What is a Score Differential?

Q: What is a Score Differential?

A Score Differential measures how well you played relative to the difficulty of the course that day, so a round on a hard course can be worth more than a lower score on an easy one. Score Differential = (113 ÷ Slope Rating) × (Adjusted Gross Score − Course Rating − PCC adjustment) Adjusted Gross Score: your gross score with each hole capped at net double bogey (par + 5 per hole if you don't yet have a Handicap Index). Course Rating and Slope Rating: the ratings for the tees you played, shown on the scorecard. PCC adjustment: the day's playing conditions calculation (usually 0). Example: you return an adjusted gross score of 90 from tees with Course Rating 70.0 and Slope 125, and the PCC is 0: (113 ÷ 125) × (90 − 70.0 − 0) = 0.904 × 20 = 18.1 Each acceptable score adds one Score Differential to your record. Your Handicap Index is the average of your best 8 of your most recent 20. A 9-hole score is converted to an 18-hole Score Differential by adding your expected 9-hole Score Differential.

Question

Accepted Answer

A Score Differential measures how well you played relative to the difficulty of the course that day, so a round on a hard course can be worth more than a lower score on an easy one.

Score Differential = (113 ÷ Slope Rating) × (Adjusted Gross Score − Course Rating − PCC adjustment)

Adjusted Gross Score: your gross score with each hole capped at net double bogey (par + 5 per hole if you don't yet have a Handicap Index).
Course Rating and Slope Rating: the ratings for the tees you played, shown on the scorecard.
PCC adjustment: the day's playing conditions calculation (usually 0).

Example: you return an adjusted gross score of 90 from tees with Course Rating 70.0 and Slope 125, and the PCC is 0:

(113 ÷ 125) × (90 − 70.0 − 0) = 0.904 × 20 = 18.1

Each acceptable score adds one Score Differential to your record. Your Handicap Index is the average of your best 8 of your most recent 20.

A 9-hole score is converted to an 18-hole Score Differential by adding your expected 9-hole Score Differential.