Parful

Calculator

Golf Playing Handicap and Allowance Calculator

Find the strokes you actually receive in a competition. Pick the format and Parful applies the normal allowance to your Course Handicap for the tee you choose.

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

%

Only needed for a custom allowance.

Or

Playing HandicapExample

14

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 is a course handicap of 17, and at the 85% four-ball allowance a playing handicap of 14.

Handicap Index:
14.2
Format:
Four-ball
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
  4. 17 × 85% = 14.45, rounds to 14

Rule: playing 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 is a course handicap of 17, and at the 85% four-ball allowance a playing handicap of 14.

  1. 14.2 × (132 ÷ 113) = 16.588
  2. 16.588 + (72.2 − 72) = 16.788
  3. rounds to 17
  4. 17 × 85% = 14.45, rounds to 14

How it is calculated

Playing Handicap = Course Handicap × allowance, rounded. The allowance is set by the format: 100% for individual stroke play and Stableford, 85% for four-ball stroke play, 90% for four-ball match play, 50% of the combined Course Handicaps for team formats. Parful applies these same percentages in its competitions.

When it does not apply

  • A club or committee may set its own allowance. The percentages here are the recommended defaults Parful uses when a competition does not specify one.
  • Rounded once. The Course Handicap is rounded first because that is the number the allowance is applied to under the World Handicap System.

Questions

Why is the allowance less than 100%?

Because in a format where the best of several scores counts, higher handicaps have more chances to produce a good hole. Reducing the allowance keeps the format fair across handicap ranges.

Which allowance does my club use?

Check the competition. If it does not say, these are the widely used defaults and the ones Parful applies.

Does Stableford use 95% or 100%?

Parful applies 100% for individual Stableford. Some associations recommend 95% for individual formats; use the custom option if your club does.

The rule

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

Related calculators

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.