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Usga Course Handicap Calculator

World Handicap System 2024: Score Differential from a round, Handicap Index from 3-20 differentials with the soft and hard caps, Course Handicap and Playing Handicap for a set of tees, and the Net Double Bogey maximum hole score.

Course Handicap
13
Golf Handicap Calculator (World Handicap System)
Score Differential
12.2
Score Differential before rounding
12.1828
Handicap Index
13.2
Handicap Index (as written)
13.2
Handicap Index before caps
13.2
Differentials used
3 differentials: lowest 1 (15.2), adjustment -2.0
Cap applied
Not applicable
Handicap Index used for the Course Handicap
12.4
Course Handicap before rounding
13.2460
Course Handicap (as written)
13
Playing Handicap
13
Playing Handicap before rounding
12.5837
Playing Handicap (as written)
13
Handicap strokes received on the hole
1
Net Double Bogey (maximum hole score)
7
Worked out from USGA / The R&A - Rules of Handicapping, Effective January 2024 (master text hosted by GolfRSA) and 6 other sources.
Rounding is "nearest, .5 upwards" throughout, as Rule 6 states for Course and Playing Handicap; the Rules say only "nearest tenth" for Score Differentials and the Handicap Index, so .5 up there is this calculator's convention.
Exceptional score reductions (Rule 5.9) need the Handicap Index in force at the time of each round and are not applied here.

Your figures

Updates as you type
Used for Course Handicap, Playing Handicap and Net Double Bogey. In Handicap Index mode the index computed from your differentials is used instead. Enter a plus handicap as a negative number (+2.1 as -2.1).
One decimal, from the scorecard for the tees played. For 9-hole rounds enter the 9-hole rating.
55-155; 113 is standard difficulty.
Appendix C recommendation; committees may vary it.

How this is worked out

6 steps
  1. Score Differential = (113 / 128) x (85 - 71.2 - 0) = 0.882813 x 13.8 = 12.1828 -> 12.2
  2. 3 differentials in the record -> Rule 5.2a: lowest 1 with adjustment -2.0
  3. Lowest 1: 15.2 = 15.2; / 1 = 15.2; -2.0 = 13.2 -> 13.2
  4. Course Handicap = 12.4 x (128 / 113) + (71.2 - 72) = 14.046 + -0.8 = 13.246 -> 13
  5. Playing Handicap = unrounded Course Handicap 13.246 x 95% = 12.5837 -> 13
  6. Net Double Bogey on a par 4 with stroke index 10: Course Handicap 13 gives 1 stroke(s) there, so maximum = 4 + 2 + 1 = 7

Its 5 worked examples are re-run on every release, last on 15 September 2026. What changed

Sources and references

7 sources
USGA / The R&A - Rules of Handicapping, Effective January 2024 (master text hosted by GolfRSA)
January 2024 · Rules 3.1b, 5.1a-b, 5.2a-c, 5.3, 5.6, 5.8, 6.1a-b, 6.2a and Clarifications 5.2a/1, 5.2a/2, 6.2a/1.
The R&A - Rules of Handicapping online, Rule 5
USGA - Rules of Handicapping Definitions (Course Handicap, Net Double Bogey, Low Handicap Index)
USGA - World Handicap System FAQs (formulas, PCC range, caps, Net Double Bogey example CH 15 / SI 10 -> 7)
The R&A - Appendix C: Handicap Allowances (applied to the unrounded Course Handicap; 95% singles stroke play, 100% singles match play, 90% four-ball match play)
USGA / The R&A - Player Reference Guide on the Rules of Handicapping, Effective January 2024 (Course Handicap examples 19 / 17 / 14, Playing Handicap 14 at 85%)
January 2024
USGA Golf Journal - What Exactly are Course Rating and Slope Rating? (Slope 55-155, standard 113)
November 2025

What this calculator does

World Handicap System 2024: Score Differential from a round, Handicap Index from 3-20 differentials with the soft and hard caps, Course Handicap and Playing Handicap for a set of tees, and the Net Double Bogey maximum hole score.

How to use Usga Course Handicap Calculator

Enter Handicap Index, Course Rating, Slope Rating, Par of the tees played, Holes played, Include (Course Rating - Par) in the Course Handicap and Handicap allowance (format of play). The calculator checks the values, applies the stated method, and updates the result without saving your figures.

What the result means

The result includes Score Differential, Score Differential before rounding, Handicap Index, Handicap Index (as written), Handicap Index before caps, Differentials used, Cap applied, Handicap Index used for the Course Handicap, Course Handicap, Course Handicap before rounding, Course Handicap (as written), Playing Handicap, Playing Handicap before rounding, Playing Handicap (as written), Handicap strokes received on the hole and Net Double Bogey (maximum hole score). Review the visible working and any warnings before using the answer for a decision.

Method and checks

The method cites USGA / The R&A - Rules of Handicapping, Effective January 2024 (master text hosted by GolfRSA); The R&A - Rules of Handicapping online, Rule 5; USGA - Rules of Handicapping Definitions (Course Handicap, Net Double Bogey, Low Handicap Index), among others. Its 5 built-in worked examples are checked on every full test run. The initial answer and working are rendered on the server, so they remain readable without JavaScript.

Results are general information, not financial, tax, legal, medical or engineering advice. Check any decision that matters with a qualified professional.

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Copy this code into any page. The calculator appears with the figures currently entered, sizes itself to fit, and a small credit line links back here. Free, no account, no ads inside it, no tracking of your readers. Set your own figures and fixed fields; Personal removes the credit line, sets your colour and shows you which sites use it.

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