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Golf Handicap Index Estimator
Enter a few recent rounds — score, course rating, and slope rating — and this tool calculates a scoring differential for each one, then estimates a handicap index the same way the World Handicap System does: by averaging your lowest differentials. Add up to 20 rounds for a more stable estimate.
Where’s my Score?
Your total gross strokes for the round — before any handicap adjustment.
Where’s my Course Rating?
Printed on the scorecard next to the tees you played (e.g. 71.4) — it’s the expected score for a scratch golfer from those tees.
Where’s my Slope Rating?
Also on the scorecard by tee color, usually 55–155 (113 is “average”). It measures relative difficulty for a bogey golfer.
Round 1
Differential: —
Round 2
Differential: —
Round 3
Differential: —
Enter at least 3 rounds for an index estimate. Differentials above update as you type.
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Browse golf schools near you →Handicap index — common questions
- What is a golf handicap index?
- It's a number representing a golfer's demonstrated potential ability, calculated from recent scores adjusted for course difficulty. It lets golfers of different skill levels compete fairly and lets any golfer track improvement over time.
- Is this an official USGA or WHS handicap?
- No. This tool applies the public differential formula from the World Handicap System to whatever rounds you enter, for a personal estimate only. An official Handicap Index can only be issued by a golf club or association authorized under the WHS.
- How is a handicap differential calculated?
- Differential = (Score − Course Rating) × 113 ÷ Slope Rating, rounded to one decimal. 113 is the slope rating of a course of "standard" difficulty, so the formula adjusts every round onto the same scale.
- Where do I find my course rating and slope rating?
- Both are printed on the scorecard, usually broken out by tee color. Course Rating is a decimal near par (e.g. 71.4); Slope Rating is a whole number, typically 55–155, with 113 considered average.
- How many rounds do I need to enter?
- At least 3 for an estimate. The World Handicap System averages your lowest several differentials rather than all of them — the exact count scales with how many rounds you've entered, up to your best 8 of 20.