| Round | Course Rating | Slope Rating | Score (18/9) | 9-Hole? | PCA (-1 to 3) |
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Enter your Handicap Index and course details to find your playing handicap for that tee set.
Elevate your golf game with our Golf Handicap Calculator, designed to compute your Handicap Index and Course Handicap using the World Handicap System (WHS). Whether you're a beginner submitting your first scores or a seasoned golfer tracking progress, this tool delivers precise results based on USGA and R&A guidelines. Perfect for tournament preparation, fair play, or monitoring improvement, it supports 9- and 18-hole rounds, adjusts for playing conditions, and works for any course worldwide. Plan your next round with confidence and accuracy.
Our calculator simplifies the complex WHS formulas, making it easy to calculate your handicap without manual math. From casual games to competitive events, it ensures equitable play across diverse courses, helping golfers of all levels compete fairly and set achievable goals.
A Golf Handicap Calculator is an online tool that calculates a golfer’s Handicap Index by analyzing score differentials from recent rounds. It also determines the Course Handicap, adjusting for course and tee difficulty using Slope and Course Ratings. Aligned with the WHS (introduced in 2020), it ensures consistent handicapping worldwide. Key features include:
Whether you're playing locally or traveling to new courses, our Golf Handicap Calculator provides accurate, WHS-compliant results to enhance your game.
The calculator computes score differentials using the formula: (Score - Course Rating - PCA) × (113 / Slope Rating). The Handicap Index is calculated by averaging the best differentials (e.g., 8 of 20 rounds) with adjustments for fewer scores. The Course Handicap is derived using: Handicap Index × (Slope / 113) + (Course Rating - Par), rounded to the nearest whole number.
Example:
Round: Score 85, Course Rating 70.3, Slope 126, PCA 0
Differential: (85 - 70.3 - 0) × (113 / 126) ≈ 13.2
With 5 differentials (11.3, 13.2, 14.3, 17, 18.3), Index = 11.3 (lowest, adjusted for fewer scores)
Course Handicap (Rating 70, Slope 121, Par 72): 11.3 × (121 / 113) + (70 - 72) ≈ 9
The calculator automates these calculations, ensuring precision and compliance with WHS rules for any course or tee.
Our Golf Handicap Calculator offers a reliable and user-friendly way to track your golf performance. Here’s why it’s the best choice:
Whether you're preparing for a tournament or tracking progress, our calculator simplifies handicapping, letting you focus on your game.
A Golf Handicap Calculator enhances your golfing experience by providing accurate and actionable insights. Common uses include:
From casual rounds to professional events, our calculator supports golfers at every level, ensuring fair and enjoyable play.
Using our Golf Handicap Calculator is simple and intuitive, requiring minimal input for precise results. Follow these steps:
Instant outputs include:
Handicap Index (to one decimal)
Detailed differentials table
Course Handicap for fair play
The calculator’s user-friendly design ensures golfers of all skill levels can track their handicap effortlessly.
Calculating a golf handicap manually is complex and error-prone, especially with WHS rules. Our calculator offers a superior alternative:
Save time and ensure accuracy with our Golf Handicap Calculator, designed to simplify the process for all golfers.
Golf handicaps have a rich history and play a crucial role in fair play. Here are some interesting facts:
Use our Golf Handicap Calculator to explore your handicap and connect with this global system.
Nine-hole scores are calculated similarly to 18-hole scores, with differentials scaled as per WHS rules and included in your scoring record.
PCA adjusts scores for daily conditions (e.g., weather, course setup), ranging from -1 to +3, and is automatically applied in official WHS systems.
For fewer than 20 scores, WHS applies conservative adjustments (e.g., subtracting from the average) to ensure a fair and accurate Handicap Index.
Yes, it uses USGA and R&A WHS formulas, making it suitable for educational and unofficial use, though official handicaps require club submission.
The default Slope Rating is 113; check your course’s scorecard, website, or golf app for accurate ratings.
Yes, the calculator supports any course with a Slope and Course Rating, ensuring WHS-compliant results worldwide.
Yes, our Golf Handicap Calculator is completely free with no signup required, accessible to all golfers.
You need a Handicap Index first, but our calculator can compute it from your scores, then calculate the Course Handicap for any tee.
Yes, it calculates Handicap Index from as few as three 9-hole or 18-hole scores, perfect for beginners starting their handicapping journey.
Yes, the calculator provides accurate Handicap Index and Course Handicap for tournament eligibility, though official events may require club-verified scores.
Golf handicapping began in the early 20th century to level the playing field, with the USGA formalizing it in 1911. Early systems were regional and inconsistent, but the introduction of Slope Rating in 1984 improved accuracy by accounting for course difficulty. The World Handicap System, launched in 2020, unified global handicapping under USGA and R&A governance.
WHS introduced features like daily Playing Conditions Adjustments and flexible score submissions, making handicaps more accurate and accessible. Our Golf Handicap Calculator leverages these modern standards to provide precise, user-friendly results.
Course Rating represents the expected score for a scratch golfer (Handicap Index 0) on a course, while Slope Rating measures relative difficulty for non-scratch golfers. The standard Slope Rating is 113; higher values indicate tougher courses. These metrics are critical for calculating accurate differentials and Course Handicaps.
For example, a course with a Slope of 140 is significantly harder than one with a Slope of 113, affecting your Course Handicap. Our calculator uses these ratings to ensure WHS-compliant results for any course.
Handicaps are the backbone of fair play in golf, allowing players of different skill levels to compete equitably. By adjusting scores based on course difficulty and player ability, handicaps ensure every golfer has a chance to succeed, whether in casual rounds or tournaments.
The WHS enhances this by standardizing calculations globally, making it easier to play on unfamiliar courses. Our Golf Handicap Calculator supports this mission, delivering accurate handicaps for fair and enjoyable games.
Content researched from official USGA/R&A sources and authored originally for this tool.
Our Free Online Golf Handicap Calculator simplifies the complexities of the World Handicap System, empowering golfers to calculate their Handicap Index and Course Handicap with ease. Whether you're aiming for fair play, tournament readiness, or personal improvement, this tool delivers precise, WHS-compliant results. Tee off with confidence—calculate your handicap today!