The golf handicap index is a standardised measure that assesses a golfer's level of play. It allows the performances of players of different levels to be compared and their score to be adjusted according to the difficulty of the courses played.
What is the handicap index?
The index is expressed as a decimal number (for example, 15.3) and is calculated based on scores achieved over several rounds on different courses, taking into account the difficulty of each course.
The index also helps you to better choose your equipment or the ball model to play with.
How is the golf index calculated?
To summarise, the index is an indicator that reflects your level of play in golf, taking into account your performances across your 8 best rounds out of the last 20 played.
To begin with, here are two key elements to take into account in the calculation:
1. The course slope rating
This is a difficulty index for amateur golfers, assessed by the French Golf Federation (FFG). This index ranges between 55 and 155. A golf course that achieves a slope rating of 70 is relatively accessible for amateur golfers (width of fairways, number of hazards, terrain gradient, etc.). In contrast, an index of 150 indicates a very challenging course, intended for highly experienced golfers.
Example: The Evian Resort Golf Club has a slope rating of 145. It is a demanding course with many challenges.
Where can you find the slope rating before starting a round?
- Displayed on the course scorecard.
- Available on the golf club's website.
2. The course rating
The course rating is the reference score that an expert player, with no handicap (index 0), should achieve on a course. The evaluation of the number of strokes per hole is carried out by a recognised organisation, as with the slope rating, for example the French Golf Federation (FFG). The course rating generally falls between 67 and 77 depending on the difficulty of the course. Achieving a course rating of 69 means that the reference score is 69 strokes for a scratch player (index 0).
Where can you find the slope rating before starting a round?
- On the course scorecard.
- On the golf club's website.
To calculate the index, you will then need to compile:
- You need to keep your 8 best differential scores from your last 20 rounds.
- The index is obtained by averaging these 8 best differential scores.
One final step to calculate your handicap
To obtain the index closest to your actual level, one final element must be incorporated into the calculation in order to weight the number of strokes in your rounds: the Equitable Stroke Control (ESC) table.
The ESC limits the number of excessive strokes on a hole based on your index. This system is generally provided by golf federations and helps to measure the player's overall level.
Here is the ESC table:
How does it work?
- If you play a hole in 9 strokes, but the ESC limits the number of strokes to 7 based on your index, the score will be adjusted to 7 for that hole.
- If you play a hole in 5 strokes, and the ESC limits the number of strokes to 7 based on your index, there is no need to adjust your score — it will remain at 5.
The final formula to determine your index
Differential score = ((Adjusted gross score — Course rating) / Slope rating) × 113
The number 113 in the differential score formula is used as the standard reference value for the average difficulty of a golf course. It helps to smooth out large differences between players.
Index calculator
Access the simulator to obtain your exact handicap.
