How to Figure Out Your Handicap in Golf
Anyone can figure out a golf handicap with the help of a calculator, some course information and as few as five scores. Without going through a club licensed by the U.S. Golf Association (USGA) to get your official handicap index, your self-calculated handicap won't be accepted for competitive play (amateur or local), but you can use it to gauge your playing potential and in friendly golf games with your buddies.
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- Scores from the most recent five rounds of golf played following the USGA Rules of Golf on a USGA-rated, 18-hole course
- USGA course rating and slope rating for each course for the scores you are using
- Calculator
Instructions
-
-
1
Insert your first score and course/slope ratings into the following equation to calculate the handicap differential: (Your Score - Course Rating) x 113 / Slope Rating. For example: (92 - 65.8) x 113 / 103 = 28.7 (drop all but one decimal point and do not round off).
-
2
Repeat Step 1 for your remaining four scores.
-
-
3
Record the five differentials, and note the lowest differential. For example: round 1 = 28.7; round 2 = 28.9; round 3 = 28.2; round 4 = 27.6; and round 5 = 27.5. In this example, the lowest differential is 27.5.
-
4
Multiply your lowest differential by .96 to get your handicap index. For example: 27.5 x .96 = 26.4 (drop all but one decimal point and do not round off).
-
5
Plug your handicap index and course slope rating into the following equation to calculate your course handicap: (Handicap Index x Slope Rating) / 113 = Course Handicap. For example: 26.4 x 103 = 24 (rounded to the nearest whole number; round up if 5 or higher). In this example, the course handicap is 24.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
If you need an official, USGA-sanctioned Handicap Index for competitive play, join or form a USGA-licensed golf club and follow its procedures.
Remember to use your Handicap Index to calculate your Course Handicap for each course played.
You usually can find course and slope ratings on the scorecard or call the course and ask for both ratings. You also can look them up on the USGA Course Rating Database (see Resources.)
Recalculate your Handicap Index after each round played.
Because calculations are different and somewhat more complex when using more than five scores, consider trying one of the many online handicapping tools to track and recalculate your Handicap Index (see Resources).
Revisions to USGA Handicapping System procedures are scheduled to take effect Jan. 1, 2012.
Do not pick and choose which scores to use when calculating your Handicap Index. For your Handicap Index to accurately represent your potential ability, you must use every score from every round you play on a rated course.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Scorecard, Ball & Tee image by JJAVA from Fotolia.com
