Mixed Tees
in Matchplay.
When men and women play matchplay from different tees, you can't simply compare raw handicaps — each player's Course Handicap must be calculated from their own tee's data. Here's exactly how it works under WHS.
Why this is different
Different tees have different Course Ratings and Slope Ratings. A 22-handicap woman playing the red tees and a 10-handicap man playing the yellow tees will have different Course Handicaps — not just different raw indices. You must calculate each from the relevant tee before comparing them.
The WHS method — step by step
Use the Course Rating, Slope Rating, and Par specific to the tees that player will play from. These figures are printed on the club's scorecard or available in the app.
CH = round(HI × (Slope ÷ 113) + (Course Rating − Par))
Singles matchplay uses a 100% allowance, so Playing Handicap = Course Handicap for each player.
The player with the lower Playing Handicap receives 0 shots. The other player receives the difference between the two Playing Handicaps.
This is the step most people get wrong. The player receiving shots has them allocated on their own tee's stroke index, not the other player's. The red tee scorecard has its own SI column; the yellow tee scorecard has its own. Each player uses theirs.
Shot difference: 22 − 10 = 12 shots to Player A
Player A (red tees) receives 12 shots, allocated on the 12 highest stroke index holes of the red tee scorecard. Player B receives 0 shots.
The stroke index question
Most matchplay arguments in mixed-tees games centre on whose stroke index to use for shot allocation. The WHS guidance is clear: each player's shots come from their own tee's stroke index.
In practice this means the hole that is stroke index 1 on the red tees may be stroke index 3 on the yellow tees. Player A's shots don't necessarily fall on the same holes where Player B would have received them. Both players carry their own scorecard and track their own stroke index allocation independently.
Some clubs use a unified stroke index across all tees to avoid this complexity. If your club has one, use it — it makes the game easier to manage on the day and is sanctioned by WHS. Check the club's local conditions of competition.
Common questions
Can we just use the man's tee stroke index for both players?
Many clubs do this for simplicity, and WHS allows it if the club has adopted it as a local condition. The technically correct WHS method is to use each player's own tee's stroke index for their own shots. If you're playing a friendly game, agree before you tee off. If it's a competition, check the local conditions sheet.
Why can't we just compare our raw Handicap Indexes directly?
Because a Handicap Index is a portable measure of ability across all courses — it doesn't account for the specific difficulty of the tees being played. The red tees and yellow tees at the same club have different Course Ratings and Slope Ratings. Comparing HIs directly would ignore those differences and produce an unfair shot allocation.
Does mixed tees matchplay work in four-ball formats too?
Yes. The same principle applies: calculate each player's Course Handicap from their own tee data, apply the relevant format allowance (85% for four-ball stroke play/stableford, 90% for four-ball matchplay), then compare Playing Handicaps. The player receiving shots still uses their own tee's stroke index.
What if the course only has one set of ratings for all tees?
Some older courses haven't rated all sets of tees under WHS. In that case, clubs typically use the available tee's Course Rating and Slope Rating for all players, or they've published a local equivalent. Contact the club's handicap secretary if you're unsure — they should have an official figure to use.
Does Dormie handle mixed tees automatically?
Yes. The mixed tees calculator in Dormie lets you enter separate Course Rating, Slope Rating, and Par for each player — it then calculates each Course Handicap from the correct tee data and shows the shot difference instantly. No manual calculation required.
Related guides
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