This golf handicap calculator estimates your Handicap Index using World Handicap System (WHS) rules, the system used by the USGA, R&A, Golf Canada and Golf Australia. Enter up to 20 recent rounds with each course’s rating and slope, then see your Course Handicap for the next course you play.
| Adjusted score | Course Rating | Slope Rating |
|---|---|---|
How a Handicap Index is calculated
- Score differential for each round = (113 ÷ Slope Rating) × (adjusted gross score − Course Rating), rounded to one decimal.
- With 20 rounds, average the lowest 8 differentials.
- With fewer rounds, use the table below.
- The maximum Handicap Index is 54.0.
Fewer than 20 scores
| Rounds | Differentials used | Adjustment |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Lowest 1 | −2.0 |
| 4 | Lowest 1 | −1.0 |
| 5 | Lowest 1 | 0 |
| 6 | Average of lowest 2 | −1.0 |
| 7–8 | Average of lowest 2 | 0 |
| 9–11 | Average of lowest 3 | 0 |
| 12–14 | Average of lowest 4 | 0 |
| 15–16 | Average of lowest 5 | 0 |
| 17–18 | Average of lowest 6 | 0 |
| 19 | Average of lowest 7 | 0 |
| 20 | Average of lowest 8 | 0 |
Course Handicap
Course Handicap = Handicap Index × (Slope Rating ÷ 113) + (Course Rating − Par), rounded to a whole number. It is the number of strokes you receive on a particular course from a particular set of tees.
Worked example
With the 10 sample rounds in the calculator, the lowest 3 differentials are used, giving a Handicap Index of 15.0. On a course with a Slope of 128, Course Rating 71.8 and par 72, the Course Handicap is 17.
What is an adjusted gross score?
Your score after limiting each hole to net double bogey: par + 2 + any handicap strokes you receive on that hole. New golfers without a Handicap Index use par + 5 as the maximum.
Frequently asked questions
How many rounds do I need for a handicap?
Three 18-hole scores (made up of 18- or 9-hole rounds) are enough to get a Handicap Index under the World Handicap System.
What is a Slope Rating?
A measure of how much harder a course is for a bogey golfer than for a scratch golfer. 113 is the standard; ratings range from 55 to 155.
Is this my official handicap?
No. Official Handicap Indexes come from your club or golf association, which also applies daily playing conditions and caps.
What is a good golf handicap?
Lower is better. Scratch golfers have a handicap of around zero, and many regular club golfers have a Handicap Index somewhere in the teens or twenties.
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Sources
Last reviewed: October 2026. For information only; results are estimates; check important figures with a professional.