Golf Handicap Calculator
Calculate your USGA golf handicap index from up to 20 rounds. Enter score, course rating, and slope rating for each round.
Handicap Index
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Rounds Used
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Best Differential
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Total Rounds
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What is Golf Handicap Calculator?
A golf handicap index is a numerical measure of a golfer's potential ability, calculated from their best recent scores. It allows golfers of different skill levels to compete fairly. This calculator uses the World Handicap System (WHS) method: average the best 8 handicap differentials from the last 20 rounds, then multiply by 0.96.
How to use
- 1 Click 'Add Round' to add each round you want to include.
- 2 Enter your gross score, the course rating, and the slope rating for each round.
- 3 Course rating and slope rating are printed on the scorecard.
- 4 Add up to 20 rounds — the calculator automatically uses the best 8 differentials.
- 5 Click Calculate to see your handicap index.
Formula
Example calculation
Score 88, Course Rating 71.2, Slope 125: Differential = (88 − 71.2) × 113 / 125 = 15.18. With 8 such differentials averaged at 15.0, Handicap Index = 15.0 × 0.96 = 14.4.
Frequently asked questions
What is course rating?
Course rating is the expected score for a scratch golfer (0 handicap) on that course under normal conditions. It's usually between 67 and 77.
What is slope rating?
Slope rating measures the relative difficulty of a course for a bogey golfer compared to a scratch golfer. It ranges from 55 to 155, with 113 being the standard.
How many rounds do I need?
You need at least 3 rounds to calculate a handicap. With fewer than 20 rounds, a different number of differentials are used (e.g., best 1 of 3, best 2 of 5, etc.).
What does the 0.96 multiplier do?
The 0.96 'bonus for excellence' slightly reduces the handicap index to reward better players and keep the system competitive.
What is a good handicap?
The average male golfer has a handicap around 14–16. Female average is around 24–28. Single-digit handicaps (below 10) are considered good golfers.