Golf Glossary
Definition: Course Handicap
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Course Handicap
Course handicap is the heart of golf's handicapping system. It is a number that indicates your aptitude for scoring on a particular golf course. It also affects how many strokes you can take on each hole.
By knowing their course handicaps, golfers of different skill levels can compete fairly against one another. The stronger golfers receive fewer strokes, and the weaker golfers receive more strokes. For further explanation, see how to use golf handicaps.
To compute your course handicap, you need to know two factors: your handicap index and the course slope. The formula is:
Course Handicap = (Handicap Index * Course Slope) / 113
The slope for a particular course will usually be displayed on the course scorecard. Your handicap index will be based on scores from recent rounds. Use the calculators found on this site (see links below) to compute your handicap index and your course handicap.