Free · No GHIN Fee · No Club Membership

Track Your Golf
Handicap Index — Free

Short Grass calculates your USGA Handicap Index using the official World Handicap System formula after every round you post. No GHIN number, no annual fee, no spreadsheets.

Free forever Official WHS formula No credit card needed Works on any device

Founding Member Spots

20/100claimed

80 spots remaining — $149 lifetime access

Everything You Need to Track Your Handicap

Free tools. Official formula. No GHIN fee.

📊

Get Your Official USGA Handicap Index — Free

Short Grass calculates your Handicap Index using the official World Handicap System (WHS) formula after every round you post. No GHIN number required, no annual fee, no club membership needed.

  • Official WHS formula — same as GHIN
  • Updates automatically after every round
  • No annual fee or club membership
  • Works on any device, any browser
Get My Handicap Free
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Post Scores in Seconds

Enter your score hole-by-hole during the round or post a past round in bulk. Short Grass finds your course, loads the correct tees and slope/rating, and calculates your score differential instantly.

  • Live scoring hole-by-hole
  • Post past rounds in under 60 seconds
  • Auto-loads slope, rating & par for 40,000+ courses
  • Scorecard photo import (OCR)
Post a Score
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See Your Handicap History Over Time

Track how your Handicap Index has changed over every round you've ever posted. See your best 8 of 20 differentials, your low index, and your trend line — all in one clean chart.

  • Full handicap history chart
  • Best 8 of 20 differential breakdown
  • Low index tracker
  • Handicap trend over any time period
Track My Progress
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Know Exactly Where You're Losing Strokes

Track fairways hit, greens in regulation, putts per hole, and sand saves. Short Grass shows you which part of your game is costing you the most strokes so you can practice smarter.

  • Fairways hit percentage
  • Greens in regulation (GIR)
  • Putts per round & per hole
  • Sand save percentage
Track My Stats
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Play Any Course. We've Got the Data.

Short Grass has slope ratings and course ratings for over 40,000 courses across the US. Search by name, zip code, or state — and if we don't have your course, you can add it in seconds.

  • 40,000+ courses with slope & rating
  • Multiple tee options per course
  • Add a missing course instantly
  • Course condition reports from members
Find My Course
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Practice Smarter. Lower Your Handicap Faster.

Log every range session, short game drill, and putting practice. Set weekly goals and see exactly how your practice frequency correlates to your handicap improvement over time.

  • Calendar-based practice log
  • Track range, short game, putting & fitness
  • Set weekly practice goals
  • Correlate practice to handicap improvement
Log Practice
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No GHIN Fee. No Club Required.

GHIN charges $35–$50 per year through your club. Short Grass gives you the same official WHS handicap calculation for free — no membership, no annual fee, no credit card required.

  • Free forever for core handicap tracking
  • No club membership required
  • No annual fee
  • Same WHS formula as GHIN
Get Started Free
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Deep Analytics for the Serious Golfer

Go beyond your handicap number. See your scoring average by course, your performance in different weather conditions, your best and worst holes, and how your game changes by season.

  • Scoring average by course & tee
  • Performance by weather & conditions
  • Best and worst holes analysis
  • Season-over-season comparison
See Analytics
Feature Comparison

Short Grass vs. GHIN vs. Golfshot

See why golfers are switching to Short Grass for handicap tracking.

Feature
SG
GH
GS
USGA / WHS Handicap Calculation
Free to Use
Partial
No Club Membership Required
Handicap History Chart
Partial
Detailed Stats (FW, GIR, Putts)
Practice Log & Goal Tracking
40,000+ Course Database
Scorecard Photo Import (OCR)
Side Bets & Money Tracking
Social Activity Feed
No Annual Fee
Partial
Ready to switch?

Comparison based on publicly available feature information as of April 2026. Features may vary by plan or region.

What Golfers Are Saying

Real golfers. Real handicaps. Real results.

"I was paying $40 a year for GHIN through my club. Short Grass gives me the exact same handicap for free. I don't understand why everyone isn't using it."

Dave M.
14.2 Handicap

"My handicap updates the same day I post a round. I can see every differential, my best 8 of 20, and a full chart of my progress. It's everything I needed."

Tom R.
8.6 Handicap

"I travel a lot for golf. Short Grass has every course I've played — slope, rating, multiple tees. I've never had to manually enter anything."

Kevin L.
21.0 Handicap

"The stats tracking is what got me. I found out my GIR was 22% and my putting average was 2.1. Now I know exactly what to practice."

Brian S.
11.8 Handicap

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know about free handicap tracking.

Is Short Grass really free for handicap tracking?

Yes. Short Grass is free forever for core handicap tracking. You can post scores, get your official WHS Handicap Index, and view your full history at no cost — no credit card required.

Do I need a GHIN number to use Short Grass?

No. Short Grass calculates your Handicap Index using the same official WHS formula as GHIN, but you do not need a GHIN number, a club membership, or an annual fee.

Is the Short Grass handicap the same as GHIN?

Short Grass uses the same World Handicap System (WHS) formula as GHIN and all other authorized handicap services. The calculation — best 8 of your last 20 score differentials — is identical.

How quickly does my handicap update?

Your Handicap Index updates as soon as you post a round. There is no waiting period — you can see your new index the same day you play.

Can I use my Short Grass handicap in tournaments?

Short Grass is an unofficial handicap service. For official USGA-sanctioned tournaments, you may need a GHIN number through an authorized golf association. For casual play, club events, and friendly rounds, Short Grass handicaps are widely accepted.

What courses does Short Grass support?

Short Grass has slope ratings and course ratings for over 40,000 courses across the United States. If your course isn't listed, you can add it in seconds.

Ready to Track Your
Handicap for Free?

Join thousands of golfers who track their USGA Handicap Index, post scores, and improve their game — all for free, no GHIN fee required.

Free forever for core features. No credit card. No GHIN fee. No club membership.