Golf handicap guide

How to calculate your golf handicap and track it correctly

If your goal is to break 100, then 90, your handicap trend is one of the cleanest ways to measure progress. The goal is not one perfect round. The goal is consistent scoring over time.

Step 1: Log every full round

Track date, total score, course, and tees for each round. Missing rounds create a fake trend and make progress harder to judge.

Step 2: Use your recent scoring window

Your handicap trend should reflect how you are playing now, not what you did six months ago. Keep your recent rounds current and complete.

Step 3: Watch trend direction, not just one number

A single handicap snapshot is useful, but trend direction matters more. Look at 4-8 week movement to see if your game is improving.

Common mistake to avoid

Do not only log your best rounds. If you skip bad rounds, your handicap trend loses value and your practice decisions get worse.