What is the meaning of handcap?

Answer 1

A handicap allows all golfers to play on a level playing field. It is an allowance of strokes per round. Say a player has an 18 handicap, and shoots 88 on a par 72 course, their net score is 70, so they are two strokes better than their handicap, and had a good day.

It also allows two players of different abilities to play against each other. Say a scratch player (0) played an 18 handicapper, the scratch player would give the 18 handicapper a shot a hole. So if the 18 handicapper made a 5 his stroke reduces it to a 4.

Answer 2

It means a disadvantage of some sort. Frequently used to describe someone who is in a wheelchair and can't walk or do other things that an able bodied person can do. Its origin is in sports like Golf or horseracing, where a handicap is a disadvantage placed on a player or horse with a natural advantage, in order to make the playing field more equal.