Calculate your Handicap Index.
Free. No membership fee.
Short Grass is a free golf handicap tracker that uses the official World Handicap System formula to calculate your Handicap Index after every round — no GHIN number, no annual fee, no club membership required.
Free forever · No credit card · Works on any device
How Short Grass calculates your Handicap Index
The same World Handicap System formula used by GHIN and golf associations worldwide — built directly into Short Grass.
Score Differential
Each round you post generates a Score Differential that accounts for the course's difficulty. Short Grass calculates this automatically when you enter your course rating and slope.
Best 8 of 20
From your most recent 20 rounds, Short Grass identifies your 8 best Score Differentials and averages them. Fewer rounds use a scaled-down count with WHS adjustments.
Handicap Index
The average is multiplied by 0.96 — the WHS "bonus for excellence" factor — then truncated to one decimal place. Your index updates automatically after every new round.
GHIN costs money. Spreadsheets are a hassle.
Getting an official USGA Handicap Index through GHIN requires joining an affiliated golf club and paying an annual fee — often $30–$50 or more. For casual golfers who just want to know their index, that's a barrier that shouldn't exist.
Spreadsheet calculators work, but they require manual data entry, don't update automatically, and can't travel with you to the course.
A free golf handicap calculator that lives in your pocket
Short Grass gives you a free Handicap Index using the exact same WHS formula as GHIN. Post a round, and your index recalculates instantly. No annual fee. No club membership. No spreadsheet.
- WHS-formula Handicap Index — identical math to GHIN
- Auto-recalculates after every posted round
- Score Differential log for all your rounds
- Course Handicap calculator built in
- Full index history chart
Everything in a free golf handicap tracker app
Built for golfers who want an accurate Handicap Index without paying for a GHIN membership or wrestling with spreadsheets.
WHS-Formula Calculation
Uses the official World Handicap System formula — best 8 of your last 20 score differentials, multiplied by 0.96 — so your index is always accurate.
Handicap Index History
See a full chart of how your Handicap Index has changed over time. Watch it drop as your game improves.
Score Differential Log
Every round automatically calculates your Score Differential using course rating and slope rating. No manual math required.
Course Handicap Calculator
Instantly see your Course Handicap for any tee box. Enter slope rating and your index — Short Grass does the rest.
Auto-Updates After Every Round
Post a score and your Handicap Index recalculates automatically. No waiting, no manual entry, no spreadsheets.
Compare With Playing Partners
See your handicap index alongside your group's. Know who gets strokes before you tee off.
What does your Handicap Index mean?
A Handicap Index reflects your potential playing ability. The lower the number, the better the golfer. The maximum Handicap Index under WHS rules is 54.0.
Scratch / Low handicap
Mid-low handicap
Mid handicap
High handicap / Beginner
The average male golfer has a Handicap Index of around 14–16. The average female golfer is around 27–28.
Golfers tracking their handicap with Short Grass
"I didn't want to pay for a GHIN membership just to get a handicap number. Short Grass gives me the same calculation for free and updates automatically after every round."
"The score differential log is exactly what I needed. I can see which rounds are pulling my index up and which ones are helping it drop. Really useful for understanding your game."
"I've used spreadsheets for years to track my handicap. Short Grass does the same math automatically and I can check my index from my phone on the first tee. Way easier."
Get your Handicap Index in 3 steps
No complicated setup. No annual fee. Just post your rounds and watch your index appear.
Create a free account
Sign up in seconds — no credit card, no GHIN number, no club membership required.
Post your first 3 rounds
Enter your score, course rating, and slope rating for each round. Short Grass calculates your Score Differential automatically.
Get your Handicap Index
After 3 rounds, your Handicap Index appears and updates automatically every time you post a new score.
Golf handicap calculator — common questions
Start tracking your Handicap Index — free.
No GHIN fee. No club membership. No spreadsheet. Just post your rounds and get an accurate Handicap Index using the official WHS formula.
Free forever · No credit card · Works on any device