How to Calculate a Golf Handicap Average

Golf handicaps make scoring more equitable.

The golf handicap was introduced by the U.S. Golf Association as a way to make scoring more equal between advanced and average golfers. After playing a certain number of golf rounds, you can calculate your handicap using your scores from the various courses played. The course rating, a relative measurement for scratch golfers, and the slope rating, a measurement for bogey golfers, also come into play.

Instructions

1. Record the best 12 scores from your past 20 rounds in which you completed 18 holes.

2. Find the slope rating and the course rating for each of these 12 courses. These can be found on the scorecard of each course.

3. Subtract the course rating from the score you earned on each course.

4. Multiply this total by 113.

5. Divide this number by the slope of the course for each individual score.

6. Take the single lowest number of these 12 scores and multiply it by 0.96 to determine your total handicap.

References

• USGA: Handicap Manual