Does the Callaway handicap system rely on players having established handicaps?

The Callaway handicap system is designed for golfers to participate in competitions even if they do not have an established handicap. This system allows players to calculate a temporary handicap based on their performance in a given round of golf, using their score relative to par and accounting for the difficulty of the course. This means that players of varying skill levels can compete more fairly without needing a formalized handicap.

In traditional systems, having an established handicap can be crucial for fair play and scoring, but the Callaway method specifically caters to players who may not yet have an official rating, making it more accessible for new or casual golfers. As a result, the statement that the Callaway handicap system does not rely on players having established handicaps is accurate. Through this approach, both experienced and novice golfers can engage in competitive play while allowing for a fair evaluation of their abilities based on their recent scores.