Page type: Group-size game guide
Free tool: Open the calculator →
Best first choice
Singles match play. It is the clearest two-player handicap game because Rule 3.2 describes the contest hole by hole and WHS Appendix C recommends a 100% allowance for individual match play. The lower Playing Handicap is set to zero and the higher player's difference is applied on the relevant stroke-index holes, so the adjustment is visible throughout the round.
What to agree before play
Applying the 95% individual stroke-play recommendation automatically to a two-player game without checking the Terms of the Competition; WHS Appendix C says 100% may be considered for an individual stroke-play field of fewer than 30 players. Failing to agree whether the game is match play, stroke play, Stableford or Par/Bogey before teeing off, which changes both the scoring method and handicap treatment. Treating a Nassau or another money arrangement as an official WHS format, or starting dollar stakes without agreeing the amount and whether each nine and the overall result are separate bets.
Table
| Game or arrangement | Why it fits |
|---|---|
| Singles match play | A direct head-to-head where the lower Playing Handicap plays off zero and the other player receives the difference, making handicap strokes easy to track by hole. |
| Individual stroke play | Two players compare total net strokes, with the competition terms specifying the allowance; it is a straightforward choice when both want a full-round result. |
| Individual Stableford | Each player earns points against the Committee's fixed target for each hole, so a poor hole can be contained while handicap strokes still support a fair comparison. |
| Individual Par/Bogey | Each player records holes won, halved or lost against a fixed target such as par, giving a match-like result without requiring the two players to play directly against each other. |
| Nassau singles | An editorial three-bet arrangement of front nine, back nine and total, using agreed singles match-play handicap strokes; it is a betting overlay rather than a separate Rules of Golf format. |
Worked example
Illustrative singles match-play example: Alex has a Playing Handicap of 12 and Ben has 20, so Ben receives 20 - 12 = 8 strokes. Ben gets one stroke on the holes ranked stroke index 1 to 8; on a stroke-index-3 hole where Alex scores 5 and Ben scores 5, Ben's net score is 5 - 1 = 4, so Ben wins that hole 4 to 5.
Rule reference: Rules of Golf Rule 3.1, Rule 3.2, Rule 3.3, Rule 21.1 and Rule 21.3; WHS Rules of Handicapping Appendix C
Sources: www.randa.org , www.randa.org , www.randa.org , www.usga.org
Common questions
What is the simplest handicap game for two golfers?
Singles match play is usually the simplest: compare net scores on each hole, with the lower Playing Handicap at zero and the other player receiving the difference. Agree the allowance and stroke allocation before starting.
Should two players use 95% handicaps in a stroke-play game?
Not automatically. WHS Appendix C lists 95% for individual stroke play and individual Stableford in its recommended table, but its field-size guidance says 100% could be considered for an individual stroke-play field of fewer than 30 players. The Committee or house rules should decide and state the allowance.
Can two players play Stableford with handicaps?
Yes. Stableford is an individual form of stroke play under Rule 21.1: points are awarded by comparing each hole's score with a fixed target set by the Committee. The applicable handicap allowance and Playing Handicap should be agreed in the Terms of the Competition.
How do handicap strokes work in two-player match play?
After the agreed allowance is applied, the player with the lowest Playing Handicap plays off zero. The other player receives the difference, and strokes are given on the holes listed on the scorecard's stroke index allocation.
Is Nassau an official handicap format?
Nassau is best treated here as a house betting arrangement layered over three contests: front nine, back nine and total. It is not a separate allowance category in WHS Appendix C, so agree that the underlying contests use singles match play and agree any dollar stakes before play.
Can a two-player game use Par/Bogey scoring?
Yes. Rule 21.3 describes Par/Bogey as stroke play using match-play-style hole results against a fixed target, normally par or bogey. The Committee must set the target and handicap allowance; do not substitute an undefined 'Stableford par' rule.