UPDATE The World Handicap System has begun. All golfers have been given a W.H.S. Handicap Index which became effective on Monday, 2nd November 2020. More details can be found by registering with England Golf via “members.whsplatform.englandgolf.org/signup” you will need to input your CDH number, which can be found on HowDiDIDo in the user profile (adjacent to “Q”) or via the Touch screen in the Clubhouse. Once registered you will have access to a range of functions including Handicap Index, handicap record and graphics showing the best eight scores from 20. Is the new golf handicap system mandatory? Yes. In Great Britain and Ireland, the previous handicapping system, which was maintained by CONGU, has been replaced by one single global system. It is designed so golfers will be able to maintain a handicap index and use this to compete on a fair and equal basis across any format, on any course around the world. How has my new handicap been calculated? Start with your handicap index. This forms the basis for your Course and Playing handicap. Every score in a player’s handicap record will be converted to a score differential by multiplying the difference between your Adjusted Gross Score and the Course Rating by 113 and dividing by the Slope Rating of the tees that were played. That figure then goes forward into a pool of the player’s most recent scores. The best eight are then selected and a simple average is taken to calculate every golfer’s handicap index. The World Handicap System will do all these calculations. Will my handicap change much with the new system? While testing the new system, England Golf found that the handicap index of most players was within one stroke of their existing CONGU handicap. What’s the difference between “Course Handicap” and “Playing Handicap”? Slope Rating and Course Rating are used to determine your Course Handicap, which represents the number of strokes a player receives from any given set of tees prior to the terms of the competition. If a handicap allowance is applied, the adjusted Course Handicap is defined as a Playing Handicap, which represents the number of strokes a player gives or receives for the competition. How can I find my Course Handicap, and can I do the calculation? Slope Rating tables are posted at the Pro Shop and having determined which tees you are using, alongside your Handicap Index you will find your Course Handicap. You can do it manually by multiplying your handicap index by the slope rating of the tees being played divided by the “neutral” slope index of 113. What if you are new to golf? How do you obtain a Handicap Index? By submitting scores of 3 x 18 holes, 6 x 9 holes, or a combination of both. Once scorecards totalling 54 holes or more have been submitted, an initial Handicap Index will be awarded. Subsequent handicap index values will be based on an adjusted average relative to the number of scores that have been submitted. This will continue until a fully-developed handicap with 20 scores on record is achieved. Noel Mack, Handicap Committee. |