How to Work Out Golf Handicap Calculator

Golf Handicap Index Calculator (WHS)

Use this calculator to estimate your Golf Handicap Index based on your recent rounds, following the World Handicap System (WHS) principles. The WHS uses the best 8 Score Differentials from your most recent 20 scores. For simplicity, this calculator allows you to input up to 8 rounds and will calculate your index based on the best 3 Score Differentials from those provided, which is consistent with the WHS rules for players with 8 scores.

Please enter your Adjusted Gross Score, the Course Rating, and the Slope Rating for each of your recent rounds. An Adjusted Gross Score is your raw score after applying any Equitable Stroke Control (ESC) or Net Double Bogey adjustments.

Your Handicap Index will appear here.

This calculator uses the best 3 Score Differentials from up to 8 rounds provided, aligning with WHS rules for 8 scores. For a full WHS Handicap Index, 20 scores are typically used, taking the best 8 differentials.

Understanding Your Golf Handicap Index

A Golf Handicap Index is a numerical measure of a golfer's demonstrated ability relative to the difficulty of a golf course. It allows golfers of different skill levels to compete fairly against each other. The World Handicap System (WHS), introduced in 2020, provides a unified system for calculating handicaps globally.

Key Terms Explained:

• Adjusted Gross Score (AGS): This is your raw score for a round, adjusted for any exceptionally high hole scores. Under WHS, the maximum score for any hole is a Net Double Bogey (Par + 2 strokes + any handicap strokes received on that hole). This prevents one or two bad holes from disproportionately affecting your handicap.
• Course Rating: This is the USGA's evaluation of the playing difficulty of a course for a scratch golfer (a golfer who can play to a zero handicap). It's expressed in strokes and typically includes decimal points (e.g., 72.3).
• Slope Rating: This is the USGA's evaluation of the relative difficulty of a course for a bogey golfer (a golfer with approximately a 20 handicap) compared to a scratch golfer. It ranges from 55 to 155, with 113 being the average. A higher Slope Rating indicates a more difficult course for a bogey golfer.
• Score Differential: This is the core calculation that converts your Adjusted Gross Score from a specific round into a value that can be compared across different courses. The formula is:
  Score Differential = (Adjusted Gross Score - Course Rating - PCC Adjustment) × 113 / Slope Rating
  (Note: This calculator simplifies by omitting the Playing Conditions Calculation (PCC) adjustment, which is a daily adjustment based on how scores compare to expected scores on a given day.)
• Handicap Index: Your Handicap Index is calculated by averaging your best Score Differentials from your most recent 20 scores. The number of scores used varies depending on how many scores you have submitted (e.g., best 1 of 3, best 3 of 8, best 8 of 20). The result is truncated to one decimal place.
• Playing Handicap: This is the number of strokes you receive for a specific course and set of tees. It's calculated by applying your Handicap Index to the Slope Rating of the course you are playing:
  Playing Handicap = Handicap Index × (Slope Rating / 113) + Course Handicap Adjustment
  (The Course Handicap Adjustment is typically zero for stroke play but can vary for different competition formats.)

How the Calculator Works:

This calculator focuses on determining your Handicap Index. It takes your Adjusted Gross Score, Course Rating, and Slope Rating for up to 8 rounds. For each valid round, it calculates a Score Differential. It then sorts these differentials and selects the best (lowest) ones according to the WHS rules for the number of scores provided (e.g., if you provide 8 scores, it uses the best 3). Finally, it averages these selected differentials and truncates the result to one decimal place to give you your estimated Handicap Index.

Example Calculation:

Let's say you have the following 8 valid rounds:

Round	AGS	Course Rating	Slope Rating	Score Differential
1	85	72.5	130	(85 – 72.5) * 113 / 130 = 10.865
2	88	71.8	125	(88 – 71.8) * 113 / 125 = 14.677
3	82	73.0	135	(82 – 73.0) * 113 / 135 = 7.533
4	90	72.0	128	(90 – 72.0) * 113 / 128 = 15.906
5	86	72.2	132	(86 – 72.2) * 113 / 132 = 11.818
6	84	71.5	120	(84 – 71.5) * 113 / 120 = 11.771
7	87	72.8	138	(87 – 72.8) * 113 / 138 = 11.609
8	83	71.0	122	(83 – 71.0) * 113 / 122 = 11.100

The calculated Score Differentials are: 10.865, 14.677, 7.533, 15.906, 11.818, 11.771, 11.609, 11.100.

Sorted (lowest to highest): 7.533, 10.865, 11.100, 11.609, 11.771, 11.818, 14.677, 15.906.

Since 8 scores are provided, the WHS uses the best 3 Score Differentials:

• 7.533
• 10.865
• 11.100

Average of best 3 = (7.533 + 10.865 + 11.100) / 3 = 29.498 / 3 = 9.8326…

Truncated to one decimal place, the estimated Handicap Index is 9.8.

Important Considerations:

• This calculator provides an estimation. An official Handicap Index is managed by your national golf association (e.g., USGA, R&A) through a registered golf club or authorized body.
• The calculator assumes you are providing Adjusted Gross Scores. If you enter raw scores, your calculated index may be inaccurate.
• The WHS includes a Playing Conditions Calculation (PCC) which can adjust Score Differentials based on daily course conditions. This calculator does not include PCC adjustments.
• For a truly accurate Handicap Index, you should submit all your scores to an authorized handicapping system.