This calculator estimates your golf handicap based on your recent scores and the course ratings. The GHIN (Golf Handicap Information Network) system is used by golfers worldwide to maintain and verify handicaps.
Enter Your Score Details
Your estimated handicap will appear here.
Understanding Your Golf Handicap (GHIN System)
A golf handicap is a numerical measure of a golfer's potential ability. It allows players of different skill levels to compete against each other on a relatively even basis. The GHIN system, maintained by the United States Golf Association (USGA), is the most widely recognized system for calculating and managing handicaps.
How the GHIN Handicap is Calculated
The GHIN handicap calculation primarily uses a "handicap differential" for each score entered. The handicap differential represents how well you played on a particular course on a given day. It's calculated using the following formula:
Adjusted Gross Score (AGS): This is your gross score for a hole, but capped at a maximum score (Net Double Bogey) to prevent one or two bad holes from disproportionately inflating your handicap. For example, if your score on a hole is a 7 and Net Double Bogey is 5, your AGS for that hole is 5.
Course Rating: This represents the average score a scratch golfer (0 handicap) would shoot on that course under normal conditions. It's usually between 68 and 74.
Slope Rating: This measures the relative difficulty of a course for a player who is not a scratch golfer, compared to a scratch golfer. A higher slope rating indicates a more difficult course for the average golfer. The maximum slope rating is 155. The number 113 is a standard baseline for slope difficulty.
Once you have calculated the handicap differential for each of your scores, the GHIN system takes the lowest 8 differentials from your most recent 20 scores. These 8 differentials are then averaged to produce your official handicap index.
This calculator simplifies the process by averaging all entered score differentials. For official GHIN handicaps, remember that your handicap is updated based on your 8 lowest differentials from your last 20 scores.
Why Use a Handicap Calculator?
Track Progress: See how your game is improving over time.
Play Fairly: Compete with friends of varying skill levels.
Understand Your Game: Identify strengths and weaknesses based on scores on different courses.
Eligibility: Many tournaments require an official handicap.
Disclaimer: This calculator provides an estimated handicap based on the provided inputs. For an official GHIN handicap, you must register with an authorized golf association and follow their specific procedures for score posting and handicap management.
function addScoreEntry() {
var scoreEntriesDiv = document.getElementById("scoreEntries");
var newEntry = document.createElement("div");
newEntry.classList.add("score-entry");
newEntry.innerHTML = `
`;
scoreEntriesDiv.appendChild(newEntry);
}
function removeScoreEntry(buttonElement) {
var entryToRemove = buttonElement.parentNode;
entryToRemove.parentNode.removeChild(entryToRemove);
}
function calculateHandicap() {
var scoreEntries = document.getElementsByClassName("score-entry");
var differentials = [];
var totalDifferential = 0;
var validScoresCount = 0;
for (var i = 0; i 0) {
var differential = (score – courseRating) * (113 / slopeRating);
differentials.push(differential);
totalDifferential += differential;
validScoresCount++;
} else {
// Optionally, provide feedback for invalid entries
// console.log("Invalid input in entry " + (i + 1));
}
}
var resultDiv = document.getElementById("result");
if (validScoresCount === 0) {
resultDiv.innerHTML = "Please enter valid scores to calculate.";
return;
}
// For this simplified calculator, we average all valid differentials.
// A real GHIN handicap uses the best 8 of the last 20.
var averageDifferential = totalDifferential / validScoresCount;
// Display the handicap index, typically rounded to one decimal place.
// A true handicap index is calculated from the 8 lowest differentials.
// This is a simplification for demonstration.
resultDiv.innerHTML = "Estimated Handicap Index: " + averageDifferential.toFixed(2) + "";
}