How do I calculate a golf handicap?

Question

How do I calculate a golf handicap?

Answer 1

Jeremy's method is much too difficult for the average weekend golfer.The official GHIN recommended by the USGA is based on the best 10 of the last 20 rounds played, totalling the 10, multiplying par by 10 subtracting the par from the best 10 to arrive the difference which is multiplied by 96% to arrive at  the handicap. All scores are adjusted by equitable stroke control which determines the highest score for any hole based upon the handicap category.

Answer 2

The Math Behind the Handicap

Step 1 - Keep scores from the last five rounds.

Step 2 - From your scorecards, note the rating and slope for the course that you played for each of these scores.

Step 3 - Subtract the course rating from the score you earned on that course.

Step 4 - Multiply that number by 113.

Step 5 - Divide that number by the slope of the course. This number is the differential.

Step 6 - Take the lowest of your five differentials and multiply it by 0.96, and you have your handicap.

I've got a site i like that will figure it all out for you (so you don't have to use a calculator).  

http://www.freegolfhandicapcalculator.co...

Hope that helps.  Good golfing.

Answer 3

Well you don't - at least not an official one that any tournament would recognize.  None of the answers I see here are accurate as far as I know - so here is my take on how it is calculated.  Take the lowest 10 differentials out of your last 20 rounds played.  A differential is the difference between your score and the course rating (par has nothing to do with the calculation).  You average those 10 differentials, and multiply that by .96.  The result is your handicap index.  Look at the slope chart for your course and the set of tees you play, and the chart will tell you your handicap.

The dividing by 113 and multiplying by your course slope rating is only necessary if you don't have a slope index chart.  But in order to have a proper handicap you need to sign up for a handicap service at your local club.  It is usually about $25-$30 per year.  You just turn in your score cards, or enter your scores into a computer and they do all the calculations for you and update each two weeks.

Answer 4

An official handicap is calculated from the best 10 of your last 20 scores. You can calculate it using as little as 5 scores but you would use your best score from those 5.

The calculation is somewhat difficult to follow but it uses both slope and rating from each course and set of tees that you used for your score. Here is the calculation for each round:

(your score - rating) / (slope * 113) = differential

Average the differentials of your best scores and multiply by 96%. Truncate the decimal and that's your handicap.

Or use this calculator:

http://www.GolfFoundations.com/handicap....

Answer 5

Shoot like 10 rounds, find the average of that then subtract par for the course you golfed from that. Then you have your Handicap.

Answer 6

As a recreational golfer I would advise you to subscribe to your local GHIN at your local course....its too complicated to try to keep track of it yourself......small $$ and less stress on your part.