Golf Course Handicap Calculator
Convert your handicap index into the strokes you actually get on a specific course and tee.
How to use the course handicap calculator
- Enter your handicap index.
- Enter the slope rating, course rating and par for your tee.
- Click Calculate for your course handicap.
From index to strokes on the day
The World Handicap System keeps a single portable index, then converts it per course so that players of different abilities can compete fairly anywhere.
Index versus course handicap
Your handicap index is portable and course-independent, a single number that travels with you. Your course handicap converts that index into the actual strokes you receive on a specific course and set of tees, accounting for their difficulty. You use the index to carry your ability and the course handicap to play a given round.
Why the conversion changes by tee
Playing from the back tees is harder than the forward tees, so the same index yields a higher course handicap there. The formula uses slope, course rating, and par for your chosen tee, which is why golfers of different abilities can compete fairly anywhere using net scores.
Frequently asked questions
How is course handicap calculated?
Course handicap = index × (slope ÷ 113) + (course rating − par). It adjusts your index for the difficulty of the specific tees you play.
What's the difference between handicap index and course handicap?
Your index is portable and course-independent; the course handicap converts it into the actual strokes you receive on a given course and set of tees.
How is course handicap calculated?
Course handicap = index x (slope / 113) + (course rating - par). It adjusts your portable index for the specific tees you are playing.
Why does my course handicap change between courses?
Because slope, course rating, and par differ by course and tee. A harder course or tee gives you more strokes for the same index.
Do I use index or course handicap during play?
Use your course handicap during a round to determine strokes received. The index is what you carry between courses and update over time.