Free tool
Golf Handicap Calculator
Quick answer: your Handicap Index is the average of your best 8 score differentials from your most recent 20 rounds. Each differential is (113 ÷ Slope) × (Adjusted Score − Course Rating). Enter your rounds below to calculate yours for free.
Calculate your Handicap Index
Enter at least 3 rounds (up to your most recent 20). Example rounds are pre-filled — replace them with yours.
Not sure what those two numbers mean, or can't find them? Tap the ? marks above. In a hurry, use 72.0 and 113 — a course of average difficulty.
Estimated Handicap Index
14.0
Based on 3 valid rounds.
Course Handicap
14
Strokes you'd receive on these tees.
Estimate only — not an official Handicap Index. Official indexes come from your golf association.
How a Handicap Index is calculated
The World Handicap System (WHS), used by the USGA, R&A and most national associations, works in three steps:
- Adjust each score. Cap every hole at net double bogey (par + 2 + any strokes you receive on that hole).
- Find the score differential. (113 ÷ Slope Rating) × (Adjusted Gross Score − Course Rating − PCC). 113 is the slope of a course of standard difficulty.
- Average your best differentials. With 20 rounds, average the lowest 8. With fewer, use the table below. Round to one decimal; the maximum is 54.0.
Example
You shoot an adjusted 90 on tees rated 71.5 with a slope of 125: (113 ÷ 125) × (90 − 71.5) = 0.904 × 18.5 = 16.7. That one round's differential then goes into your average.
If you have fewer than 20 rounds
| Rounds | Differentials used | Adjustment |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Lowest 1 | −2.0 |
| 4 | Lowest 1 | −1.0 |
| 5 | Lowest 1 | 0 |
| 6 | Average of lowest 2 | −1.0 |
| 7–8 | Average of lowest 2 | 0 |
| 9–11 | Average of lowest 3 | 0 |
| 12–14 | Average of lowest 4 | 0 |
| 15–16 | Average of lowest 5 | 0 |
| 17–18 | Average of lowest 6 | 0 |
| 19 | Average of lowest 7 | 0 |
| 20 | Average of lowest 8 | 0 |
From Handicap Index to Course Handicap
Your Index travels with you. To know how many strokes you get on a specific set of tees: Course Handicap = Index × (Slope ÷ 113) + (Course Rating − Par). A 15.0 Index on tees with a 135 slope, 72.4 rating and par 72 gets 18 strokes.
Lowering your handicap
A handicap tells you where you stand, not why. Tracking golf statistics and strokes gained shows where your shots go. From there, a focused practice plan beats random range time. See our guides on how to lower your golf handicap, breaking 90 and breaking 80.
Frequently asked questions
How many rounds do I need for a handicap?
Under the World Handicap System you can get a Handicap Index after 3 rounds of 18 holes (or the equivalent in 9-hole rounds). With fewer than 20 rounds, a smaller number of your best differentials is used, sometimes with an adjustment.
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). PCC is a playing-conditions adjustment and is usually 0.
What's the difference between Handicap Index and Course Handicap?
Your Handicap Index is portable and reflects your ability on a course of standard difficulty. Your Course Handicap converts it for a specific set of tees: Index × (Slope ÷ 113) + (Course Rating − Par). It's the number of strokes you receive that day.
Is this an official handicap?
No. This calculator gives an estimate using the WHS formula. An official Handicap Index comes from your national golf association or a licensed club, which also applies adjustments like net double bogey, PCC and caps.
What is an adjusted gross score?
It's your score after limiting each hole to a maximum of net double bogey (par + 2 + any handicap strokes you receive on that hole). Using your raw score may make your estimate slightly high.
Where do I find course rating and slope?
Both numbers are printed on the scorecard for each set of tees, usually labelled 'CR' (Course Rating) and 'Slope'. They're also on the club's website and in your national association's course directory — in the US the USGA publishes them for every rated course. If you still can't find them, ask the front desk or the starter.
What if I can't find my course rating or slope?
Use 72.0 and 113, which describe a course of average difficulty. Your Handicap Index will then be a rough estimate — close for a typical course, further off for an unusually easy or hard one. Replace them with the real numbers as soon as you have them.
Stop guessing. Start scoring.
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