Why was the new World Handicap System (WHS) introduced?
The new World Handicap System was introduced by The R&A and USGA to unite the six handicapping authorities and create a system that is fair, equitable and portable anywhere in the world. It is designed to provide a true reflection of a player’s current playing ability.
How does it differ from the old CONGU system?
The main difference between the new WHS and CONGU is that CONGU was an incremental system, where a player’s handicap was adjusted based on the last returned score.
As previously mentioned, to make things fairer, the new system is designed to reflect a player’s overall ability rather than simply their last performance. A player’s Handicap Index is instead measured using an average of the best 8 from their last 20 scores.
What are the most important aspects of the WHS for golfers to know about?
One of the most important things for golfers to understand with the WHS is how to turn their
Handicap Index into a Course Handicap for the venue they are playing at. This should become second nature and can be easily done either at the venue prior to their round or using the new MyEG app.
How is a golfers Handicap Index calculated?
Golfers should consider this the most important aspect of the WHS. It is calculated from the best eight scores from a player’s last 20 rounds.
As a new score is submitted, a player’s Handicap Index will automatically update at the end of the day’s play to the most recent 20 scores and will be ready to use the following day. A maximum possible Handicap Index is 54.
When arriving at the golf club, what do golfers need to do to work out their Course Handicap?
When arriving at the golf club, a player must convert their Handicap Index into a Course Handicap before every round. All they need to do is choose the tees they are playing off and cross reference their Handicap Index on the Course & Slope Rating table to find their Course Handicap.
England Golf have provided Course & Slope Rating tables to all golf clubs to display in their clubhouses or in a simple location, such as on the first tee, for golfers to find.
What formats of play can be submitted with the WHS?
All pre-registered general play ‘social’ scores and all individual competition rounds, both 9 and 18 holes, whether home or away, can be submitted for handicap purposes.
Scores submitted from fourball better ball formats or other matchplay events are
not accepted.
Each round submitted needs to be played in accordance with The Rules of Golf, in an authorised format, over a minimum number of 10 holes, with at lease one other person, and on a course with a current Course Rating and Slope Rating.
Does every round have to be submitted for WHS purposes and how quickly will a golfers Handicap Index update?
Not every round has to be submitted, but all singles competitions must be returned and if golfers want to return a card from a social round (general play), then it must be pre-registered prior to the round. This has been designed to stop players only returning their best scores.
A player’s Handicap Index will update at the end of each day, ready to be used the following day.
Do golfers need to be associated to a golf club in order to attain an official WHS Handicap Index?
Originally when launched in November, the WHS was designed so that only golfers who were members of a golf club could attain an official Handicap Index.
However, England Golf are now working on plans to offer golfers not associated with a golf club the opportunity to acquire a Handicap Index later in the year. We hope to create a national platform that will connect independent golfers. More news on this will be released later in the year.
Will golfers be able to follow their progress through the new MyEG app? And what features are available through the app?
The MyEG app is designed to allow golfers to stay up-to-date with their Handicap Index as part of the WHS. The app provides golfers with the ability to access their Handicap Index on the go, as well as to easily keep track of their overall playing record on a regular basis.
You can register an account on the app using your existing Membership ID (previously known as your CDH ID) and your club should be able to provide you with this ID number.
Features in the app include: allowing golfers to access their Handicap Index on the go, keeping track of their overall playing record, calculating their Course Handicap at any given English course on any set of tees, as well as building and follow friends in a network.
The app can be downloaded from the England Golf website or Android Play Store / Apple App Store.
Where can golfers find out more about the WHS?
For more information about the WHS, golfers can visit englandgolf.org/whs or follow England Golf on social:
Facebook – @EnglandGolf
Twitter – @EnglandGolf
Instagram – @england.golf
