Golf Handicap Calculator

What this calculator does

The Golf Handicap Calculator has two modes. Course Handicap converts a handicap index into the number of strokes a golfer receives on a specific course. Handicap Index estimates an index from a list of recent 18-hole rounds using the World Handicap System (WHS) score differential method.

A handicap is a measure of potential ability, not an average score. It lets players of different levels compete on more equal terms by allocating extra strokes according to course difficulty. Lower indexes indicate stronger players.

How to use this calculator

For Course Handicap, enter your handicap index, the course rating, the slope rating, and the course par. Click Calculate. The default example uses an index of 10, a course rating of 70, a slope of 121, and a par of 72. The unrounded result is about 8.708, which rounds to a course handicap of 9.

For Handicap Index, enter one 18-hole round per line as course rating, slope, score, with an optional fourth value for the playing conditions adjustment. Enter at least three and at most twenty rounds. Click Calculate to see each differential and the resulting index.

Handicap formulas

Course handicap = index × slope ÷ 113 + (course rating − par)

Score differential =
  (adjusted gross score − course rating − playing conditions adjustment)
  × 113 ÷ slope

Handicap index = average of selected lowest differentials + adjustment

The WHS uses a sliding table. With 3 rounds it uses the lowest 1 differential and applies −2.0; with 4 rounds, the lowest 1 and −1.0; with 5 rounds, the lowest 1; with 6 rounds, the lowest 2 and −1.0. From 7 through 20 rounds it uses the lowest 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, or 8 differentials as the number of rounds grows, with no additional adjustment after 6 rounds.

What the results mean

The course handicap is the number of strokes deducted from a golfer's gross score to produce a net score on that course. It increases on harder courses with higher slope ratings and decreases when the course rating is below par.

The handicap index is the portable number a golfer carries between courses. The differentials table shows which rounds were used, so you can see how one unusually low or high round affected the estimate.

Assumptions and limitations

• An official WHS handicap index requires an authorized golf club, a conforming score record, and the 8-best-of-20 differentials. This calculator is an estimate and does not issue an official handicap.
• Nine-hole scores are not combined in this tool. Enter 18-hole scores only.
• The playing conditions adjustment is an optional whole number from −1 to 3. Leave it blank to use zero.
• Course rating and slope must come from a rated course. Using estimated values will produce an unreliable result.
• The WHS table is applied to the number of rounds entered. If you have more than 20 rounds, the official system uses the most recent 20; this tool caps input at 20.
• Ties in differentials are resolved by taking the first eligible rounds after sorting.

Frequently asked questions

What is a score differential?

A score differential converts a raw score into a standardized value that accounts for the difficulty of the course played. It compares the adjusted gross score with the course rating and slope, so scores from different courses can be compared on one scale.

What is a slope rating?

Slope measures the relative difficulty of a course for a bogey golfer compared with a scratch golfer. A slope of 113 is the standard baseline. Higher slopes make the course play harder for higher-handicap players and increase the course handicap.

Why does the calculator use only some of my rounds?

The WHS intentionally uses a subset of recent scores to estimate potential rather than average performance. With fewer than 20 rounds, the table specifies how many of the lowest differentials to average. With 20 rounds, it uses the lowest 8.

Source

Reference: Calculator.net — Golf Handicap Calculator. For official rules, see the USGA and R&A World Handicap System.

Disclaimer

This calculator provides an estimate for planning and practice. It is not an official handicap and is not affiliated with any governing body. Official handicaps are administered by authorized golf clubs under the World Handicap System.