Golf Handicap Calculator
Calculate golf handicap index and course handicap for golfers
Score History
Handicap Index
Max: 36.4
Average Differential
Best 1 of 5
Score Differentials
Round 1
13.0
Round 2
13.0
Round 3
13.0
Round 4
13.0
Round 5
13.0
Quick Reference
Slope Rating Guide:
- 55-95: Easier than average
- 96-125: Average difficulty
- 126-155: More difficult
Course Rating:
- Expected score for scratch golfer
- Usually close to par
- Accounts for course length & obstacles
How it works
A golf handicap measures a player's ability so golfers of different skill can compete fairly. It's based on score differentials — how your scores compare to course difficulty (rating and slope) — averaging your best recent rounds.
Handicap differential
Differential = (score − course rating) × 113 ÷ slope rating Index ≈ average of best differentials × 0.96
- course rating
- expected score for a scratch golfer
- slope
- course difficulty (113 is average)
Worked example
- Score 90, course rating 70.0, slope 125
- Differential = (90 − 70) × 113 ÷ 125
- = 20 × 0.904
Differential ≈ 18.1 for that round.
Good to know
- Your index uses the best 8 of your last 20 score differentials under the World Handicap System.
- Course handicap then adjusts the index for the specific tees you play.
- Lower handicap means a better player; a scratch golfer is 0.
Related Calculators
Frequently Asked Questions
How is a Handicap Index calculated?
Under the World Handicap System (WHS), your Handicap Index is the average of your best 8 score differentials from your most recent 20 rounds. Fewer rounds use a smaller subset with adjustments, and the index updates after each posted score.
What is a score differential?
A score differential measures how well you played relative to the course's difficulty: (113 ÷ slope rating) × (adjusted gross score − course rating − PCC adjustment). The 113 is the standard slope constant in the formula.
What's the difference between a Handicap Index and a course handicap?
Your Handicap Index is portable between courses; the course handicap converts it for the specific tees you're playing: course handicap = index × (slope ÷ 113) + (course rating − par). A harder set of tees gives you more strokes.
What is slope rating?
Slope rating measures how much harder a course plays for a bogey golfer than for a scratch golfer, ranging from 55 to 155 with 113 as the standard. A high slope means scores of average golfers rise faster relative to scratch players.
How many rounds do I need to get a handicap?
Under the WHS you can establish a Handicap Index after posting scores totaling just 54 holes, in any combination of 9- and 18-hole rounds. The index becomes more representative as you approach a full 20-score record.