Golf Handicap Calculator
Calculate your WHS Index and track your progress on the course.
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Your Handicap Index
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Score History
Post at least one score to see your history.
About the Golf Handicap Calculator
This tool calculates your golf handicap index based on the official World Handicap System (WHS). By entering your scores along with the course and slope ratings, you can track your progress, identify your best rounds, and get an accurate measure of your potential playing ability. It's the perfect companion for any golfer looking to understand and improve their game.
Formula Explained
The calculator follows the WHS rules to determine your Handicap Index:
- Calculate Score Differential: For each round you enter, we first calculate a Score Differential. This value represents your performance on a given day, adjusted for the course's difficulty.
- Average the Best Scores: The system then looks at your most recent 20 scores and takes an average of the **8 lowest** Score Differentials.
- Final Handicap Index: This average is your official Handicap Index, a portable measure of your ability that you can use on any course.
How to Improve Your Handicap
Lowering your handicap requires consistent effort in key areas of the game. Here's how to get better:
Focus on the Short Game
Most strokes are lost within 100 yards of the green. Practice your putting, chipping, and pitching to save strokes.
Course Management
Play smarter, not harder. Aim for the center of the green, avoid hazards, and play to your strengths to minimize big numbers.
Know Your Distances
Use a rangefinder or GPS to know the exact yardage for each shot. This eliminates guesswork and improves club selection.
Track Your Stats
Keep track of fairways hit, greens in regulation, and putts per round to identify the weakest parts of your game and focus your practice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a golf handicap? →
A golf handicap is a numerical measure of a golfer's potential ability. It is used to allow players of different skill levels to compete against each other on an equitable basis. Under the World Handicap System (WHS), it is calculated as an average of the best 8 of your last 20 scores.
How is a Handicap Index calculated? →
Your Handicap Index is calculated by first determining the Score Differential for each of your rounds. The formula is (113 / Slope Rating) * (Adjusted Gross Score - Course Rating). The calculator then takes the average of the lowest 8 Score Differentials from your most recent 20 rounds to find your Handicap Index.
What is the difference between a Handicap Index and a Course Handicap? →
Your Handicap Index is your general measure of potential ability on a course of standard difficulty. Your Course Handicap is an adjusted number that represents the actual number of strokes you get on a specific course from a specific set of tees. It is calculated as: (Handicap Index * Slope Rating / 113) + (Course Rating - Par).
What are Course Rating and Slope Rating? →
The Course Rating is an evaluation of a course's difficulty for a scratch golfer (a player with a 0 handicap). The Slope Rating indicates the relative difficulty for a bogey golfer compared to a scratch golfer. A higher slope rating means the course is significantly harder for a bogey golfer. Both numbers are found on the scorecard.
How many scores do I need to get a handicap? →
Under the World Handicap System (WHS), you can get an initial Handicap Index after submitting just three 18-hole scores (or an equivalent combination of 9-hole scores). The handicap becomes more accurate and stable as you submit more scores, up to a maximum of 20.