Golf Handicap Calculator
Enter your recent round scores along with each course's rating and slope to estimate your handicap index, using the same differential method the official system is based on. This is a simplified estimate, not an official USGA or governing-body handicap.
How the Golf Handicap formula works
Each round produces a 'differential,' and the handicap index averages the lowest of them:
Score differential = (Score − Course rating) × 113 / Slope rating Handicap index ≈ Average of the lowest differentials (varies by how many rounds are used)
Step-by-step calculation
- For each round, subtract the course rating from your score, multiply by 113, and divide by the course's slope rating to get that round's differential.
- Take the average of your lowest differentials — official systems use a specific count based on how many rounds you've entered.
- That average is your estimated handicap index.
Worked example
A round shooting 92 on a course with a 71.5 rating and 128 slope: Differential = (92 − 71.5) × 113/128 ≈ 18.1. Averaging several such differentials across recent rounds gives an estimated handicap index.
Frequently asked questions
Is this the same as my official handicap index?
No — this calculator applies the standard differential formula for educational and estimation purposes, but an official handicap index requires posting scores through an authorized golf association system with specific rules about which and how many rounds count. Treat this as a close estimate, not an official number.
What do course rating and slope rating mean?
Course rating estimates the expected score for a scratch (zero-handicap) golfer under normal conditions, while slope rating measures the relative difficulty for a bogey golfer compared to a scratch golfer — both numbers are usually posted on the scorecard or the course's website.