Golf handicap calculator by country
This golf handicap calculator turns your recent scores into a Handicap Index, then shows the handicap you play off in your own country. The index is worked out the same way almost everywhere now, but the last step on the day still depends on where you tee it up.
Handicap index = the average of your best 8 score differentials from your last 20 rounds
Fewer than 20 rounds on the card? Fewer count. The table further down shows how many.Golf handicap calculator: enter your rounds
Enter the score, course rating and slope rating for each round. You get a Handicap Index, and the handicap you would play off on the course in the last three boxes.
What is a golf handicap?
A golf handicap is a number that measures how many strokes over the course rating you can be expected to shoot on a good day. It lets golfers of different abilities play each other on level terms. Under the World Handicap System the official figure is called a Handicap Index, and it runs from plus figures for elite players up to a maximum of 54.0.
How to use the golf handicap calculator
- Choose the country where you play. This sets how your handicap is converted for the course.
- Enter the score, course rating and slope rating for each recent round. Add more rows with the button, up to 20.
- Enter the slope rating, course rating and par of the course you are playing today.
- Read your Handicap Index, your course handicap and the working underneath.
Golf handicap formula
Every country on the World Handicap System follows the same three steps, which is why one golf handicap calculator can serve them all.
Score differential = (113 ÷ slope rating) × (adjusted gross score − course rating)
Handicap Index = average of the lowest 8 of your last 20 score differentials
With fewer than 20 rounds on record, fewer differentials are used, as the chart below shows.
Golf handicap chart: how many rounds count
| Rounds on record | Lowest used | Adjustment |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | 1 | −2.0 |
| 4 | 1 | −1.0 |
| 5 | 1 | 0 |
| 6 | 2 | −1.0 |
| 7 or 8 | 2 | 0 |
| 9 to 11 | 3 | 0 |
| 12 to 14 | 4 | 0 |
| 15 or 16 | 5 | 0 |
| 17 or 18 | 6 | 0 |
| 19 | 7 | 0 |
| 20 | 8 | 0 |
Golf handicap calculation example
A golfer has five rounds with score differentials of 15.2, 16.4, 13.6, 19.7 and 16.5. With five rounds, only the lowest one counts, so the Handicap Index is 13.6. On a course with a slope rating of 125, a course rating of 71.2 and a par of 72, the course handicap is 13.6 × 125 ÷ 113 + (71.2 − 72) = 14.2, which rounds to 14.
Golf handicap calculator by country
The index is universal. What changes from country to country is the name of the number and the last step on the day.
| Country | Handicap you play off |
|---|---|
| USA golf handicap (USGA) | Course Handicap = index × slope ÷ 113 + (course rating − par) |
| UK and Ireland golf handicap | The same sum since April 2024, then usually 95% in competitions |
| Australia golf handicap (GA) | Daily Handicap = the same sum × 0.93 × a consistency factor |
| Canada, New Zealand, South Africa | Course Handicap, worked out as in the United States |
Golf handicap calculator FAQs
How do I calculate my golf handicap?
Work out a score differential for each round, take the lowest 8 of your last 20, and average them. The golf handicap calculator above does this for you and shows which rounds were used.
How many rounds do I need to get a golf handicap?
Three 18-hole rounds, or any mix of 9 and 18-hole rounds that adds up to 54 holes. The index then settles down as you add more, up to 20.
What is the maximum golf handicap?
A Handicap Index tops out at 54.0 for men and women alike. A course handicap can be higher than that on a difficult set of tees.
Is this an official golf handicap?
No. An official index needs a club membership and scores posted to your national system, which also applies caps and daily course conditions. Use this free golf handicap calculator to check the sums or to see where you stand.