How is a USGA Golf Handicap Calculated?

 

Q.  What is the formula used for calculating a golf handicap?

 

A.  There is a three step calculation process to obtaining your USGA golf handicap.

USGA Golf Handicap Calculation - First Step

·  For each score, the USGA Course Rating and Slope for the courses played are required.

·  Using those figures, you are able to calculate the handicap differential for each round entered using this formula:

(Score - Course Rating) x 113 / Slope Rating

Example, if your score is 89, the course rating 72.2, and the slope 131.

(89 - 72.2) x 113 / 131

This differential is calculated for each round entered. (In our example, 14.5)

USGA Golf Handicap Calculation - Second Step

·  Figure out how many differentials are being used. Not every differential that results from Step 1 will be used in the next step.

·  If only five rounds are entered, only the lowest differential will be used; however, if 20 rounds are entered, only the 10 lowest differentials are used.

·  This chart provides how many differentials are used based on the number of rounds entered.

Rounds Entered	Differentials Used
5-6	1 lowest
7-8	2 lowest
9-10	3 lowest
11-12	4 lowest
13-14	5 lowest
15-16	6 lowest
17	7 lowest
18	8 lowest
19	9 lowest
20	10 lowest

 USGA Golf Handicap Calculation - Third Step

·  An average of the differentials is obtained by adding them together and dividing by the number used (for example, if five differentials are used, add the differentials together and divide by five).

·  Multiply the result by .96 (96-percent). Drop all the digits after the tenths (do not round off) and the result is handicap index.

> View More Handicap 101 FAQ's

USGA Golf Online Handicap Tracking