How it works
Calculate your handicap differential for a single round of golf.
Input query strings and outputs
Use an input name in this page’s URL as ?name=value, and join additional inputs with &. Portable shared links may instead use the compact ?ac= state parameter.
Input query strings
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?score=Gross ScoreNumber · Optional · Default: 85
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?rating=Course RatingNumber · Optional · Default: 72
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?slope=Slope RatingNumber · Optional · Default: 113
Outputs
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resultResultText · Primary output
result contains the calculator’s complete rendered result area, including its visible result cards, tables, charts, and messages.
Calculate your handicap differential for a single round of golf
Description
The Golf Handicap Calculator is a tool for golfers who want to track their performance and skill level according to the World Handicap System. Instead of just looking at your raw score, this tool determines your Handicap Differential—a figure that accounts for how difficult the specific course was. This allows you to compare a 90 shot on a difficult course to an 85 shot on an easy course.
Inputs
- Score: The total number of strokes you took during the round.
- Course Rating: The score a “scratch golfer” (0 handicap) would be expected to shoot on that course.
- Slope Rating: A measure of the relative difficulty of a course for a “bogey golfer” compared to a scratch golfer (standard is 113).
Outputs
- Handicap Differential: The rating for that specific round. A lower differential indicates a better performance.
Chart
- N/A: This tool provides a direct numeric performance metric.
“Good to Know”
- The Formula: $\text{Differential} = (\text{Score} - \text{Course Rating}) \times 113 \div \text{Slope Rating}$.
- Slope Standard: 113 is considered the “standard” slope. If a course has a slope higher than 113, it is more difficult than average.
- Official Handicap: To get your official Handicap Index, you generally need to average the lowest 8 of your last 20 differentials.
Examples
Example 1: Difficult Course
- Input: Score: 85, Rating: 72, Slope: 135
- Output: 10.9
Example 2: Average Course
- Input: Score: 85, Rating: 71, Slope: 113
- Output: 14.0 (Notice how the same score results in a higher differential on an easier course!)
Example 3: Pro Style Course
- Input: Score: 78, Rating: 74, Slope: 142
- Output: 3.2