Golf Handicap Tutorial: Course Handicap
Lesson 3: Course Handicap
A course handicap is a measure used to describe the ability
of an amateur golfer to play on a particular golf course.
The lower the course handicap, the better the golfer is able
to play on the course in question.
What Is A Course Handicap?
The course handicap is an adjustment to the
handicap index,
based on the difficulty of a particular golf course.
If the golf course is more difficult than average,
the course handicap would be greater than the handicap index;
and vice versa.
Thus, you would receive more strokes on a harder course than
you would on an easier course.
The course handicap is based on two factors:
the handicap index and the
slope rating.
The slope rating is a measure of course difficulty,
which normally appears on the course scorecard.
How To Compute Course Handicap: The Easy Way
The easiest way to compute a handicap index is to use a
Course Handicap Calculator. Here are two good options.
- Online handicap index calculator.
Try the free, user-friendly
online course handicap calculator
found on this site.
- Handicap calculator for windows. Since you don't have to go
online to use it, an even easier option is Golf Medley's
Handicap Calculator for Windows. You can download it to your
computer for free. And it computes both your course handicap and
your handicap index.
Both calculators require identical inputs and provide
identical outputs.
How To Calculate A Course Handicap: The Hard Way
To compute a course handicap by hand, use the following
formula.
Course handicap = (Handicap index * Slope rating) / 113
For example, suppose your handicap index is 20.
You play from the red tees on a course where the slope rating
from the red tees is 120.
Therefore, your course handicap would be:
Course handicap = (Handicap index * Slope rating) / 113
Course handicap = (20 * 120) / 113
Course handicap = 21.2
Round to the nearest whole number.
Therefore, your course handicap would be 21.
With a slope rating of 120, the course is more difficult
than average (113), so you received an extra stroke.
Your handicap index was increased from 20 to a course handicap
of about 21.