World Handicap System - What You Need To Know
World Handicap System
The USGA and the R&A have made major changes to the fabric of our handicap system. Beginning in early 2020, Golf Canada and other world governing bodies implemented the new World Handicap System.
The World Handicap System includes the Rules of Handicapping and the Course Rating System. Its purpose is to make the game of golf enjoyable and to give as many golfers as possible the opportunity to obtain and maintain a Handicap Index, use their Handicap Index on any golf course around the world, and compete, or play a casual round, with anyone else on a fair and equal basis.
You can click HERE for details on the WHS and how it has come about. Also, below are the components of the WHS along with accompanying videos to help explain how it will work.
9 Things You Need to Know
1. Rules of Handicapping
Handicapping has been compressed into 7 rules that cover the fundamentals, determining appropriate scores to post, handicap computation and administration. This way the Rules of Handicapping simulates the Rules of Golf.
2. Handicap Factor is changing to Handicap Index
Long time ago Canada parted ways with the U.S. in using Handicap Factor instead of Index. But now we’re sort of going back home and WHS will use Handicap Index.
3. Your Handicap Index may change
Handicap Index will average your eight best scores out of your most recent 20 (currently, it’s 10 out of 20 with a .96 multiplier). In most cases for golfers in Canada, it will change less than one stroke and most likely downward.
4. You need to know your Course Handicap
Course Handicap will be the number of strokes needed to play to par. This will result in greater variance in that number and presents a change, as historically it has represented the number of strokes needed to play to the Course Rating. It is important that an accurate par be established for each hole on a golf course for both men and women. British Columbia Golf will be the final adjudicator of par.
5. Net Double Bogey
The maximum hole score (currently Equitable Stroke Control or ESC) for each player will be a Net Double Bogey. Net Double Bogey is Par + 2 + any handicap strokes the player receives.
6. Safeguards in the new system
The new system will limit extreme upward movement of a Handicap Index. WHS introduces two new concepts, Soft Cap and Hard Cap to take effect only once a player has at least 20
acceptable scores in their scoring record. There is no such cap on the amount by which a player’s Handicap Index can decrease. There will also be an automatic adjustment to the Handicap Index when an exceptional score of at least 7 strokes better is posted. The exceptional score reduction will be applied whether the score is a tournament or regular play.
7. Playing Conditions Calculation (PCC)
PCC determines whether playing conditions on the day differed from normal conditions to the extent that an adjustment is needed to compensate. It is a daily statistical procedure that compares the scores submitted by players on the day against expected scoring patterns. PCC accounts for abnormal course or weather conditions to ensure that scores reflect when a course plays significantly different than its established Course Rating and Slope Rating.
If a PCC adjustment is necessary, an adjustment of -1.0, 0.0, +1.0, +2.0 or +3.0 may be applied to score differentials for that day.
8. Maximum Handicap Index
The maximum Handicap Index that can be issued to a player is 54.0 (currently it is 36.4 for men and 40.4 for women). But the Committee in charge of a competition may set a maximum limit for entry into a competition.
9. Stroke Index Allocation
There is a new procedure to calculate the order of holes at which handicap strokes are to be given or received. Stroke index allocation are to be applied over 18-holes, split into six triads with each hole ranked on its playing difficulty relative to par. The difficulty of each hole can be determined objectively using hole-by-hole data provided from the Course Rating.
In the past, Course Rating has had no bearing on stroke index allocation.
1. Basis of Calculation of Handicap Index
2. Frequency of Revisions
3. Handicap Formula
4. Course Handicap Calculation
5. Playing Handicap
6. Net Double Bogey
7. Maximum Handicap Index
8. Minimum Scores to Obtain a Handicap Index
9. Acceptable Scores
10. Treatment of Nine-Hole Scores
11. Playing Conditions Calculation
12. Exceptional Score Reduction
13. Handicap Index Caps
14. Handicap Review
15. Course Rating System
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1. Basis of Calculation of Handicap Index
The 8 best of most recent 20 score differentials, which includes a Playing Conditions Calculation to account for any abnormal course or weather conditions.
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2. Frequency of Revisions
A player’s Handicap Index will update daily, provided the player submitted a score the day before. Otherwise, no update will take place.
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3. Handicap Formula
A general overview of the philosophy of and elements contributing to the Handicap Formula.
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4. Course Handicap Calculation
Determining the number of strokes a player receives in relation the Par of the tees being played, including a Course Rating minus Par element. This is the number that is used to determine the maximum holes score for handicap purposes.
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5. Playing Handicap
The handicap used that maximizes equity when competing by applying a handicap allowance for a specific format.
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6. Net Double Bogey
The maximum hole score for handicap purposes. This maximum is double bogey plus any handicap strokes a player receives based on their Course Handicap.
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7. Maximum Handicap Index
The maximum Handicap Index for all golfers is 54.0, regardless of gender.
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8. Minimum Scores to Obtain a Handicap Index
The minimum is 54 holes worth of scores, most often via three 18-hole scores (including nine-hole scores that are combined into 18-hole scores).
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9. Acceptable Scores
Determining which scores are acceptable for handicap purposes, focusing on playing by the Rules of Golf and playing one’s own ball.
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10. Treatment of Nine-Hole Scores
Nine-holes scores are combined in the order that they are submitted and then used to produce an 18-hole Score Differential.
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11. Playing Conditions Calculation
When abnormal course or weather conditions cause scores to be unusually high or low on a given day, a “Playing Conditions Calculation” will adjust Score Differentials to better reflect a player’s actual performance.
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12. Exceptional Score Reduction
A score that produces a Score Differential of 7.0 strokes or more below the Handicap Index will result in an Exceptional Score Reduction that changes the Handicap Index. This reduction is in addition to the normal 8 of 20 calculation and depends on how much better the Score Differential is in comparison to the Handicap Index used during the round.
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13. Handicap Index Caps
A Soft Cap and Hard Cap will be included in the calculation to limit the extreme upward movement of a Handicap Index within a 12-month period. These caps are in relation to the player’s “Low Handicap Index.”
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14. Handicap Review
An audit-like procedure by a Handicap Committee reviewing the Handicap Index of member(s) of a club to assure that the Handicap Index is reflective of demonstrated ability and scoring potential.
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15. Course Rating System
The basis for the World Handicap System. It is also an indication of the difficulty of a golf course for the scratch player under normal course and weather conditions.