Course Handicap Calculator
Convert your USGA / WHS Handicap Index into a Course Handicap — the strokes you actually receive at a specific course and set of tees. Free, instant, no sign-up.
How a Course Handicap works
Your Handicap Index is portable, but the strokes you receive change with the tees you play. The Course Handicap adjusts your index for the slope, rating, and par of those tees:
Course Handicap = round( Index × (Slope ÷ 113) + (Course Rating − Par) )
Example: a 12.4 index on tees rated 71.0 with a slope of 125, par 72: 12.4 × (125 ÷ 113) + (71.0 − 72) = 13.7 − 1 ≈ 13. You’d get 13 strokes from those tees. A handicap allowance (e.g. 95%) then gives your Playing Handicap for the format.
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Frequently asked questions
- How do you calculate a course handicap?
- Course Handicap = round(Handicap Index × (Slope ÷ 113) + (Course Rating − Par)). It converts your portable index into the actual strokes you receive from a specific set of tees.
- What is the difference between a Handicap Index and a Course Handicap?
- Your Handicap Index is a single portable number. Your Course Handicap is that index adjusted for the difficulty (slope), rating, and par of the exact tees you’re playing — the strokes you actually get that day.
- What handicap allowance should I use?
- Allowances depend on the format and your committee. Individual stroke play commonly uses 95%; four-ball and team events use lower percentages. Enter the allowance to get your Playing Handicap.
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