The highest handicap you can have in golf varies depending on the specific golf association or organization.
- The United States Golf Association (USGA) and the Royal and Ancient Golf Club (R&A), the two governing bodies of golf, do not have a maximum handicap.
- The World Handicap System (WHS), which is used by many golf associations around the world, also does not have a maximum handicap.
However, the WHS does have a maximum handicap differential of 36.4, which is the difference between a player's best score and their course rating. This means that a player's handicap can be higher than 36.4, but it is capped at that number.
In practice, it is extremely rare for a golfer to have a handicap above 36.4. This is because the WHS system is designed to ensure that golfers are fairly ranked based on their ability. If a golfer has a handicap above 36.4, it is likely that they are not playing to their true potential or are not playing often enough to have their handicap properly calculated.
