The way that handicaps for golfers around the world are calculated has been transformed by a new system developed by The R&A and the USGA. A number of countries round the world started using the new system on 1st January 2020 and it will come into force in Great Britain and Ireland on 2nd November 2020.
Features of the World Handicap System (WHS) include:
- A consistent handicap that is portable from course to course and country to country through worldwide use of a modified version of the Course and Slope Rating System that has bee used in the USA and much of Europe for many years. You can view our slope rating table here
- An average-based calculation of a handicap, taken from the best eight out of the last 20 scores as shown in the 1st picture on the right, but with a safety mechanism to ensure that a player’s handicap cannot increase by more than 5 shots during a 12 month period.
- A calculation that considers the impact that abnormal course and weather conditions might have on a player’s performance each day.
- Handicap revisions processed on the day of playing, even if the competition results have not been processed.
- A limit of Net Double Bogey on the maximum score for a hole (for handicapping purposes only)
- A maximum handicap limit of 54, regardless of gender
Anyone wanting more understanding of the system can follow the link to England Golf here or read the FAQs document below
**NEW** – You can view the player’s reference guide here