A golf handicap is figured from your best recent score differentials, then turned into a Course Handicap for the tees you play.
If you’ve wondered how your buddy gets “12 shots” on one course and “10” on another, you’re in the right place. Below, you’ll learn the simple math the World Handicap System (WHS) uses, how to collect the right inputs, and how to turn a Handicap Index into the strokes you receive on any set of tees. You’ll also see sample calculations and quick tables you can use at the course.
What You Need Before The Math
You only need a handful of items: recent scores, Course Rating, Slope Rating, par, and—when it applies—the Playing Conditions Calculation (PCC). If you post scores through your national golf association or club app, most of this is filled in automatically. Still, it helps to know what each term means so you can sanity-check your numbers and spot typos on a scorecard or tee sheet.
Inputs And Where To Find Them
| Term | What It Means | Where To Find It |
|---|---|---|
| Adjusted Gross Score | Your 18-hole total after limiting any high hole score to net double bogey. | Your app or manual post; apply hole-by-hole adjustments as needed. |
| Course Rating | Expected score for a scratch player from a given tee. | Scorecard, tee sign, or association database. |
| Slope Rating | Relative difficulty for a bogey player versus a scratch player (55–155; 113 is neutral). | Scorecard, tee sign, or association database. |
| Par | Par for the 18 holes from the tees played. | Scorecard or tee sheet. |
| PCC | A daily course-wide adjustment that reflects unusual playing conditions. | Appears in your posted round details the next day if applied. |
| Score Differential | A difficulty-adjusted result computed from each round. | Auto-calculated in apps; you can compute it with the formula below. |
| Handicap Index | Average of your best recent differentials, updated daily. | Your association/club app profile. |
| Course Handicap | Strokes you receive on the tees you’re playing. | Course Handicap table, kiosk, or app. |
Determining A Golf Handicap Step-By-Step (How to Determine a Golf Handicap)
Step 1: Apply The Maximum Hole Score
When you record a round for handicap, the highest score you can post on any hole is net double bogey (double bogey plus any handicap strokes you receive on that hole). This keeps one blow-up from skewing your numbers. Many apps do this for you when you enter hole-by-hole. If you’re brand new and establishing an initial index, different temporary limits may apply for your first few cards; your app will guide you.
Tip: If a par-4 is a stroke-index 7 hole and you receive one stroke there, the posting limit is 6 (double bogey 6) + the one stroke you receive = 7. Enter that 7 even if you wrote down 9 in real time.
Step 2: Compute A Score Differential
For each posted round, the WHS creates a score differential using this formula:
Score Differential = (113 / Slope) × (Adjusted Gross Score − Course Rating − PCC)
“113” is the neutral Slope. PCC is often zero; when weather or setup causes the whole field to score higher or lower than expected, PCC can adjust by a small amount. You’ll see the differential listed in your scoring record the day after you post.
Sample Calculation
Say your adjusted total is 88 from a tee with Course Rating 71.2, Slope 128, and no PCC. Then:
- Adjusted score minus Course Rating: 88 − 71.2 = 16.8
- 113 ÷ 128 = 0.8828
- Score Differential ≈ 0.8828 × 16.8 = 14.8
Step 3: Turn Differentials Into A Handicap Index
Your Handicap Index is the average of the best 8 differentials from your last 20 rounds, with built-in safeguards that prevent spikes from moving the number too fast. If you have fewer than 20 rounds, a sliding table uses fewer differentials until you reach 20. The result is rounded to one decimal place and updates daily when you post.
Step 4: Convert Handicap Index To Course Handicap
Once you have an index, convert it to the strokes you receive on the tees you’re playing with this WHS equation:
Course Handicap = Handicap Index × (Slope ÷ 113) + (Course Rating − Par)
That last term—Course Rating minus par—aligns stroke allocation with the par of the course, so you get the right number of shots for Stableford and stroke play from different sets of tees.
Sample Conversion
Suppose your index is 12.4. You’re playing a tee with Slope 130, Course Rating 70.0, par 72.
- Index × Slope/113: 12.4 × (130 ÷ 113) ≈ 12.4 × 1.1504 = 14.3
- Course Rating − Par: 70.0 − 72 = −2
- Course Handicap: 14.3 + (−2) = 12.3 → rounds to 12
You’ll receive 12 strokes, spread across the 12 lowest-stroke-index holes on the card.
Step 5: From Course Handicap To Playing Handicap
Competitions often apply a percentage allowance to Course Handicap to create a Playing Handicap. The allowance depends on the format and aims to keep matches fair across different abilities. The committee sets it; your club’s app usually calculates it at check-in.
Rules That Matter When You Post
When PCC Shows Up
The PCC runs after a day’s scores are in. If the entire field played worse than expected due to wind, setup, or weather, PCC can be +1 (and in rare cases +2). If the course played easier than expected, it can be −1. Most days it’s zero. Your final differential includes PCC, so you don’t have to do anything special other than post the same day.
Nine Holes And Combo Rounds
You can post nine holes; the system completes the round using your expected scoring for the unplayed holes. Many associations also support rounds between 9 and 18 holes under current guidance. Your app will flag which tees and courses are eligible.
Fewer Than 20 Rounds On File
When you’re building your record, the WHS uses a table to decide how many differentials to average. With 3, 4, or 5 cards posted, it uses your lowest single differential. As you post more, it averages a few more until you reach the standard “best 8 of 20.”
How To Determine A Golf Handicap In Practice
Quick Walkthrough
- Play and keep hole-by-hole scores.
- Cap any high hole at net double bogey and total your adjusted gross.
- Record tee information: Course Rating, Slope, and par.
- Compute a score differential using the formula or let your app do it.
- After you have a history, the system averages your best recent differentials to create a Handicap Index.
- Before a round, convert index to Course Handicap for the tees you’ll play.
- If a competition applies an allowance, that yields your Playing Handicap.
That’s it. Once you’ve done this a couple of times, you’ll spot-check in seconds.
Worked Example End-To-End
A player posts these adjusted totals and tee ratings over recent rounds (PCC zero except where shown):
- 90 from 71.0/125 → Differential ≈ (113/125) × (90 − 71.0) = 0.904 × 19.0 = 17.2
- 84 from 70.5/120 → Differential ≈ (113/120) × 13.5 = 1.-0?; keep it clean: 113/120 = 0.9417; 0.9417 × 13.5 ≈ 12.7
- 86 from 72.2/130 with PCC +1 → Differential ≈ (113/130) × (86 − 72.2 − 1) = 0.869 × 12.8 ≈ 11.1
- 88 from 71.8/124 → Differential ≈ (113/124) × 16.2 = 0.911 × 16.2 ≈ 14.8
Keep building that list to 20 rounds. Then average the best 8. Say the average comes to 12.9; that rounds to a Handicap Index of 12.9. Heading to a course with Slope 133, Course Rating 71.5, par 72? Your Course Handicap is 12.9 × (133/113) + (71.5 − 72) = 12.9 × 1.177 − 0.5 = 15.2 → 15.
Common Mistakes And How To Avoid Them
Not Using Net Double Bogey
Posting a raw 10 on a hole when you receive a stroke there will inflate your differential and your index. Trim that hole to net double bogey before you total the card.
Reading The Wrong Tee Line
Every tee has its own Course Rating and Slope. If you grab the white-tee numbers while you played the blues, your differential will be off. Double-check the scorecard or the tee sign before you post.
Posting Late
Post the same day. That way the PCC can include your score in the daily sample, and your index will be current for tomorrow’s round.
Turning Numbers Into Better Scores
A good handicap helps you set targets. If your index is 18, the system says you can expect a mid-80s to low-90s score on a typical par-72 test when things are normal. If your last few differentials are trending lower, now you have evidence that your practice plan is working. Track the holes where you actually spend your strokes: are you losing shots on high-stroke-index par-5s, or bleeding on short par-3s with missed greens and three-putts? Use that pattern to plan practice time.
Want the formal language? The WHS explains the Course Handicap formula, and the USGA details the net double bogey limit for posting. Both pages match the steps you see here.
Playing Handicap Allowances By Format
Committees often apply an allowance to Course Handicap to create a Playing Handicap. Below are common figures used by clubs under WHS guidance. Always defer to the notice of competition on the day.
| Format | Typical Allowance | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Individual Stroke Play | 95% | Used to balance equity across the field. |
| Individual Stableford | 95% | Same allowance as stroke play in many regions. |
| Four-Ball (Better Ball) | 85% | Reduces advantage from partner coverage. |
| Scramble | Varies by committee | Common methods weight low and high indexes differently. |
| Match Play | 100% (then difference) | Players receive the full difference from the lowest. |
| Foursomes/Alternate Shot | 50% of combined | Local terms set the exact math. |
| Par/Bogey | 95% | Check the sheet for any local tweaks. |
Quick FAQ-Style Clarifications (No Extra Clicks Needed)
Do I Need 20 Rounds Before I Get An Index?
No. The system creates an index with fewer rounds using a sliding table. Keep posting; once you reach 20, it will always use the best 8 of your most recent 20.
Why Does My Course Handicap Change Between Tees?
Because Course Rating and Slope vary by tee. You’re converting the same index against different tee difficulty. That’s by design.
Is “how to determine a golf handicap” different for nine-hole scores?
The steps are the same. Post your nine; the system completes the rest using expected scoring. Do it round-by-round and your index will reflect how you’re playing now.
Print-Friendly Cheatsheet
- Cap holes at net double bogey when you total your round.
- Compute each round’s score differential with
(113/Slope) × (Adjusted − Rating − PCC). - Handicap Index = average of best 8 from last 20 differentials.
- Course Handicap = Index × (Slope/113) + (Rating − Par).
- Apply the competition’s allowance to get your Playing Handicap.
- Post the same day so PCC can do its work.
- If you forget a detail, search “how to determine a golf handicap” in your app’s help and you’ll see these same steps.
Where This Method Comes From
The WHS is a unified system administered by national associations. It standardizes how Course Rating, Slope, score differentials, and indexes work so your number travels with you. Whether you post in the U.S., the U.K., or elsewhere, the principles are the same, and the math above matches the published rules.