Golf handicap calculator
Work out your handicap index from your last 20 rounds. Pick a course and we fill in the rating and slope for you.
Your rounds
Add your scores with each course's rating and slope. Type a course name to fill them in from our course list. Your rounds stay saved on this device.
How this golf handicap calculator works
It follows the World Handicap System, the rules used for official handicaps in the U.S. and most of the golf world since 2020. Three steps:
- Each round becomes a score differential. That's your score adjusted for how hard the course and tee were.
- Your best differentials are averaged. With 20 rounds on file, the best 8 count. With fewer, fewer count (see the table below).
- The average is your handicap index, rounded to one decimal. That's the number you carry from course to course.
113 is the slope of a course of average difficulty. PCC is the playing conditions adjustment, a correction of −1 to +3 for days when everyone scored unusually badly or well. On most days it's 0.
How many rounds count
You need at least 3 rounds (54 holes) to get an index. Until you have 20, the calculator uses this table:
| Differentials on file | Which ones count | 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 |
A quick example
You shoot 92 from tees rated 71.0 with a slope of 128. Your differential is (113 ÷ 128) × (92 − 71.0) = 18.5. Do that for every round, average the best ones, and you have your index. Our step-by-step guide walks through a full set of 20.
Adjusted gross score
Before a score goes in, each hole is capped at net double bogey: par + 2 + any strokes you get on that hole. One blow-up hole shouldn't wreck your index, so a 10 on a par 4 might go in as a 7. If you don't have an index yet, the cap is par + 5.
From index to strokes on the course
Your index isn't the number of strokes you get. That depends on the course. A course handicap converts it: index × (slope ÷ 113) + (course rating − par). A 15.0 index is about 17 strokes on a hard course and 13 on an easy one.
This calculator gives you an estimate for your own use. An official index has to come from a golf club or association that's part of the system. See how to get a handicap.
More handicap tools
Common questions
How do I calculate my golf handicap?
Work out a score differential for each round: (113 ÷ slope) × (adjusted score − course rating). Average your lowest 8 of your last 20, and that's your handicap index. With fewer than 20 rounds, fewer count. The calculator above does all of it for you.
How many rounds do I need for a handicap?
Three 18-hole rounds, or any mix of 9- and 18-hole rounds adding up to 54 holes. The index gets more reliable as you add rounds, up to 20.
Is this an official handicap?
No. It uses the same formula, so it should be close, but an official index comes from a golf club or golf association that's part of the World Handicap System. Their system also applies playing conditions adjustments and some caps that need your full score history.
Where do I find the course rating and slope?
They're on the scorecard, usually beside each set of tees. You can also type the course name into the calculator, or look it up with our course rating and slope lookup.
What score do I enter?
Your adjusted gross score. Add up your strokes, but count any hole above net double bogey as net double bogey. If you picked up on a hole, use net double bogey for it.
Why only the best 8 of 20?
A handicap is meant to show what you can shoot on a good day, not your average day. Using your better rounds also makes it harder to inflate your handicap on purpose.
How often does a handicap update?
An official index updates the day after you post a score. In this calculator it updates the moment you add a round.
Updated November 2026