Calculate your course handicap for any golf course using the official World Handicap System formula. Get accurate stroke allocations for fair competition play.
Enter your handicap index and course details to calculate your course handicap using the official WHS formula
This is your official WHS handicap index from your golf club or handicap provider
From the scorecard
Usually 55-155
Calculated strokes
Course Handicap = Handicap Index × (Slope Rating ÷ 113) + (Course Rating - Par)
This calculator assumes a par of 72. The course handicap is rounded to the nearest whole number and cannot be negative.
Course handicap is a crucial component of the World Handicap System (WHS) that ensures fair play across different golf courses. Unlike your handicap index, which remains constant, your course handicap varies depending on the specific course you're playing, taking into account the course's difficulty and rating.
Your course handicap determines how many strokes you receive during a round of golf. In stroke play competitions, you subtract your course handicap from your gross score to calculate your net score. In match play, strokes are allocated based on the stroke index of each hole.
With an 18 course handicap, you receive one stroke on each of the 18 most difficult holes (stroke index 1-18). Your net score on each hole is used for match play scoring.
It's important to understand the difference between course handicap and playing handicap. While course handicap is calculated using the standard WHS formula, playing handicap may be adjusted for specific competition formats or conditions.
Understanding typical course ratings and slope ratings can help you better interpret your course handicap. Championship courses tend to have higher ratings, while shorter or easier courses have lower ratings.
| Course Type | Typical Course Rating | Typical Slope Rating | Difficulty Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Championship Course | 74-76 | 130-140 | Very Difficult |
| Standard Resort Course | 71-73 | 115-125 | Moderate |
| Municipal Course | 69-72 | 105-115 | Easy-Moderate |
| Executive/Short Course | 65-69 | 95-110 | Easy |
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