Enter your Handicap Index, Course Rating, Slope Rating, and Par to calculate your Course Handicap and Playing Handicap for any round. Adjust the Handicap Allowance for match play or competition formats. Based on the official World Handicap System (WHS) formula used by the USGA.
Course Handicap
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Playing Handicap
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Strokes Above Par
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Target Score (Net Par)
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A Handicap Index is a numerical measure of a golfer's potential ability, calculated under the World Handicap System (WHS). It represents your potential scoring ability relative to the difficulty of a course of standard playing difficulty. The lower your Handicap Index, the better your potential game.
A Course Handicap represents the number of strokes you receive on a specific course from a specific set of tees, accounting for the course's slope and rating. A Playing Handicap is your Course Handicap adjusted by the handicap allowance set for a specific competition format — for example, 95% for stroke play or 85% for singles match play.
The official WHS formula is: Course Handicap = Handicap Index × (Slope Rating ÷ 113) + (Course Rating − Par). This ensures your handicap reflects both the relative difficulty of the course (Slope Rating) and the course's rating compared to par.
The Slope Rating measures the relative difficulty of a course for a bogey golfer compared to a scratch golfer. It ranges from 55 to 155, with 113 being the standard (average) rating. A higher Slope Rating means the course is proportionally harder for higher-handicap players, so your Course Handicap increases accordingly.
The Course Rating™ is the expected score for a scratch golfer (0 handicap) under normal playing conditions from a specific set of tees. It reflects the overall difficulty of the course and is used alongside the Slope Rating to convert your Handicap Index into a Course Handicap.
The USGA recommends 95% for individual stroke play, 85% for singles match play, and 90% for four-ball stroke play. Your competition committee sets the exact allowance, so check the local rules for your event before entering a value.
Under the World Handicap System, you need a minimum of 54 holes of acceptable scores (which can be a combination of 9-hole and 18-hole rounds) to establish an official Handicap Index. Your index is then calculated from the best 8 of your most recent 20 Score Differentials.
Yes. For a 9-hole round, use half of your 18-hole Handicap Index (rounded to one decimal place) along with the 9-hole Course Rating, Slope Rating, and Par for those 9 holes. This calculator supports 9-hole values — just ensure your Par is set to roughly 35–36 and Course Rating reflects 9 holes.