Golf Handicap Calculator
Enter up to 20 recent scores with course rating and slope to estimate your World Handicap System Handicap Index, then get your course handicap and playing handicap for any course and format.
Golf handicap calculator (World Handicap System)
Enter your most recent rounds (adjusted gross score: net double bogey max per hole), with each course's rating and slope.
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Course handicap for the course you're playing
How a handicap index is calculated
- Score differential for each round = (113 ÷ slope rating) × (adjusted gross score − course rating − playing conditions adjustment). 90 on a 71.2 / 128 course is (113 ÷ 128) × 18.8 = 16.6.
- Handicap Index = the average of the best 8 of your most recent 20 differentials, truncated to one decimal (maximum 54.0). With fewer than 20 rounds, the WHS uses fewer differentials (best 1 of 3 minus 2.0, best 2 of 6 minus 1.0, best 3 of 9 to 11, best 4 of 12 to 14, best 5 of 15 to 16, best 6 of 17 to 18, best 7 of 19).
- Course Handicap = Handicap Index × (slope ÷ 113) + (course rating − par), rounded.
Your official index from your golf association also applies the playing conditions calculation (PCC), the soft and hard caps (limiting increases beyond 3.0 and 5.0 above your 12-month low) and exceptional-score reductions, so it can differ slightly from this estimate.
Playing handicap
Playing handicap = course handicap × the format's allowance: 95% for individual stroke play, 85% for four-ball stroke play, 100% for match play. A 12.8 index on a 128-slope course rated 71.2 (par 72) gives a course handicap of 14 and a 95% playing handicap of 13.
Common questions
How is a golf handicap calculated?
Average the best 8 of your last 20 score differentials; each differential = (113 ÷ slope) × (score − course rating).
What is a score differential?
(113 ÷ slope) × (adjusted score − course rating − PCC). 90 at 71.2/128 is 16.6.
How many rounds do I need for a handicap?
54 holes (three 18-hole rounds) to get an initial Handicap Index under the WHS.
What is the maximum handicap index?
54.0.
How do I calculate my course handicap?
Handicap Index × slope ÷ 113 + (course rating − par), rounded.
Sources
Related
General information, not financial, tax or legal advice. Check important numbers with the official source before acting on them.