Handicaps are what make league fun for everyone — they level the playing field so a newer golfer and a scratch player can have a real match. Think of it like starting a game to 21 against Michael Jordan with a 20-point head start: strokes are added or removed based on your ability so every match is competitive.
How handicaps work at Five Iron
Your handicap is calculated automatically by Trackman and applied right on the scorecard — strokes are deducted on the hardest holes first (you'll see them marked with dots on the scorecard in the sim). No math required on your end.
Don't have a handicap? Establish one for free
- The week before Week 1, every league player gets a free 9-hole handicap round (for Summer Series 2026, that's July 6–12).
- If you chose a standing weekly slot, your handicap round is automatically reserved at that same day and time.
- The round is played in stroke play format with mulligans off and standard gimme settings — that's what Trackman needs to generate an official handicap.
Net and Gross leaderboards
Every season we track both leaderboards, so there are more ways to win:
- Gross — raw scores, no handicap adjustment. Great for stronger players.
- Net — scores adjusted by handicap, so any team can compete.
- Women's Gross — all-women teams also compete on their own leaderboard with a path to the International Championship.
Fair play
Five Iron reserves the right to remove a team from the Net leaderboard if a handicap appears intentionally manipulated, and players may be asked to complete an additional handicap round.