What is a Handicap Index?

The USGA Handicap System enables golfers of all abilities to compete fairly regardless of skill or location. At the heart of the Handicap System lies the USGA Handicap Index.

Your handicap index is a number you can take to any golf course with a USGA slope rating and determine your course handicap for that set of tees.

Based on the USGA Course Rating System, the USGA Handicap Formula uses both the course rating and slope rating for each tee you play to calculate differentials. The average of those differentials is reduced by the “Bonus for Excellence” and the resulting number is your handicap index.

Differential Formula
(ESC Score — Course Rating) x 113 / Slope Rating = Differential
(113 is a constant for Standard Slope)

Example
Golfer A has an average differential of 16.98.
16.98 x .96 (Bonus for Excellence) = 16.3
16.3 is Golfer A’s handicap index.

Calculating the average differential depends on the number of scores to be used in calculation. For instance, a golfer with five scores only uses the single lowest differential, while a golfer with 20 scores uses the 10 lowest.

For more information about the GHIN System, please contact the Northern Ohio Golf Association at handicapping@noga.org. Thank you for your interest!