
Here is the process you need to follow to figure out your handicap:
- Calculate Your Score Differential The first step to learning your handicap requires you to subtract your Adjusted Gross Score from the Course Rating. ...
- Calculate Your Average Score Differential The next step in determining your golf handicap is discovering your average score differential. ...
- Multiply Your Average By .96
How many scores are needed to calculate a golf handicap?
- A reduction can be applied based on a single exceptional score.
- Reductions for multiple exceptional scores are applied cumulatively.
- A reduction is automatically applied within the calculation of a player’s updated Handicap Index following the submission of an exceptional score.
How to to calculate your golf handicap?
Let’s Calculate your Golf Handicap
- Begin with Converting Gross Scores to Adjusted Gross Scores. Use the Equitable Stroke Control (ESC) from USGA for getting the Adjusted Gross Score. ...
- Golf Handicap Differential Calculation for Each Score. The next step is to compute the Handicap Differential for each score that’s in the Handicap Index calculation.
- Select the Lowest Differentials. ...
How can you find out your handicap in golf?
- The figure of 0.96 in the equation represents the “bonus for excellence” that the UGSA has figured into the Handicap Index.
- Determine the number of differentials to be used. ...
- For example, if you’re using 8 scores, you’ll be using the lowest two differentials. ...
How do I establish a golf handicap?
The Easiest Way to Get a Golf Handicap in the US?
- Sign up to get your official GHIN number. When you keep score on the course make sure to save your scorecard because it certifies you scored what you ...
- Start golfing! In order to establish your first Handicap Index you will need to record a total of at least five 18-hole rounds, or ten 9-hole rounds, or ...
- Enter your scores. ...
How to calculate handicap index?
How is handicap determined?
What information is needed to calculate handicap?
What is adjusted gross score?
Why is handicap important?
Why do you play with your handicap?
How to find handicap score?
See more

How will my handicap be calculated?
This is calculated by multiplying the difference between your gross score and the course rating by 113, and dividing by the slope rating of the tees that were played. That figure then goes forward into a pool of the player's 20 most recent scores.
What is my handicap in golf if I shoot 100?
a 28What is your handicap if you shoot 100? If you shoot around 100 for 18 holes, your handicap is roughly a 28 (100-72 = 28).
What's a scratch golfer?
A scratch player essentially is one who can manage every aspect of their game, consistently, and can plot their way around the golf course hitting the right shots at the right time. A Scratch golfer will very rarely hit two bad shots in a row and has the mindset to recover rapidly from setbacks in a positive way.
Is 110 a good golf score?
For a scratch golfer for example a score of 89 would be considered a very bad round. But for the average golfer who usually scores around 100 it could be one of their very good scoring rounds....AVERAGE SCOREPERCENTAGE OF GOLFERS90 to 9929%100 to 10924%110 to 11910%120+11%4 more rows
What is handicap in golf?
Your Course Handicap takes into account your ability and the course’s difficulty in order to show you your handicap for that particular course , or, in other words, how many strokes--based on your Handicap Index--you can deduct from your final score for this particular course.
How to calculate handicap index?
1. Find your adjusted gross score. To calculate your Handicap Index, you’ll first need a minimum of five golf scores (and no more than 20). Gather at least five scores 18-hole scores or ten 9-hole scores and use them to calculate your Adjusted Gross Score. To determine your Adjusted Gross Score ...
What is the handicap of a course with a slope rating of 117?
For example, if you have a handicap index of 10.0 and a slope rating of 117, you would use the following equation: (10.0 x 117) / 113, which results in a course handicap of 10.3.
How much handicap do you need for a scramble?
For a two-player scramble, add 35% of the lower handicap and 15% of the higher handicap. The total will be the team's handicap. For a four-player scramble, add 20% of the lowest handicap, 15% of the second-lowest handicap, 10% of the third-lowest handicap, and 5% of the highest handicap. The total will be the team's handicap. In both cases, handicaps are based on each player's course handicap.
Why is a low handicap good?
A lower handicap reflects a better player. When I started playing years ago I was amused to learn that very good amateurs actually play to a Positive Handicap! Imagine that - having to give strokes to the course! Sadly there are those who 'massage' their handicaps to have a higher handicap and then play to well below in tournaments to win handsomely. Totally betrays the ethics of golf. Personally I strive for a low handicap as it marks a personal achievement.
How to average two differentials?
To average them, add them together, and then divide the resulting number by 2. Then multiply the result by 0.96, and drop any digits beyond the tenths place. The equation would look like this: 10 + 11 = 21; 21 / 2 = 10.5; 10.5 x 0.96 = 10.08. Dropping the digit beyond the tenths place gives you a handicap index of 10.0 (remember not to round up).
What does 0.96 mean in the UGSA?
The figure of 0.96 in the equation represents the “bonus for excellence” that the UGSA has figured into the Handicap Index.
What is the average score for a golfer with a 20 handicap?
The lower your golf handicap, the more skilled as a golfer you are. A player with a handicap of 20 playing a par 72 course will be expected to shoot a total score of 92, while a player with a five handicap will be expected to shoot 77.
What is handicap index?
Your golf handicap index is a number that represents your ability based on your previous scores on the golf course. For 2020, players can achieve a handicap by submitting only three 18-hole scores.
Who kept saving par from difficult positions?
Whilst he was banging in approaches to give himself a chance and was a tad tentative with many of his putt, there was little he could do as eventual winner JB Hansen kept saving par from difficult positions, always just keeping his nose in front.
How many holes are in a golf handicap calculator?
Use this calculator to compute the index of handicap for a golfer given data from at least 54 holes (3 rounds of 18-holes) of playing data. When filling the form, please provide either an 18-hole or 9-hole score. Do not provide both. The playing condition adjustment is an optional value between -1 and 3. If left blank, it will be treated as 0.
What is a golf handicap adjustment?
It is the number of strokes that should be deducted from a golfer's gross score to determine net score.
What is a scratch golfer?
"Scratch golfers" and "bogey golfers" are terms that are often used in relation to golf handicaps. A scratch golfer is a golfer whose handicap is zero, while a bogey golfer is one whose handicap is ...
What is a rating of slope?
A rating of slope in contrast, is a number (typically between 55 and 155) describing the relative difficulty of a course for a bogey golfer compared to a scratch golfer. A handicap of course indicates the number of strokes that a golfer receives at a particular golf course. It can be thought of as an adjustment to a golfer's handicap ...
How does weather affect golf scores?
Since golf is a game that is played outdoors, weather or other conditions can significantly affect a player's scores. As such, in an effort to more accurately represent a player's scores, an adjustment, referred to as the Playing Conditions Calculation (PCC), based on playing conditions for the course is included. This involves factoring in a number, ranging from -1 (when conditions make the course easier) to 3 (when conditions make the course more difficult), into the score differential calculation, depending on the conditions of the course for the given day.
What is the rating of a golf course?
In the United States, officially rated golf courses are described by course and rating of slope. Rating of course is a number (typically between 67 and 77) that is used to measure the average "good" score that a scratch golfer may attain on the course.
What is a golf handicap?
A golf handicap is intended as a measure of a golfer's potential playing ability. The higher the handicap of a golfer, the poorer the golfer's ability relative to that of a person with a lower handicap.
Why is a handicap needed in golf?
What is a golf handicap and why is it needed? The USGA says the following: "The purpose of the USGA Handicap System is to make the game of golf more enjoyable by enabling players of differing abilities to compete on an equitable basis.
When did the USGA switch to the World Handicap System?
Please note that this page calculates the Index using the formula that existed through December 31, 2019. On January 1, 2020, the USGA switched to the World Handicap System.
How to calculate golf handicap 2020?
If you have never played golf, your golf handicap does not exist. When you are ready to create your golf handicap, start by tracking your 9 and 18-hole scores. The scores should be recorded in a scorecard and must be signed by two people: you and the partner accompanying you to the golf game.
What is a golf handicap?
Golf handicaps are a number that represents the golfer’s ability based on their previous golf round’s scores. It serves the purpose of comparing your performances with other golf players. For men, your golf handicap is generally between zero and twenty-eight, and, for women, between zero and thirty-six. Knowing your handicap is a must ...
How to change gross score to adjusted total score?
To get adjusted gross scores, use the USGA’s equitable stroke control. Use the ESC downwards while adjusting the individual 18-hole scores to create a golf handicap .
What is the maximum handicap for a 9 hole golf course?
On the 9-hole course, it should be 18.2 for men and 20.2 for women. For example, if the handicap differential average is 13.196 after multiplication by 0.96, the truncated value will be 13.1.
What is the new handicap formula for 2020?
Therefore, the new formula for playing handicaps is the course handicap X handicap allowance.
How many strokes over par for a six handicap?
Your friend, with a golf handicap of six, is expected to play 78 strokes, or six over par. While you and your twelve handicap are expected to hit 84 strokes, 12 more over par. Your handicap, in short, is the number of strokes over par you should take in the course of the 18-hole round. In this scenario, let’s say you shoot a 82 ...
What is handicap used for?
Now, your handicap is used to gauge your skill level based on your score compared to a course’s par round. Handicaps are used in tournaments large and small. From a scramble with friends to club championships.
How much is handicap in golf?
Well, to know this you would need to know the par for your course. If the par for the course was 70 and you regularly shoot 100, then your handicap would be around 30. That said, as we have seen above, it isn’t quite so simple. When you consider the new WHS rules and how they are being applied globally, you might find that your handicap changes significantly based on which course you are playing on!
What is handicap in golf?
Each player’s handicap is a measure of the number of extra ‘shots’ over par that they are expected to take on a course.
How to apply handicap adjustments?
To apply your adjustments for handicapping, you simply add your allocated handicap strokes to the holes in order of difficulty as dictated by the stroke index. If you had 13 shots due to your course handicap, you would add one shot to each of the 13 hardest holes. These 13 holes will be where you can go over your double bogey limit by one shot when scoring for handicapping purposes.
How many holes does a golf handicap take?
Remember, a golf handicap is a calculation based on the average number of strokes you will be expected to take in 18 holes. You will need to submit several scores to ensure that your golf handicap can be calculated because it is an average.
What is the highest score you can write on a golf scorecard?
Before introducing the WHS rules, the highest score you could write down on your scorecard would be two over the par for each hole. However, this has changed.
How many shots does an average golfer hit?
An average golfer has some good holes and some bad holes. If they made par every time, they would be off scratch! The average golfer will normally hit around 16-20 shots over the course par. If you look at the average handicap index for both men and women according to the USGA, you’ll see that a fair percentage of people sit in this range.
Why are golfers at an advantage when playing easier courses?
Golfers who played in difficult courses were often at an advantage when playing easier courses as their handicap was artificially high . By using a course handicap to adjust handicap scores, this effect can be limited.
How to calculate handicap index?
After determining your Average Score Differential, the third and final step to calculating your actual handicap index is multiplying your average by .96. This fixed number is often used in statistical mathematics, which accounts for the frequency distribution of various outcomes.
How is handicap determined?
Your handicap is determined by a series of formulas and calculations that take several variables into account when assessing your potential ability at any given course. How closely you follow your handicap depends on how seriously you take your golf.
What information is needed to calculate handicap?
Your course scorecard should include some vital information you’ll need to calculate your handicap, such as the Course Rating, the Slope Rating, and your Adjusted Gross Score (AGS ). Calculating your handicap through an app will save you a lot of time, though variations exist in course handicap calculator formulas.
What is adjusted gross score?
Your Adjusted Gross Score is the number of strokes it takes for you to complete any given course as interpreted by the World Handicap System. This procedure accounts for any unfinished or unplayed holes, conceded strokes, the maximum hole score, or the course’s net double bogey.
Why is handicap important?
Handicap lets you keep your game in check and keeps the game moving forward, and in that respect, it is an important mechanism of the sport.
Why do you play with your handicap?
Playing with your handicap can also open a new dimension to how you golf with friends, as it reintroduces a competitive spirit back into the game. A healthy bit of competition can spur you on to make those improvements in your game and become a better player.
How to find handicap score?
Your Handicap score, or Index, can be figured out by using three different variables. Two of these variables are fixed on where you are playing, while the other is dependent on your performance on the greens. To help you better understand how your handicap is formulated, here is a quick break down of the variables: 1.
