Calculate your World Handicap System (WHS) compliant handicap from any round. Used in 125+ countries worldwide, our calculator provides accurate results for both 9-hole and 18-hole rounds with a fun little add-on to help you plan how to reach your handicap goal.
How to Use This Calculator
- Select whether you played 9 or 18 holes
- Enter your course details:
- Course par (minimum 68 for 18 holes, 34 for 9 holes)
- Course rating (found on your scorecard)
- Slope rating (found on your scorecard – standard is 113)
- Enter your total score for the round
- Click “Calculate My Handicap” to get your instant WHS-compliant handicap index
Your handicap represents your potential playing ability and allows fair competition with golfers of all skill levels. Set improvement goals, track your progress, and see exactly what scores you need to reach your target handicap.
Golf Handicap Calculator
Get your official World Handicap System (WHS) compliant handicap
About This Calculator
This calculator uses the official World Handicap System (WHS) formula used in 125+ countries worldwide. Your handicap represents your potential playing ability.
What is a Golf Handicap?
A golf handicap measures your playing ability, allowing golfers of different skill levels to compete fairly. Your handicap index represents how many strokes above par you typically shoot on a course of standard difficulty.
How Golf Handicaps Are Calculated
The World Handicap System uses your best 8 scores from your most recent 20 rounds. The calculation involves your adjusted gross score, course rating, and slope rating using the official WHS formula (used in the calculator above).
Course Rating vs Slope Rating Explained
Course rating represents how many strokes a scratch golfer should shoot, while slope rating measures relative difficulty for higher handicap players. This was one of the updates in the new handicap system, trying to understand that golf course difficulty is different for low and high handicap golfers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is score differential?
Score differential is a number that measures how well you performed in a specific round relative to the difficulty of the course you played. Think of it as your “true performance” for that round, adjusted for course conditions.
For example, shooting 85 on a difficult course (high slope rating) might actually represent better golf than shooting 82 on an easier course (low slope rating). The score differential calculation captures this difference, giving you a more accurate picture of your actual performance.
You can use the tool above to calculate your score differential for any given round.
What’s a good golf handicap?
There is no such thing as a ‘good’ handicap, but the average handicap for golfers is 18-24. Single-figure handicappers (1-9) are considered highly skilled, and scratch handicaps (0) and below (Plus handicaps +1, +2, +3..) are very highly skilled.
ps – The plus handicap is where you add shots on after your round, as you have the potential to shoot under par.
How often should I update my handicap?
You should post regular scorecards to maintain a true handicap. Some club competitions require golfers to post a minimum of 3 or 4 cards in a 12 month period to ensure golfers’ handicaps are fair and up to date.
Can I get a handicap from just one round?
You need a minimum of three rounds for a handicap. These can be 18 or 9-hole rounds or a mix of the two.
If you are serious about improving your golf game and want personalised practice plans, check out Break X Golf.
Happy Golfing – Will @ Break X Golf