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Golf Course Handicap Calculator

Turn your Handicap Index into the Course Handicap you play off today. Search your course and pick a tee, or enter slope, rating and par yourself.

From +10 to 54. Type a plus handicap with a plus sign, e.g. +2.4.

Or

Course HandicapExample

17

A handicap index of 14.2 from a tee with a slope of 132, a course rating of 72.2 and a par of 72 gives a course handicap of 17.

Handicap Index:
14.2
Slope Rating:
132
Course Rating:
72.2
Par:
72
How it was calculated
  1. 14.2 × (132 ÷ 113) = 16.588
  2. 16.588 + (72.2 − 72) = 16.788
  3. rounds to 17

Rule: course handicap

Worked example

A handicap index of 14.2 from a tee with a slope of 132, a course rating of 72.2 and a par of 72 gives a course handicap of 17.

  1. 14.2 × (132 ÷ 113) = 16.588
  2. 16.588 + (72.2 − 72) = 16.788
  3. rounds to 17

How it is calculated

Course Handicap = Handicap Index × (Slope Rating ÷ 113) + (Course Rating − Par), rounded once at the end. The slope term scales your index to the difficulty of the tee; the rating term adds the difference between how hard the tee plays and its par.

When it does not apply

  • Rounded once, at the end. Rounding the slope term first gives a different answer often enough to matter.
  • This is your Course Handicap. The strokes you actually receive in a competition are your Playing Handicap, which applies the format's allowance.
  • For nine holes, use the nine-hole rating, slope and par. The formula is the same.

Questions

Why is my Course Handicap different from my Handicap Index?

Because the index is a portable measure of ability and the Course Handicap is that ability applied to one set of tees. A harder tee, with a higher slope or a rating above par, gives you more strokes.

What is the 113 in the formula?

The slope of a course of standard difficulty. Dividing your tee's slope by 113 scales your index up for a harder tee and down for an easier one.

Does this include the handicap allowance?

No. The allowance belongs to the competition format and turns a Course Handicap into a Playing Handicap. Use the Playing Handicap calculator for that.

Can I calculate a nine-hole Course Handicap?

Yes. Use the nine-hole rating, slope and par for the nine you are playing. If you search your course, the tee picker offers each nine separately.

The rule

This calculator applies the rule explained at www.parful.io/handicaps/course-handicap.

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Trademarks

. GHIN® and USGA® are registered marks of the United States Golf Association. World Handicap System™, WHS™, Handicap Index®, Score Differential™, Low Handicap Index™, Course Handicap™, Playing Handicap™, Course Rating™, Bogey Rating™ and Slope Rating™ are trademarks and service marks owned or licensed by the United States Golf Association and The R&A. Ryder Cup® is a trademark of PGA of America and Ryder Cup Europe. Pinehurst® is a trademark of Pinehurst, LLC. Parful is not affiliated with, sponsored by or endorsed by any of these organizations. Game names such as Stableford, Nassau, Wolf, Vegas and Skins are used descriptively.