is it a substitute for a Handicap Index in competitions that require one.

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How is a GHAP handicap calculated?

A GHAP handicap, which GHAP calls your Golfer Handicap, is a weighted average of the best 10 Score Values from your most recent 25 rounds. The current GHAP Handbook sets out the method.

Step 1: each round becomes a Score Value. GHAP's formula is Score Value = (Adjusted Score − Teebox Statistical Par) ÷ Teebox Handicap Adjustment %.

Adjusted Score is your score with each hole capped. The cap depends on your GHAP handicap: double bogey below 9, triple bogey from 9 through 18, and quadruple bogey above 18.
Teebox Statistical Par is what GHAP's data says a scratch golfer would be expected to score from that specific tee box.
Teebox Handicap Adjustment % scales that difficulty for golfers of different handicap levels, using GHAP's hole-level and course-level data.

Step 2: the best Score Values are averaged, with weights. With 25 valid Score Values, GHAP uses the best 10. With fewer than 25, it uses the best 33% of the Score Values you have, rounded down. You need at least 3 valid Score Values before you receive a GHAP handicap, and a round must be at least 9 holes to count.

Each Score Value is weighted by three factors:

Age. Recent rounds carry full weight; older rounds begin to count for less after the first year, down to a minimum weight of 0.25.
Holes played. A round counts in proportion to holes played ÷ 18.
Competition. A tournament round receives a weight of 1.25.

On the course, GHAP converts your Golfer Handicap into a Teebox Handicap for the tees you play, and into a Match Handicap, based on the difference between players' handicaps, when you compete head to head.

GHAP vs an official Handicap Index: what is the difference?

GHAP and the World Handicap System are separate systems with different formulas, course-difficulty measures and official standing, so a GHAP handicap and a Handicap Index are not interchangeable.

	GHAP handicap	Handicap Index (World Handicap System)
Who runs it	GHAP, a separate partner of TheGrint	The USGA and The R&A, administered by national and regional associations
Official status	GHAP's own handicap for its partner network; not a WHS handicap	The official handicap under the Rules of Handicapping
Available in TheGrint	Every country except the U.S.	U.S. only (buy a USGA Handicap ID or link an existing GHIN number)
Rounds used	Weighted average of the best 10 Score Values from the last 25	Average of the lowest 8 Score Differential^™ values from the last 20
Minimum to get one	3 valid Score Values of at least 9 holes	3 Score Differential values
Maximum hole score	Double, triple or quadruple bogey, depending on handicap	Net double bogey
Course difficulty	Teebox Statistical Par and Teebox Handicap Adjustment %	Course Rating^™ and Slope Rating^™
Strokes on the day	Teebox Handicap and Match Handicap	Course Handicap^™ and Playing Handicap^™
Accepted where a Handicap Index is required	No	Yes

The Handicap Index column follows the Rules of Handicapping: Rule 5.2a sets the lowest-8-of-20 calculation and the 3-score minimum, and the Definitions call net double bogey a player's "maximum hole score for handicap purposes." For how a Handicap Index works, see what is a golf handicap.

Because the systems are separate, GHAP uses its own terms, such as Golfer Handicap, Score Value and Teebox Handicap, rather than WHS terms like Score Differential and Course Handicap. For a worked WHS example, see how to calculate a golf handicap.

How do you get GHAP in TheGrint?

You get GHAP by starting the one-month free trial in TheGrint outside the United States and posting rounds. Your GHAP handicap appears once you have 3 valid Score Values.

Create a TheGrint account. Sign up for free and download the app on iOS or Android.
Start GHAP. In the app, go to Menu > My Handicap Settings. Eligible golfers outside the U.S. can start GHAP there with a one-month free trial. If you have a Pro Membership on TheGrint outside the U.S., GHAP is included.
Post at least 3 rounds of 9 holes or more. Each one becomes a Score Value; from the third, you have a GHAP handicap.

Once you hold a GHAP handicap, TheGrint shows it with a decimal, the same way it shows an official Handicap Index.

How much does GHAP cost?

GHAP costs $9.99 per year after a one-month free trial, and it is included with a Pro Membership on TheGrint outside the United States. It is not sold to golfers in the U.S.

Outside the U.S., GHAP on its own: one-month free trial, then $9.99 per year.
Outside the U.S., with Pro: GHAP is included with a Pro Membership on TheGrint. For more advanced features, try TheGrint Pro free for 7 days.
In the U.S.: GHAP is not available. Your local AGA sets the price of an official USGA Handicap ID, and TheGrint adds no markup. See how to get an official golf handicap.

How TheGrint fits in

TheGrint keeps your handicap, your scorecard and your games in one app, wherever you play.

The right handicap for where you play. GHAP outside the U.S.; in the U.S., an official USGA Handicap ID bought in the app at your AGA's price, or a GHIN number you already have. TheGrint is a USGA Handicap Data Affiliate.
One scorecard for everything. The rounds you post in TheGrint build your GHAP handicap and your stats from the same scorecard you use for GPS and games.
Net games and leaderboards. Your GHAP handicap sets your strokes in net games and leaderboards on TheGrint, the same way a Handicap Index does.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is GHAP an official handicap?

No. GHAP is not a Handicap Index and is not part of the World Handicap System, which is the system national golf associations use to issue official handicaps. It is a separate handicap with its own methodology, designed for fair competition among golfers on GHAP partner platforms such as TheGrint.

Can golfers in the United States use GHAP?

No. TheGrint does not offer GHAP to golfers in the United States. In the U.S., TheGrint sells the official USGA Handicap ID directly in the app through your local Allied Golf Association, and golfers who already have a GHIN number can link it instead.

Can I use GHAP in tournaments?

Not in competitions that require an official handicap. A GHAP handicap is not a Handicap Index under the World Handicap System, so events that ask for a Handicap Index will not accept it. GHAP is built for fair games and competitions among golfers on its partner platforms, such as rounds with friends on TheGrint.

Is GHAP the same as GHIN?

No. GHIN is the USGA technology service that holds a U.S. golfer's scoring record and Handicap Index. GHAP is a separate handicap network with its own formula and course-difficulty data, available in TheGrint outside the United States. The two numbers are calculated differently and should not be swapped for each other.

How many rounds do I need for a GHAP handicap?

You need at least 3 valid Score Values, and each round must be at least 9 holes. Until you have 25 rounds, GHAP uses the best 33% of your Score Values, rounded down. From 25 rounds on, it uses a weighted average of the best 10 of your most recent 25.

Is GHAP free?

GHAP starts with a one-month free trial outside the U.S. After that it costs $9.99 per year on its own, or it is included with a Pro Membership on TheGrint. It is not available in the United States, where golfers can buy an official USGA Handicap ID in TheGrint or link a GHIN number they already have.

Start your GHAP handicap with TheGrint

If you play outside the United States, you can start GHAP in TheGrint with a one-month free trial, then keep it for $9.99 per year or get it included with Pro. Get started with TheGrint.

World Handicap System™, WHS™, Handicap Index®, Score Differential™, Course Handicap™, Playing Handicap™, Course Rating™ and Slope Rating™ are trademarks owned or licensed by the United States Golf Association® (USGA®) and/or The R&A. GHIN® is a registered trademark of the USGA. All rights reserved.