Every golfer is obsessed with bringing down their handicap… but what is it? Simply put, it’s a system which allows you to play any other player, regardless of their ability, on a level playing field. The better the player, the lower the handicap.
While there is an element of vanity in a golfer’s handicap (including bragging rights at the 19th hole), it’s important to remember that the main reason for the handicap system is to ensure equality and inclusion in the game. And a recent, major overhaul of the handicap system has led to fewer barriers to the game, more equality and inclusion and a simpler system to understand.
The World Handicap System
On the 2nd November 2020, a major change to the way golfers’ handicaps are assessed was introduced. The World Handicap System™ (from now on we’ll call it the WHS) is a global handicap system. Now, whichever country you play golf in, your handicap is portable. Before this, six different systems were operating across different countries, which wasn’t ideal for many reasons.
Here we’ll talk you through the handicap basics, based on the new system.
The basics
To understand the WHS handicap system, you need to understand par and what a scratch player is, along with course ratings, bogey ratings and slope ratings. These numbers are used to calculate your Handicap Index (your overall handicap), along with your Course/Playing Handicap (the handicap you will play off on a course which is not your home club).
What is Par?
A par rating is the number of shots a scratch golfer is expected to make on a particular course. The most common par for an 18-hole course is 72, and most holes have a par rating of 3, 4 or 5.
What is a Scratch Player?
A scratch player plays off a handicap of 0, which means they can complete a course in the expected number of shots. So on a 72-par course, they’d be expected to complete it in 72 shots.
What is a Bogey Rating?
The term bogey means one stroke (shot) over par (the number of shots a scratch player would be expected to make), so if you played a par 4 hole in 5 shots, it’s a bogey. A bogey rating measures the playing difficulty of a course when played by a Bogey Golfer (a player who has a Course Handicap of approximately 20 for a male and 24 for a female).
What is a Course Rating?
This measures the playing difficulty of a golf course based on an expected scratch player’s performance. This is important because some courses are notoriously tricky to get a good score on, while others aren’t. This number is rated by qualified teams using consistent measures worldwide, who consider the course’s unique challenges and obstacles to give a course rating and slope rating for each individual golf course.
The WHS uses the Course Rating and the Bogey Rating to assess the difficulty of each individual course, based on ability.
What’s a Slope Rating?
A Slope Rating is gender-specific and tells you the relative playing difficulty of a course played by Bogey Golfers (good players) compared to Scratch Golfers (excellent players).
WHS has a helpful video on the difference between course rating and slope rating, along with one on what the net double bogey is.
How do I get my Handicap Index?
Your Handicap Index can be calculated at your nominated home course (as long as it is affiliated with a Golf Union). WHS will take the average of the best 8 of your 20 most recent scores to assign your Handicap Index (these need to be witnessed shots with the scorecard signed by both players).
You’ll need to return a scorecard totalling 54 holes to your Handicap Committee (this can be made up of 3 x 18 holes, 6 x 9 holes or a combination of both). The WHS will assign you a Handicap Index based on recent performance, and from there you can calculate an individual Course Handicap for each course you play.
How do I get my Course Handicap?
To work out your Course Handicap you can either use an download an online calculator as an app via this page or use this formula: Handicap Index x (slope rating ÷ 113) = Course Handicap.
Why 113? Because it’s the average slope rating. A slope rating ranges from 55 (which is really easy), through to 155 (which is very difficult).
What is different about the WHS rules?
The biggest difference between WHS and previous systems is that you will no longer play off a fixed handicap on every course you play on. Instead, you will have a handicap index that relates to the difficulty of the course you’re playing. So, you may have a handicap of 9 at your home club, but you could find yourself playing off a 10 handicap on another course.
Now, you will have a portable Handicap Index to use globally, and also a Course (or Playing) Handicap that’s based on the difficulty of the course you are playing.
Previously, only scores from official competitions were allowed to be used to calculate handicap, but you can now submit scores from social rounds, too.
Also, in official competitions, the maximum handicap a man was allowed to play off was 28, and for ladies it was 36. But the new World Handicap System (see below) allows all golfers to play off a maximum of 54.
What handicap do I need to be a pro?
You don’t need to be a scratch golfer to be a PGA pro! You just need a handicap of 4.4 or better if you’re male, or 6.4 or better if you’re female. The average handicap for a male is 14.2, so if you’re coming in under that you’re doing very well indeed.
Where can I find out more about WHS?
England Golf has published and is constantly updating a complete guide to WHS rules. You should also be able to access a copy in your local golf club.
If you want to learn more, here’s everything you need to know about calculating your handicap with the WHS from England iGolf.
All scores can be registered via the My England Golf App, and there is a full set of WHS FAQs on the England Golf website.
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