Every golf course that is part of the USGA (United States Golf Association) Handicap System should have available a chart showing course handicaps for players based on their handicap index and the slope rating of the tees played. For example, the chart may show that a 14.5 handicapper playing tees with a slope of 108 has a course handicap of 13; or playing tees with a slope of 138 has a course handicap of 16.
The USGA course handicap accounts for slope rating and may award extra strokes on a difficult course, or take away strokes on an easier course. In other words, the USGA Handicap System takes your handicap index, factors in the difficulty of the golf course you are playing, and produces course handicap - a number appropriate to the difficulty of the course played.
Once you have your course handicap, then you know how many handicap strokes you get to apply during the round. For example, a course handicap of 4 means you get to take strokes (reduce your score by one stroke) on each of the four toughest handicap holes.
If your course doesn't provide the conversion chart, you can determine USGA course handicap prior to a round by using our free course handicap calculator (so long as you know the course's slope rating).
For a more technical discussion of course handicap, and more examples of its calculation and use, see our FAQ, "What is course handicap?"
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