Course & Playing Handicap Calculator
Calculate the number of strokes you receive on any tee and format under the World Handicap System. Converts your Handicap Index using Slope Rating, Course Rating, Par, and format allowance.
Standard: WHS Rules 6.1 & 6.2 (USGA / R&A 2024 Edition) • Checked 23 Aug 2026Course & Tee Parameters
How Course Handicap & Playing Handicap are calculated
Your Course Handicap represents the number of strokes you need to play to the level of Course Rating for a specific set of tees. Under the modern World Handicap System (WHS), it includes the Course Rating minus Par adjustment:
- Handicap Index
- Your official WHS measure of potential ability (e.g. 14.2).
- Slope Rating
- Relative difficulty of a course for a bogey golfer compared to scratch (55 to 155; 113 is baseline).
- Course Rating (CR)
- The expected score for a scratch golfer under normal conditions (e.g. 71.2).
- Par
- The target score for the course (e.g. 72).
- Handicap Allowance
- The percentage of Course Handicap recommended for equity in specific competition formats.
Prior to the World Handicap System, many handicap systems did not include (CR − Par). Under
WHS, adding this term ensures that a player who shoots their Course Handicap will achieve 36
Stableford points (or net par) regardless of which tee they play, making multi-tee competitions
completely equitable.
Accuracy notes and governing-body limits
Handicap allowances are established by the Committee in charge of the competition per WHS Rule 6.2 / Appendix C. While the table below represents the USGA & R&A recommendations, your local tournament committee has the authority to specify different allowances in the Terms of Competition.
Worked example: USGA Rule 6.1 & 6.2 verification
A player with a 14.2 Handicap Index plays from white tees (Slope: 126, Course Rating: 71.2, Par: 72) in an Individual Stroke Play competition (95% allowance):
- Calculate Slope adjustment:
14.2 × (126 / 113) = 14.2 × 1.11504 = 15.8336 - Add
(Course Rating − Par):15.8336 + (71.2 − 72) = 15.8336 − 0.8 = 15.0336 - Round Course Handicap to nearest integer: 15 Course Handicap
- Apply 95% format allowance:
15 × 0.95 = 14.25 - Round Playing Handicap to nearest integer: 14 Playing Handicap
Standard WHS handicap allowance table (Appendix C)
| Format of Play | Type of Competition | Recommended Allowance |
|---|---|---|
| Individual Stroke Play | Gross & Net (Medal) | 95% |
| Individual Stableford | 95% | 95% |
| Individual Match Play | Singles | 100% (of difference) |
| Four-Ball Stroke Play | Better Ball of Pair | 85% |
| Four-Ball Match Play | Better Ball of Pair | 90% (of difference from lowest) |
| Foursomes (Alternate Shot) | Stroke Play | 50% of combined Course Handicap |
| Greensomes | Stroke Play | 60% lower + 40% higher |
| Scramble (4 players) | Team Stroke Play | 25% / 20% / 15% / 10% from lowest to highest |
Related golf calculators
Handicap Index Calculator
Calculate your base Handicap Index from 1–20 score differentials under WHS Rule 5.2a.
Score Differential Calculator
Compute a single round's differential from Adjusted Gross Score, Course Rating, and Slope.
Frequently asked questions
Can a Course Handicap be higher than a Handicap Index?
Yes. If the Slope Rating is greater than 113 (which is typical for most amateur and championship courses) and/or Course Rating exceeds Par, your Course Handicap will be higher than your Handicap Index.
What if I am playing a 9-hole round?
For a 9-hole round, the formula is:
9-hole Course Handicap = (Handicap Index / 2) × (9-hole Slope / 113) + (9-hole Course Rating − 9-hole Par).