How is a Course Handicap calculated?

Calculating your Course Handicap requires three distinct ratings of a particular golf course to be determined:

  • Bogey Rating – The measure of playing difficulty from a set of tees when played by a Bogey Golfer (a player with a Course Handicap of approximately 20 for a male and 24 for a female)
  • Course Rating – The measure of how many strokes a Scratch Golfer should take on any given course (a player who can play to a Course Handicap of 0 on all rated golf courses)
  • Slope Rating – Calculated by using the Bogey Rating and Course Rating, this measure assesses the relative playing difficulty of a course for Bogey Golfers, compared to Scratch Golfers. The higher the Slope Rating, the more additional strokes a Bogey Golfer will need to be able to play it, and vice versa.

The formula to calculate for 18-Hole Players Course Handicap = Handicap Index x (Slope Rating / By the neutral Slope Rating of 113)

The formula to calculate for 9-Hole Players Course Handicap = Handicap Index / 2 x (9-Hole Slope Rating / By the neutral Slope Rating of 113) + 9-Hole Course Rating – 9-Hole par)

But you don’t need to work out this calculation yourself as every golf course will have Course Handicap Tables displayed in a prominent position. The tables for The Burstead Golf Club are shown below:

18-Hole Players (Yellow, White and Red Tees)

9-Hole Players (Front 9)

9-Hole Players (Back 9)

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