[yahyynzer]

While not mandatory, having the hole handicaps alternate between back and front nines makes Match Play, where you may not finnish all 18, a bit more fair.. Say there is a 6 stroke difference between competitors handicaps but all the hard holes are on the back. The weaker player may not get to use any of his strokes before the match is over.

My home course has separate slope and ratings for the front and back nines and also has different hole handicaps for stroke and match play. Not sure why, but it does.