Golf handicap calculator
Enter your rounds, get your Handicap Index. Or turn an index into a Course Handicap.
Oldest round first; only the latest 20 count. Use the Adjusted Gross Score (hole scores capped at net double bogey) and the PCC posted for that day, 0 if none.
For a plus handicap, enter the index as a negative number: +1.4 is −1.4.
How is a Handicap Index calculated?
Under the World Handicap System, each round gives a Score Differential = (113 ÷ Slope Rating) × (Adjusted Gross Score − Course Rating − PCC adjustment), rounded to a tenth. Your Handicap Index is the average of the lowest 8 of your most recent 20 Score Differentials. For example, a score of 88 on a course with a Course Rating of 71.2 and a Slope Rating of 130 gives (113 ÷ 130) × (88 − 71.2) = 14.6.
How many scores do I need, and what happens with fewer than 20?
You need scores from at least 54 holes, which is three 18-hole rounds, for an initial Handicap Index. With fewer than 20 scores the USGA table (Rule 5.2a) sets how many of the lowest differentials to average: 3 scores, the lowest 1 minus 2.0; 4 scores, the lowest 1 minus 1.0; 5 scores, the lowest 1; 6 scores, the average of the lowest 2 minus 1.0; 7 or 8, the lowest 2; 9 to 11, the lowest 3; 12 to 14, the lowest 4; 15 or 16, the lowest 5; 17 or 18, the lowest 6; 19, the lowest 7; 20, the lowest 8. The maximum Handicap Index is 54.0.
What is a Course Handicap?
The number of strokes you receive on a particular course and tees: Course Handicap = Handicap Index × (Slope Rating ÷ 113) + (Course Rating − Par), rounded to the nearest whole number as the last step (Rule 6.1a). A 10.3 Index on a course with a Slope Rating of 125, Course Rating 71.0 and Par 71 gives 11.39, or 11. A Playing Handicap then applies the handicap allowance for the format of play (Rule 6.2).
What are the soft cap and the hard cap?
Once you have 20 scores and a Low Handicap Index (your lowest index in the 365 days before your latest round), your index can rise by up to 3.0 strokes above it freely. Above that, the extra increase is cut by 50% (soft cap), and the index can never rise more than 5.0 above the low (hard cap). USGA example: an average of 11.6 with a Low Handicap Index of 6.5 gives 10.6; an average of 18.2 with a low of 10.2 gives 15.2. This page applies the caps only if you type your Low Handicap Index.
Is this my official Handicap Index?
No. Your official index comes from your golf club or association, which also applies the daily playing conditions calculation and any exceptional score reductions (Rule 5.9) or Committee adjustments. This page handles 18-hole rounds only and does not apply exceptional score reductions, so use it to check the arithmetic or to see where your index is heading.
Sources: USGA, Rules of Handicapping (2024 edition), Rules 4.5, 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.7, 5.8 and 6.1, the USGA Cap Examples, and the USGA article “What Exactly Are Course Rating and Slope Rating?” (Slope Rating from 55 to 155, standard 113). This page follows the 2024 edition. How we check our calculators.