NUMBER OF SCORES REQUIRED TO OBTAIN A HANDICAP INDEX
Players will now have their handicap index calculated after they have posted a minimum of three 18-hole scores (including 9-hole scores that have been combined).
TREATMENT OF NINE-HOLE SCORES
Nine-hole scores will be combined in the order that they are submitted and then used to produce an 18-hole Score Differential.
MAXIMUM HOLE SCORE FOR HANDICAP PURPOSES (NET DOUBLE BOGEY)
The maximum score for a hole that a player can take for handicap purposes will be limited to Net Double Bogey. This maximum will be double bogey plus any handicap strokes a player receives based on the Course Handicap.
The World Handicap System (WHS), went into effect on January 1, 2020, unifying the six handicap systems used around the world into a single system that enables golfers of different ability to play and compete on a fair and equitable basis, in any format, on any course, anywhere around the world.
CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL RULES OF HANDICAPPING
CLICK HERE FOR THE FULL USGA HANDICAP COMMITTEE GUIDE
See below for an outline of the major changes along with short videos on the World Handicap System.
INTRODUCTION TO THE WORLD HANDICAP SYSTEM
COURSE RATING & SLOPE RATING
The Course Rating System is the basis for the World Handicap System and is an indication of the difficulty of a golf course for the scratch player and the bogey player under normal playing conditions.
BASIS OF HANDICAP CALCULATION
A Handicap Index will be calculated by averaging a player’s 8 best Score Differentials out of their most recent 20.
LIMIT ON UPWARD MOVEMENT OF A HANDICAP INDEX
In order to limit the extreme upward movement of a player’s Handicap Index, a “Soft Cap” and “Hard Cap” will be included within the Handicap Index calculation. These caps will be in relation to the player’s “Low Handicap Index.”
EXCEPTIONAL SCORES REDUCTION
When a player submits a score that produces a Score Differential of 7.0 strokes or more below their Handicap Index, they will be subject to an Exceptional Score Reduction. This reduction will be either -1.0 or -2.0, depending on how far below the player’s Handicap Index the submitted Score Differential is and will be applied to the player’s most recent 20 scores. Scores submitted after the exceptional score will not contain the -1.0 or -2.0 adjustment (unless they are also exceptional), which will allow reduction to gradually work itself out of a scoring record.
PLAYING CONDITIONS CALCULATION
When abnormal course or weather conditions cause scored 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.
DAILY REVISIONS
A player’s Handicap Index will update daily, provided that the player submitted a score the day before. On days where the player does not submit a score, no update will take place.
MAXIMUM HANDICAP INDEX
The maximum Handicap Index will be 54.0 for all players, regardless of gender.
IMPORTANCE & DETERMINATION OF PAR
Par will have an important role within the World Handicap System, requiring par values to be more precise. Golf courses fall within the jurisdiction of the Authorized Golf Association, who has the final determinations of par based on the following guidelines:
COURSE HANDICAP CALCULATION & APPLICATION
A Course Handicap will represent the number of strokes a player receives in relation to the Par of the tees being played. The formula will include a Course Rating minus Par adjustment:
Course Handicap = Handicap Index x (Slope Rating ÷ 113) + (Course Rating – Par)
PLAYING HANDICAP CALCULATION & APPLICATION
The term “Playing Handicap” will be introduced within the Rules of Handicapping and will represent the number of strokes a player receives in a competition. The following formula will be used to determine a Playing Handicap:
Playing Handicap = Course Handicap x Handicap Allowances
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