World Handicap System: Key Changes
The Rules of Handicapping Key Changes
| Designating a Home Club | New Rule helps with integrity of WHS ensuring one Handicap Index for each golfer. For multi-members, all clubs will be permitted to provide oversight (edit scores, etc.). Where any disagreements or conflict arise, the player’s Home Club will have final authority on the matter (and its AGA). |
| Minimum Number of Holes Played for a Score to be Acceptable |
a. For a 9-hole Score Minimum of 7 holes for WHS b. For an 18-hole Score Minimum of 14 holes for WHS (changed from minimum of 13 holes today) |
| Information Required for Scoring Record | New Rule recommends 3 initial scores to be posted hole-by-hole |
| Calculation of a Handicap Index | Calculation is based on the best 8 of a player's most recent 20 score differentials. |
| Maximum Handicap Index | 54.0 for both genders |
| Frequency of Revision of a Handicap Index | Daily |
| Playing Conditions Calculation | The statistical calculation that determines if conditions on a day of play differed from normal playing conditions to the extent that they significantly impacted players’ performance. |
| Low Handicap Index | The new Rule is designed to provide more insight into a golfer’s demonstrated ability over time and is required to support the limit on upward movement of a Handicap Index. This will present a change to golfers. |
| Limit on Upward Movement of a Handicap Index |
The new Rule limits upward movement of a Handicap Index when movement is more than 3 strokes above the player’s lowest index within the trailing 12 months. In addition to this, a player’s Handicap Index will be prevented from rising more than 5 strokes above the player’s lowest Handicap Index in the trailing 12 months. This will present a change to golfers. (i) The soft cap. The soft cap is triggered when the difference between a player’s newly calculated Handicap Index and their Low Handicap Index is greater than 3 strokes. When a calculated Handicap Index increase is greater than 3 strokes, the value above 3 strokes is restricted to 50% of the increase. (ii) The hard cap. The hard cap triggers to restrict the amount by which a player’s Handicap Index can increase, after application of the soft cap, to no more than 5.0 strokes above their Low Handicap Index. |
| Course Handicap Calculation |
Course Handicap = Handicap Index × (Slope Rating ÷ 113) + (Course Rating – Par) Playing Handicap = Course Handicap x handicap allowance |
| Submission of an Exceptional Score (ESR) |
When a score differential is 7.0 strokes below a player’s Handicap Index at the time the round was played, an Exceptional Score Reduction will take place.
This rule will consider all scores, not just tournament scores, and essentially replace Section 10-3 of “The USGA Handicap System.” |
| Net Double Bogey | A score equal to the par of a hole plus two strokes and adjusted for any handicap stroke applied on that hole. A net double bogey is a player’s maximum hole score for handicap purposes. |