18Birdies Handicap Overview

The 18Birdies Handicap helps measure your playing ability and makes it easier to compete with golfers of different skill levels.

Your handicap can be used for net scoring, group games, tournaments, leagues, and tracking how your game changes over time.

What is a handicap?

A handicap is a number that represents a golfer’s playing ability.

In general, a lower handicap means a golfer typically scores lower, while a higher handicap means a golfer typically scores higher.

Handicaps are useful because they allow golfers of different skill levels to compete more fairly using net scoring.

What is the 18Birdies Handicap?

The 18Birdies Handicap is a free handicap calculated inside the 18Birdies app based on your eligible saved rounds.

It uses information such as:

Your score
Course Rating
Slope Rating
Eligible 9-hole or 18-hole rounds
Your most recent eligible rounds

Your 18Birdies Handicap is designed to help you track your progress and compete in 18Birdies scoring formats.

Important: The 18Birdies Handicap is not an official USGA Handicap Index or WHS Handicap Index.

How do I get an 18Birdies Handicap?

Your 18Birdies Handicap is calculated automatically after you save an eligible 9-hole or 18-hole round.

To get started:

Open the 18Birdies app.
Start and complete a round.
Enter your score.
Save the round.
Tap Me to view your handicap and stats.

The more eligible rounds you enter, the more useful your 18Birdies Handicap becomes.

How is handicap used in 18Birdies?

Your handicap may be used in different areas of the app, including:

Net scoring
Group rounds
Side games
Tournaments and leagues
Course Handicap calculations
Profile and stats views

Net scoring adjusts your gross score using handicap strokes so golfers of different skill levels can compete more fairly.

For example, if one golfer usually shoots around 80 and another golfer usually shoots around 100, handicap can help create a more balanced competition.

What is net scoring?

Net scoring adjusts your gross score using handicap strokes.

Term	What it means
Gross Score	Your actual score before handicap strokes
Handicap Strokes	Strokes applied based on handicap
Net Score	Your score after handicap strokes are applied

Net scoring helps golfers of different skill levels compete more fairly.

For example, if you shoot 100 and receive 20 handicap strokes, your net score would be 80.

Your 18Birdies Handicap may be used for net scoring in supported areas of the app, including group rounds, side games, tournaments, and leagues.

What is a Course Handicap?

A Course Handicap adjusts your handicap based on the difficulty of the course and tees you are playing.

Your 18Birdies Handicap may stay the same from course to course, but your Course Handicap can change depending on Course Rating and Slope Rating.

For example, the same golfer may receive fewer strokes at an easier course and more strokes at a more difficult course.

What are Hole Handicaps?

Hole Handicaps show the relative difficulty of each hole on a course.

They are usually numbered from 1 to 18:

1 is the most difficult hole
18 is the least difficult hole

Hole Handicaps help determine where handicap strokes are applied during net scoring.

For example, if a golfer receives strokes for the round, those strokes are applied starting with the hardest holes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need Premium to get an 18Birdies Handicap?

No. Your 18Birdies Handicap is free and is based on eligible rounds saved to your account.

Some advanced stats or analysis features may require Premium, but basic handicap tracking does not require Premium.

Does 18Birdies sync with GHIN?

No. 18Birdies does not currently sync with GHIN.

GHIN integration is a common request, especially from golfers who use 18Birdies to track rounds but need an official handicap for club play or tournaments.

We have been in ongoing discussions around a potential GHIN partnership, but we do not have any updates to share right now or a timeline we can commit to.

In the meantime, many golfers continue using 18Birdies to track their rounds and then post scores to GHIN separately.

We understand that extra step is not ideal, and it is something we would like to improve over time.

We are also committed to the handicap experience within 18Birdies. We continue to invest in making the 18Birdies Handicap as accurate and reliable as possible, while keeping it free for all golfers.

Can I get a handicap if I live outside the United States?

Yes. You may still be able to get an 18Birdies Handicap outside the United States.

However, some international courses may not be eligible if the course does not have the required course data, such as Course Rating or Slope Rating.

Is there a maximum or minimum 18Birdies Handicap?

There is no set maximum or minimum 18Birdies Handicap.

Your handicap is based on the eligible scores entered in 18Birdies.

Can I enter old scorecards to build my handicap?

Yes. You can enter past rounds or old scorecards in 18Birdies.

Past rounds can count toward your 18Birdies Handicap if they are eligible and fall within the most recent eligible rounds used for calculation.

If you enter a round from several years ago, it may not affect your current handicap if you already have newer eligible rounds.

Why does my handicap look different from another app?

Your 18Birdies Handicap may differ from another app, GHIN, or another handicap system because different systems may use different rules, inputs, adjustments, or eligible rounds.

Differences may also happen if course rating, slope rating, tee selection, round eligibility, or score entry differs between apps.

Can I use 18Birdies for a practice round without affecting handicap?

18Birdies does not currently have a dedicated Practice Round mode that separates practice-round stats from handicap history.

If you do not want a round to affect your 18Birdies Handicap, you can exclude the round from handicap calculation after saving it.

For more information, see Managing Handicap Rounds.

Can I manually enter my own handicap?

Yes. You can manually enter a custom handicap if you want to use your own number instead of the calculated 18Birdies Handicap in supported areas of the app.

For steps, see Managing Handicap Rounds.