How To The golf course handicap is calculated.

A golf handicap is a number that describes the difference between a golfer's ability and a standard score, and the handicap system allows amateur golfers of differing skill levels to compete on more even terms.The lower a player's handicap, the better they are compared to someone with a higher one.The portable handicap that can be adjusted to apply to any course and any tee is what you need to determine a handicap for a specific course.

Step 1: You can play golf!

You will need some golf scores to determine your handicap differential and index.If you want to get the best results, use at least five scores and 20 scores.Take your gross score from every game.The gross score is the number of strokes taken over a course.

Step 2: Determine the adjusted gross score.

If you have exceeded the maximum allowable strokes, take the necessary number of strokes.If you took nine strokes on a hole with a maximum allowable score of seven, subtract two from your score for that hole.Recount your total using the adjusted numbers.The United States Golf Association has guidelines for a course handicap of nine or less and a maximum score of eight or more.

Step 3: The course has a slope.

The course rating is the difficulty rating for a golfer who shoots par on average, but the course slope is based on a bogey golfer.A golfer who shoots 18 strokes over par is called a bogey golfer.The course rating and slope can be found on the score card.You can check on the course's website or at the club.

Step 4: Determine your handicap differential.

The difference between your adjusted gross score and the course rating is calculated.Round this number to the nearest tenth to determine the equation.

Step 5: For every score, repeat these steps.

Your most recent scores can be used up to a maximum of 20.

Step 6: Pick your best handicap differentials.

If you are working with 20 scores, choose your 10 lowest differentials.If you don't have 20 scores to work with, select your top differential out of five or six.

Step 7: Your best differentials should be averaged.

Divide the number by the amount of scores you're working with.If you are working with three differentials, divide the sum by three.

Step 8: Determine your handicap.

Divide your differential average by 96 percent.Remove all the numbers after the tenths of the number.The number is your handicap index.The maximum default handicap is 36.4 for males on an 18-hole course.40.4 is the average for females on an 18-hole course.Men play a nine-hole course.For females on a nine-hole course.

Step 9: Divide your handicap index by the slope rating.

If you have a handicap index, this portable number can be taken to any course and used to calculate your course handicap.The slope rating should be listed on your score card or on the course's website.

Step 10: The standard slope rating is used to divide the product.

The USGA has determined that the average slope is 113, which is an average difficulty rating for courses.Divide your handicap index by the slope rating.

Step 11: You can find your course handicap.

The number should be rounded to the nearest whole number.Any number that ends in.4 or below is rounded down, and any number ending in.5 or above is rounding up.The rounded whole number is your handicap.