A golf handicap calculation can be achieved most easily by using our nifty, free handicap index calculator.
But you want the nuts and bolts of the golf handicap calculation, don't you? You want to know the math of the golf handicap calculation. OK, you asked for it, you got it.

Golf Handicap Calculation - Step 1
A minimum of five scores and a maximum of 20 is required to get started. For each score, the USGA Course Rating and Slope Rating for the courses played are also required. Using those figures, calculate the handicap differential for each round entered using this formula:

(Score - Course Rating) x 113 / Slope Rating

For example, let's say the score is 85, the course rating 72.2, the slope 131.

The formula would be (85 - 72.2) x 113 / 131.
This differential is calculated for each round entered.

Golf Handicap Calculation - Step 2
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. If 20 rounds are entered, only the 10 lowest differentials are used. A chart at the bottom of this page shows how many differentials are used based on the number of rounds entered.

Golf Handicap Calculation - Step 3
Get an average of the differentials used by adding them together and dividing by the number used (i.e., if five differentials are used, add them up 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.

Thankfully, you don't have to do the golf handicap calculation on your own. Your golf club's handicap committee will handle it for you. You can also use our free handicap index calculator - give it a try!

And here's that chart we promised:

Number of Differentials Used

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