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WHS handicap tools

Course Handicap Calculator

Turn your Handicap Index into the strokes you receive at the tee you are playing. Official World Handicap System formula, with the working shown.

Your official WHS index (e.g. 18.4). Plus handicaps use a minus, e.g. −1.2.

55-155 · 113 is standard

e.g. 71.5

Par for the tee you're playing (e.g. 72)

Your Course Handicap

18

18.4 × (113/113) + (71.5 − 72) = 17.9 → 18

My Course Handicap is 18 (index 18.4, slope 113). Worked out on Links Meridian.

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How it works

The formula, in plain terms

Under the World Handicap System your Course Handicap is worked out like this:

Handicap Index × (Slope ÷ 113) + (Course Rating − Par)

The result is rounded to the nearest whole number. The slope term scales your index to how much harder the tee plays for a higher-handicap golfer; the Course Rating − Par term accounts for the absolute difficulty of the tee. Together they give every golfer the right allowance on every course.

Once you have your Course Handicap, apply your competition format allowance to get your Playing Handicap, or work out your Stableford points.

Common questions

What is a Course Handicap?

Your Course Handicap is the number of strokes you receive at a specific set of tees, on a specific course. It converts your portable Handicap Index into strokes for the difficulty of the tee you are actually playing, so two players with the same index get the right allowance on every course.

How is Course Handicap calculated under the WHS?

Course Handicap = Handicap Index × (Slope Rating ÷ 113) + (Course Rating − Par), rounded to the nearest whole number. The slope term scales your index to the relative difficulty of the tee; the Course Rating minus Par term reflects how hard the tee plays in absolute terms.

What is a Slope Rating?

Slope Rating measures how much harder a course plays for a bogey golfer than for a scratch golfer. It runs from 55 to 155, where 113 is a course of standard relative difficulty. A higher slope means a higher-handicap player receives more strokes.

What is a Course Rating?

Course Rating is the score a scratch golfer is expected to shoot on the course under normal conditions, expressed to one decimal (for example 71.5). It captures the absolute difficulty of the tee.

Is this the same as my Playing Handicap?

Not quite. Your Course Handicap is the starting point; your Playing Handicap then applies a format allowance (for example 95% for individual stroke play, 85% for four-ball). Use our Playing Handicap calculator for that step.