Handicap strokes calculator
Course handicaps from each player's tees, the format's allowance, and how many strokes everyone gets. Type the slope and rating from the scorecard.
The formula
Course Handicap = Handicap Index × (Slope Rating ÷ 113) + (Course Rating − Par), rounded to the nearest whole number. This is the World Handicap System formula published by the USGA. A tee with an average slope of 113 leaves the index unchanged; harder tees (higher slope) add strokes.
Allowances this calculator uses
| Format | Allowance | Strokes |
|---|---|---|
| Singles match play | 100% | Off the lowest player |
| Four-ball match play | 90% | Off the lowest player |
| Nassau, 2 vs 2 | 90% | Off the lowest player |
| Skins | 100% | Full playing handicap |
| Individual stroke play (net) | 95% | Full playing handicap |
The match-play and stroke-play percentages are the USGA's recommended handicap allowances (Rules of Handicapping, Appendix C). The USGA doesn't publish one for skins, so ForeLeft! uses 100%. This calculator, like the app, rounds each course handicap before applying the allowance, so a club committee's numbers can occasionally differ by a stroke. Plus handicaps are treated as zero. Your group can always agree to something different.
Worked example
In the example, Jake (4.2) plays tees rated 70.8 with a slope of 135 and a par of 71: 4.2 × 135 ÷ 113 + (70.8 − 71) = 4.82, so his course handicap is 5. In four-ball match play everyone gets 90%, and Jake, as the lowest, plays off zero.
Sources
How many strokes do I get?
How many strokes do I get in singles match play?
The difference between the two course handicaps, at 100%. The lower player plays off zero. Example: two players on tees with a slope of 128, a course rating of 71.2 and a par of 72. An 8.4 index gives 8.4 × 128 ÷ 113 + (71.2 − 72) = 8.72, so a course handicap of 9. A 17.1 index gives 18.57, so 19. The 17.1 player gets 19 − 9 = 10 strokes, one on each hole with stroke index 1 to 10.
How many strokes do I get in four-ball or a 2-vs-2 Nassau?
Take 90% of each course handicap and round it. The lowest of all four players plays off zero, and everyone else gets the difference from that player. In the calculator's example, course handicaps of 5, 15, 18 and 11 become 5, 14, 16 and 10, so the other three get 9, 11 and 5 strokes.
How many strokes do I get in skins or net stroke play?
Nobody plays off the low player. Each player gets their own playing handicap: 100% of the course handicap for skins and 95% for individual net stroke play. A course handicap of 15 gets 15 strokes in skins and 14 in net stroke play.
Which holes do I get my strokes on?
The hardest holes by the scorecard's stroke index. With 10 strokes, you get one on stroke index 1 to 10. Past 18, you get a second stroke on the hardest holes: 20 strokes means two on stroke index 1 and 2 and one on every other hole.
More questions
How do you calculate a course handicap?
Under the World Handicap System: Course Handicap = Handicap Index × (Slope Rating ÷ 113) + (Course Rating − Par), rounded to the nearest whole number. Use the slope, rating and par of the tees the player is playing.
Can players use different tees?
Yes. Enter each player's own slope, course rating and par. The par term in the formula is what keeps players on different tees fair.
Running a whole trip?
ForeLeft! does this for every round automatically: strokes from each player's tees, live scoring on several phones, and one settle-up for the whole trip.
Now on the App Store and Google Play. Works in your browser today.
