You need 54 holes of scores for a Handicap Index. After that, it is based on your best scores out of your most recent 20.
Enter your 3 rounds and get your handicap
Ways to make 54 holes
| Rounds | Holes |
|---|---|
| 3 × 18 holes | 54 |
| 6 × 9 holes | 54 |
| 2 × 18 + 2 × 9 | 54 |
| 1 × 18 + 4 × 9 | 54 |
Before you have an index, two 9-hole scores are combined into one 18-hole score. See the 9-hole handicap calculator.
How your handicap is worked out from 3 to 20 scores
| Scores in your record | Differentials used | Adjustment |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Lowest 1 | -2 |
| 4 | Lowest 1 | -1 |
| 5 | Lowest 1 | — |
| 6 | Lowest 2 | -1 |
| 7 | Lowest 2 | — |
| 8 | Lowest 2 | — |
| 9 | Lowest 3 | — |
| 10 | Lowest 3 | — |
| 11 | Lowest 3 | — |
| 12 | Lowest 4 | — |
| 13 | Lowest 4 | — |
| 14 | Lowest 4 | — |
| 15 | Lowest 5 | — |
| 16 | Lowest 5 | — |
| 17 | Lowest 6 | — |
| 18 | Lowest 6 | — |
| 19 | Lowest 7 | — |
| 20 | Lowest 8 | — |
World Handicap System Rule 5.2a. The index is the average of the lowest differentials, plus the adjustment, rounded to one decimal.
Why it moves so much at first
With 3 to 5 scores your index comes from a single round, so a good day drops it sharply and the next round may not count at all. From 6 scores it averages two or more rounds, and by around 10 one new score rarely moves it by more than a stroke. Add your rounds to our calculator and it shows which rounds count after each one. If your index went up unexpectedly, see why did my handicap go up.
Getting an official handicap
For an official Handicap Index you post those 54 holes through a golf club or association, which you can join without a course membership in many countries. See how to get a golf handicap.
Frequently asked questions
How many rounds do you need to get a golf handicap?
Scores from 54 holes. That can be three 18-hole rounds, six 9-hole rounds, or any mix, for example two 18s and two 9s. This is the World Handicap System rule used in the US, UK and most other countries.
Is my handicap accurate after only 3 rounds?
It is a start, not a settled number. With 3 scores your index is your single best differential minus 2, so one good or bad day moves it a lot. It becomes steadier as you add scores, and is fully based on your best 8 of 20 once you have 20.
Why does my handicap change so much in the first few rounds?
Each new score is a big share of a small record. At 5 scores the index is just your best one; at 6 it is the average of your best two minus 1. After about 10 rounds, one new score rarely moves it by more than a stroke.
Do rounds with friends count?
For an official index, scores must be from a recognised form of play, posted through your club or association, and played by the Rules of Golf with someone who can attest the score. For an estimate on this site, any round where you know the course's ratings works.
What happens after 20 rounds?
Your index always uses your most recent 20 scores. Each new score pushes the oldest one out, and your index is the average of the best 8 of those 20.