WHS Part 3 of 3

For multi-round golf events such as a club championship, will I use my initial handicap index for each round?

The WHS recommends that the handicap index at the start of the competition is used for each round of the event. However, this must be stated in the terms of the competition, and your committee will have the final say.

Will all golf courses in Great Britain & Ireland have their slope and course ratings completed in time?

Scottish Golf have completed theirs, but England Golf expect to have rated “between 70 – 75 per cent” of courses by November 2020. The remaining courses will assigned a provisional rating in the short term and rated in 2021.

Will there still be exceptional scoring reductions (ESR)?

Yes, but only if a player submits a score that produces a score differential that is seven strokes or more below their handicap index.

- If the score is 7.0 – 9.9 strokes better: A -1.0 handicap adjustment will be applied,

- If the score is 10.0 or more better: A -2.0 handicap adjustment will be applied.

Can I use my handicap abroad?

Yes, your handicap index will be converted to a course handicap for the course (and tees) you are using on the day. If pre-registered these scores can be returned to your home club for handicap purposes.

How much is my handicap likely to increase or decrease under the World Handicap System?

There is no limit by which a player’s handicap index can decrease – but a soft cap will “suppress” any increase when the difference between a player’s newly-calculated handicap index and the lowest handicap index in the last 12-month period is greater than three.

This will work by reducing the value of any increase over 3.0 by 50%, so a player’s handicap index will better reflect their underlying ability, rather than a bad run of form. As a safeguard, a hard cap will then limit any “extreme upward movements” to five strokes.

Noel Mack Handicap Committee