How Do You Calculate Your Golf Handicap

by

Golf Handicap Index Calculator

Enter your Adjusted Gross Score, Course Rating, and Slope Rating for up to 10 recent rounds to calculate your estimated Handicap Index. You need at least 3 valid rounds for a calculation.

Round Scores & Course Details

(Enter your Adjusted Gross Score after applying any maximum hole score adjustments.)

Round 1




Round 2




Round 3




Round 4




Round 5




Round 6




Round 7




Round 8




Round 9




Round 10




.golf-handicap-calculator-wrapper { font-family: Arial, sans-serif; max-width: 800px; margin: 20px auto; padding: 20px; border: 1px solid #ddd; border-radius: 8px; background-color: #f9f9f9; } .golf-handicap-calculator-wrapper h2, .golf-handicap-calculator-wrapper h3, .golf-handicap-calculator-wrapper h4 { color: #2c3e50; text-align: center; margin-bottom: 15px; } .golf-handicap-calculator-wrapper p { line-height: 1.6; margin-bottom: 10px; } .calculator-form { background-color: #ffffff; padding: 20px; border-radius: 8px; border: 1px solid #eee; } .round-inputs { border: 1px solid #e0e0e0; padding: 15px; margin-bottom: 15px; border-radius: 5px; background-color: #fdfdfd; } .round-inputs h4 { margin-top: 0; color: #34495e; border-bottom: 1px solid #eee; padding-bottom: 10px; margin-bottom: 15px; } .round-inputs label { display: inline-block; width: 150px; margin-bottom: 8px; font-weight: bold; color: #555; } .round-inputs input[type="number"] { width: calc(100% – 160px); padding: 8px; margin-bottom: 8px; border: 1px solid #ccc; border-radius: 4px; box-sizing: border-box; } .calculator-form button { display: block; width: 100%; padding: 12px 20px; background-color: #28a745; color: white; border: none; border-radius: 5px; font-size: 18px; cursor: pointer; margin-top: 20px; transition: background-color 0.3s ease; } .calculator-form button:hover { background-color: #218838; } .calculator-result { margin-top: 25px; padding: 15px; border: 2px solid #007bff; border-radius: 8px; background-color: #e7f3ff; text-align: center; font-size: 20px; font-weight: bold; color: #0056b3; } .calculator-result.error { border-color: #dc3545; background-color: #f8d7da; color: #721c24; } function calculateHandicap() { var differentials = []; var resultDiv = document.getElementById("handicapResult"); resultDiv.className = "calculator-result"; // Reset class for (var i = 1; i 0) { var differential = ((score – courseRating) * 113) / slopeRating; differentials.push(differential); } } if (differentials.length < 3) { resultDiv.innerHTML = "Error: Please enter at least 3 valid rounds to calculate a Handicap Index."; resultDiv.className += " error"; return; } // Sort differentials in ascending order differentials.sort(function(a, b) { return a – b; }); var numDifferentialsToUse; if (differentials.length >= 3 && differentials.length = 5 && differentials.length = 7 && differentials.length = 9 && differentials.length <= 10) { numDifferentialsToUse = 4; } else { // This case should ideally not be hit if input is capped at 10, but good for robustness numDifferentialsToUse = 0; // Or handle as an error } if (numDifferentialsToUse === 0) { resultDiv.innerHTML = "Error: Not enough valid rounds to determine which differentials to use."; resultDiv.className += " error"; return; } var sumOfBestDifferentials = 0; for (var j = 0; j < numDifferentialsToUse; j++) { sumOfBestDifferentials += differentials[j]; } var handicapIndex = sumOfBestDifferentials / numDifferentialsToUse; // Truncate to one decimal place (USGA method) handicapIndex = Math.floor(handicapIndex * 10) / 10; resultDiv.innerHTML = "Your Estimated Handicap Index: " + handicapIndex.toFixed(1) + ""; }

Understanding Your Golf Handicap Index

A golf handicap index is a numerical measure of a golfer's ability, allowing players of different skill levels to compete fairly against each other. It represents the average number of strokes over par a player is expected to score on a course of standard difficulty. The World Handicap System (WHS), adopted by most major golf authorities including the USGA, provides a unified method for calculating and maintaining handicaps globally.

Key Components of Handicap Calculation

To calculate a Handicap Index, several factors from your recent rounds are considered:

  1. Adjusted Gross Score (AGS): This is your raw score for a round, adjusted for any unusually high scores on individual holes. The WHS uses a "Net Double Bogey" adjustment, meaning your maximum score on any hole for handicap purposes is limited to a Net Double Bogey (Par + 2 strokes + any handicap strokes you would receive on that hole). For simplicity in this calculator, we assume you enter your score already adjusted.
  2. Course Rating (CR): This is an evaluation of the playing difficulty of a course for a scratch golfer (a golfer with a handicap of 0). It's expressed as a decimal number, typically ranging from 67.0 to 77.0, and is based on yardage, obstacles, and other factors.
  3. Slope Rating (SR): This measures the relative difficulty of a course for a bogey golfer (a golfer with a handicap of approximately 20) compared to a scratch golfer. Slope Ratings range from 55 to 155, with the average course having a Slope Rating of 113. A higher Slope Rating indicates a more challenging course for the bogey golfer.

The Handicap Differential Formula

The first step in calculating your Handicap Index is to determine a "Handicap Differential" for each eligible round. The formula is:

Handicap Differential = (Adjusted Gross Score - Course Rating) × 113 / Slope Rating

The factor '113' represents the standard Slope Rating, normalizing the differential across courses of varying difficulty.

Calculating Your Handicap Index

Your Handicap Index is derived from the average of your best Handicap Differentials from your most recent 20 scores. If you have fewer than 20 scores, a sliding scale is used:

  • 3-4 Scores: Use the best 1 differential.
  • 5-6 Scores: Use the best 2 differentials.
  • 7-8 Scores: Use the best 3 differentials.
  • 9-10 Scores: Use the best 4 differentials.
  • … and so on, up to the best 8 of 20 scores.

The average of these selected differentials is then truncated (not rounded) to one decimal place to become your Handicap Index. The WHS also includes a "Playing Conditions Calculation" (PCC) which adjusts scores based on abnormal course or weather conditions, and a "Soft Cap" and "Hard Cap" to prevent rapid increases in a Handicap Index, but these are beyond the scope of this basic calculator.

Example Calculation

Let's take an example for a single round:

  • Adjusted Gross Score: 85
  • Course Rating: 71.5
  • Slope Rating: 125

Handicap Differential = (85 - 71.5) × 113 / 125

Handicap Differential = (13.5) × 113 / 125

Handicap Differential = 1525.5 / 125

Handicap Differential = 12.204

If this was one of your best differentials and used in the calculation, it would contribute to your overall Handicap Index.

This calculator provides an estimate based on the core WHS formula for Handicap Differentials and the selection of best scores. For an official Handicap Index, you should register with your national golf association (e.g., USGA, R&A) and post your scores through their authorized system.

Leave a Comment