How to Calculate Golf Handicap Index
Handicaps allow golfers of varying abilities to compete on a comparatively equal playing field. The United States Golf Association has had a handicap system in effect since 1912, but did not establish the handicap index until 1987. Prior to that year, the handicap was based solely on your ability relative to your home course. The index is like a portable handicap. When you play a new course, look up your handicap index up on a chart---based on the difficulty of that course and the tees you will be playing---to find your handicap.
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Instructions
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Collect the scorecards from each round of golf you have played, up to the most recent 20 scores. For an accurate handicap index, you will need that number of scores, but you can figure an index with as few as five scores. Each scorecard should list the course rating and slope rating for the set of tees you played.
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Compute the handicap differential for each round of golf you have played. Subtract the course rating from your score, and then multiply by 113. Divide the result by the slope rating to get the differential. Calculate the differential for each round. For example, if you shot an 85 on a course with a rating of 70.5 and a slope of 120, the formula would look like this: ((85 - 70.5 =14.5) x 113 = 1638.5) / 120 = 13.654166, which rounds to a differential of 13.7.
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Average the 10 lowest differentials (add the 10 differentials and divide by 10). If you have fewer than 20 scores, you will average fewer differentials: 19 scores, average the lowest nine differentials; 18, average the lowest eight; 17, the lowest seven; 15 or 16, the lowest six; 13 or 14, the lowest five; 11 or 12, the lowest four; nine or 10, the lowest three; and seven or eight, the lowest two. If you have only five or six scores, use the one lowest differential (no need to average). You cannot calculate a handicap index with fewer than five scores.
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Multiply the differential average by 0.96, then delete all numbers after the tenths' digit. (Do not round.) The result is your handicap index.
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Tips & Warnings
Use all of your scores, both good and bad, to obtain an accurate handicap.
