Calculate Handicap Golf

Golf Handicap Differential Calculator

Total strokes after hole-score limits.

Found on your scorecard.

Standard is 113. Range is 55 to 155.

Handicap Differential

0.0

This represents your performance for this specific round adjusted for course difficulty.

function calculateHandicapDiff() { var score = parseFloat(document.getElementById('golfScore').value); var rating = parseFloat(document.getElementById('courseRating').value); var slope = parseFloat(document.getElementById('slopeRating').value); var resultContainer = document.getElementById('handicapResultContainer'); var output = document.getElementById('handicapOutput'); if (isNaN(score) || isNaN(rating) || isNaN(slope) || slope <= 0) { alert("Please enter valid numerical values for all fields."); return; } // Formula: (Score – Course Rating) x (113 / Slope Rating) var differential = (score – rating) * (113 / slope); output.innerHTML = differential.toFixed(1); resultContainer.style.display = 'block'; }

Understanding your golf handicap is the key to tracking improvement and competing fairly against players of different skill levels. Under the World Handicap System (WHS), calculating your handicap involves determining a "Handicap Differential" for each round played.

The Fundamentals of Golf Handicapping

A golf handicap isn't just your average score; it's a measure of your potential. To calculate a true Handicap Index, you generally need the best 8 scores out of your last 20 rounds. However, it all starts with calculating the differential for a single round using three specific numbers:

• Adjusted Gross Score: Your total strokes, but capped by the Net Double Bogey limit (the maximum score a player can post on any hole).
• Course Rating: A number (usually between 67 and 77) that tells you how many strokes a "scratch golfer" (0 handicap) should take to finish the course.
• Slope Rating: A number (ranging from 55 to 155) that describes the relative difficulty of a course for a "bogey golfer" compared to a scratch golfer. The average slope is 113.

The Math Behind the Calculation

The formula for calculating a Handicap Differential is standardized globally. It adjusts your score based on the difficulty of the tees you played from:

Handicap Differential = (Adjusted Gross Score – Course Rating) x (113 / Slope Rating)

Example Calculation

Imagine you played a round at a local club with the following stats:

Metric	Value
Adjusted Gross Score	88
Course Rating	71.5
Slope Rating	128

Step 1: Subtract the rating from the score: 88 – 71.5 = 16.5.
Step 2: Divide 113 by the slope: 113 / 128 = 0.8828.
Step 3: Multiply the results: 16.5 x 0.8828 = 14.6.

Your Handicap Differential for that specific round is 14.6.

Why Slope and Rating Matter

Without these metrics, a score of 85 at a very difficult championship course would look the same as an 85 at a short, flat executive course. The Course Rating adjusts for total length and obstacles, while the Slope Rating accounts for how much harder the course becomes for non-expert players. A higher slope means the course is significantly more difficult for high-handicappers than for pros.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many scores do I need for an official Handicap Index?
Under the WHS, you can establish a handicap index with as few as 54 holes (a combination of 9-hole and 18-hole rounds).

What is a "Good" Handicap?
The average male golfer has a handicap between 14 and 16, while the average female golfer is between 26 and 28. "Breaking 90" consistently usually puts you in the top 25% of all golfers.