Last updated: 3 August 2026
Reviewed by Jordan Makin, FA Level 2 Football Coach
Seven free golf tools covering handicap calculation, Stableford scoring, distance conversion, shot statistics, and calorie burn. Covers stroke play, Stableford, and match play formats.
Golf scoring basics
Golf is scored relative to par — the number of strokes an expert player is expected to take for each hole and the course total. Scoring terms: eagle = 2 under par; birdie = 1 under par; par = even; bogey = 1 over par; double bogey = 2 over. In stroke play, the player with the fewest total strokes wins. In Stableford (the most common club competition format), points are awarded per hole — 2 for par, 3 for birdie, 1 for bogey — and the player with the most points wins.
All golf tools
10Golf Handicap Calculator
Estimate your Handicap Index from recent rounds using the World Handicap System method.
Open toolScore Differential Calculator
Calculate the score differential for a single round — the building block of your handicap.
Open toolCourse Handicap Calculator
Convert your Handicap Index into a Course Handicap for the specific tees you're playing.
Open toolStableford Points Calculator
Convert hole scores into Stableford points based on par and your strokes received.
Open toolScramble Handicap Calculator
Work out a team scramble handicap from each player's course handicap.
Open toolGolf Shot Distance Calculator
Estimate carry distance adjusted for altitude and temperature — useful for club selection.
Open toolGolf Distance & Club Selection Calculator
Find the right club for any distance, adjusted for altitude, temperature and lie.
Open toolGolf Handicap Index Calculator
Calculate your World Handicap System (WHS) handicap index from your recent scores.
Open toolGolf Shot Dispersion Calculator
Calculate how much left-right dispersion to expect on a shot and where to aim on the course.
Open toolGolf Wind Adjustment Calculator
Calculate how much extra or less club to take based on wind speed and direction.
Open toolFrequently asked questions
How does the World Handicap System (WHS) work?
The World Handicap System (introduced globally in 2020) calculates a handicap index from the best 8 of your last 20 score differentials. A score differential = (adjusted gross score − course rating) × (113 ÷ slope rating). The handicap index is then applied to a specific course using its slope rating to calculate the course handicap — the number of strokes you receive on that particular course. This unified system replaced separate national handicapping systems.
What is a scratch golfer?
A scratch golfer has a handicap index of 0.0 — they are expected to shoot par on any course of standard difficulty. A bogey golfer averages 1 over par per hole. Most recreational golfers carry handicap indexes of 12–28. The scratch standard was used historically as the baseline from which handicaps were calculated — a 12-handicap golfer receives 12 strokes per round against a scratch golfer.
What does slope rating mean on a golf course?
Slope rating (typically 55–155, standard 113) measures how much harder a course plays for a bogey golfer compared to a scratch golfer. A higher slope means the course disproportionately penalises less skilled players — typically because it has more rough, water hazards, or tight fairways that punish errant shots more severely. Slope rating is used in the World Handicap System to convert your handicap index into the correct number of strokes for a specific course.
Related glossary terms
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