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 Fall League 2026, that's September 7–8).
- 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.
Handicap allowance & stroke cap
League net scoring uses a 67% handicap allowance — we take each player's Trackman handicap index and apply two-thirds of it for league scoring. This is common practice in tournament golf and keeps net scoring accurate, so teams don't receive more strokes than intended.
Additionally, no player receives more than 2 strokes on any single hole, regardless of their handicap index or the tees they play.
Missed your handicap week slot?
No problem — you can book time at any point outside of league hours to play your handicap round. Each player gets one free handicap round per season, and you're welcome to play additional handicap rounds on your own booked time. Just remember: for a self-booked round to count toward your handicap, the settings must be no mulligans and 12-foot gimmes.
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.