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Golf Handicap Calculator.
Estimates a golf handicap index from your scores, course ratings, and slope ratings using the World Handicap System method.
Your inputs
How it works
- 1
Enter three recent 18-hole gross scores.
- 2
Enter the course rating and slope rating for the course played.
- 3
Calculate each score differential: (score − course rating) × 113 ÷ slope rating.
- 4
Average the three differentials to get your estimated handicap index.
((score1 - course_rating) * 113 / slope_rating + (score2 - course_rating) * 113 / slope_rating + (score3 - course_rating) * 113 / slope_rating) / 3Frequently asked questions
What is a score differential?
A score differential adjusts your gross score for the difficulty of the course, using the course rating and slope rating. It is the building block of a handicap index.
Why use 113 in the formula?
113 is the standard slope rating of a course of average difficulty. Dividing by the actual slope rating scales your performance relative to that baseline.
How many scores do I need for an official handicap?
The World Handicap System requires a minimum of 3 scores to establish a handicap index, and the number of scores used increases as you submit more rounds.
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Results
Formula checkedAI-generated estimate for general guidance only — not professional advice.
How it works
Estimates a golf handicap index from your scores, course ratings, and slope ratings using the World Handicap System method.
- Enter three recent 18-hole gross scores.
- Enter the course rating and slope rating for the course played.
- Calculate each score differential: (score − course rating) × 113 ÷ slope rating.
- Average the three differentials to get your estimated handicap index.
Formulas
The math behind this calculator, written out so you can verify the result.
Score Differential
Converts a raw score into a difficulty-adjusted value. A higher slope rating means the course is harder, so the differential is reduced.
Example:
Input: Score = 85, Course Rating = 72.0, Slope = 113
Calculation: (85 − 72.0) × 113 ÷ 113
Result: 13.0
Handicap Index (3 scores)
With exactly 3 scores, the WHS uses the average of all three differentials. With more scores, only the lowest portion is used.
Example:
Input: Differentials = 13.0, 16.0, 10.0
Calculation: (13.0 + 16.0 + 10.0) ÷ 3
Result: 13.0
Real-world use cases
Where this calculation shows up in everyday life.
Track your progress
Estimate how your handicap changes as you shoot lower scores or play tougher courses.
Example: See how breaking 80 on a slope-130 course affects your index.
Compare courses
Understand why a score of 85 on a hard course may yield a lower handicap than 85 on an easy one.
Example: A slope-140 course makes an 85 worth more than a slope-100 course.
Set realistic targets
Use the estimate to set goals for league play or casual rounds.
Example: Aim to lower your index by 2 strokes over the season.
Tips and common mistakes
Tips
- Use scores from 18-hole rounds played under normal conditions.
- Enter the correct course rating and slope rating from the scorecard, not from memory.
- For a more accurate estimate, use more than three scores and average the lowest differentials.
- Remember that official handicaps require attested scores and a golf association.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Using the par of the course instead of the course rating.
- Forgetting to adjust for slope rating, which penalizes good scores on easy courses.
- Mixing 9-hole and 18-hole scores without converting them properly.