Last updated: 3 October 2026
Reviewed by Jordan Morley, FA Level 2 Football Coach
Your Course Handicap converts your portable Handicap Index into the actual strokes you get on the tees you're playing. The formula is Handicap Index × (slope ÷ 113) + (course rating − par). Harder tees with a higher slope give you more strokes. This is the number you use during a round to work out your net score, so it changes from course to course and tee to tee.
- Index × (slope ÷ 113) + (rating − par)
- The strokes you actually receive
- Higher slope = more strokes
- Changes by course and tee
In practice
A single Handicap Index translates into a different Course Handicap at every course you play, because the formula factors in that course's specific slope and rating — this is why the World Handicap System lets golfers compete fairly against each other even on courses of very different difficulty.
FAQ
Why does my handicap change between courses?
Your Handicap Index stays the same, but it converts to a different Course Handicap at each course based on that course's slope rating, reflecting relative difficulty for a bogey golfer.
Do I need to recalculate course handicap every round?
Only if you're playing a different course or different tees — the conversion depends on that specific course/tee combination's slope and rating.