Millions of golfers keep a registered handicap so they can track their progress, enter tournaments, compete with friends, etc. If you count yourself among those millions, you have no doubt noticed that the World Handicap System was introduced on January 1st, 2020.
This new system has a lot in common with the old systems, but it unifies the previous six handicap systems used around the world into one single standard.
In this article, we’d like to clarify a few key points related to the new system.
Bringing All the Handicap Systems Together
For starters, one of the main motivations for the development of the World Handicap System is to bring everyone together on the same page. Previously, there were six systems in use around the globe, so players traveling to different places would have to make adjustments to properly compare their handicap to those of local players.
That is now a problem of the past. All golfers will be using the same system, with the same calculations, so a handicap kept in the U.S. will apply just the same anywhere else you happen to golf. Given the global nature of the game, this is an important and welcome development.
Will My Handicap Change Under the New System?
If you have checked your handicap index after the first revision of the new year, you may have noticed that your number probably went down a little bit (although not in all cases). This is because your handicap is now being calculated based on the best 8 of your last 20 scores, rather than the best 10. So, essentially, scores 9 and 10 are no longer being used, meaning most players will see their index fall just a bit.
We should point out that a handicap index is not simply a reflection of your average scores, or your average level of ability. Rather, it is meant to reflect how well you play on your good days.
Previously, those ‘good days’ were calculated at the best half of your last 20 scores. Now, it’s only 8 out of 20, meaning your index is even more reflective of your potential as a player.
The Addition of Playing Conditions to Handicap Calculations
Previous to 2020, handicap calculations were limited to three basic inputs – the score you shoot, the course rating, and the course slope. That was it. Now, however, the World Handicap System adds a Playing Conditions Calculation, which attempts to correct for the conditions that you encountered on a day.
This mechanism will use the scores posted by other golfers on the same course and the same day to adjust your handicap index for that round.
Let’s make this clearer with an example:
Imagine you play your local course on a windy day. With heavy winds blowing across the course, it is obviously going to play much more difficult than the rating and slope on the card indicate. If at least eight golfers post scores that day, the Playing Conditions Calculation system will evaluate those scores and determine if an adjustment is needed.
In the case of a windy day, it’s likely that the scores will be higher than usual, so the system may adjust score differentials accordingly. This is an exciting addition to the system and one which should make score posting more accurate in the long run.
Staying Up to Date
Another improvement to the handicap system with this update is the frequency with which indexes will be updated. Previously, as you may know, indexes were only updated twice per month.
This was an effective system back when scores had to be batched on local computers and were transmitted twice monthly for the update. With the advances in technology in recent years, this system is no longer necessary, and indexes can now be updated much more frequently.
So, with the World Handicap System now in effect, your index will be updated every night after you play a round. If you post a score on a given day, your handicap will update that night.
This daily system will allow the handicap that each player carries to more accurately reflect his or her current level of play.
Other Adjustments to the World Handicap System
The points we have covered so far are the main keys that the average golfer will notice now that the new system is in place. There are a few other points worth mentioning, however, including those listed below –
1. The Maximum Handicap Has Been Raised
Previously, the highest possible handicap index under the old system was 36.4 for men and 40.4 for women. That limit has been raised and is now set at 54.0 for all players.
The benefit here is to provide motivation for new golfers to stick with it and see their handicap fall gradually as they improve their skills.
2. There’s a New Maximum Hole Score
On any given hole, the maximum score a player can record for handicap purposes is a net double bogey. This limit helps to prevent a single hole from influencing a posted score too dramatically.
3. Limiting Upward Movement
While most golfers are honorable and don’t aim to cheat the handicapping system, some players attempt to pad their index prior to a competition to gain an advantage. This will be harder to do under the new system, as there will be a soft and hard cap in place to limit how much an index can climb.
The lowest index on your record for the past 12 months will be the baseline for these caps. The soft cap involves a reduction in your index if it climbs more than three strokes, while the hard cap establishes a limit of upward movement of 5 strokes at any point within the 12-month period.
Clearing Up the Confusion
We hope this quick look at the World Handicap System has cleared up some of your confusion. In the end, the idea is still the same – your handicap exists as a way to help you compete fairly against other golfers of varying skill levels.
Regardless of the details of the system, shooting low scores is still the name of the game. So, get out there and have fun!
