{"id":50,"date":"2022-12-19T13:39:11","date_gmt":"2022-12-19T13:39:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vip.teeitup.com\/00061483\/?page_id=50"},"modified":"2022-12-21T21:59:59","modified_gmt":"2022-12-21T21:59:59","slug":"world-handicap-system","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/vip.teeitup.com\/00061483\/world-handicap-system\/","title":{"rendered":"World Handicap System"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

INTRODUCTION TO THE WORLD HANDICAP SYSTEM (WHS)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The new Golf Handicapping system, WHS, is due to commence in England on 2nd November 2020. The aim is to make the handicap system much more inclusive and accessible to all golfers and will incorporate the existing Rules of Handicapping as well as the Course Rating System.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In line with\u00a0England Golf<\/a>, we are now starting our programme of communication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why has the new world handicap system been created?
How does the world handicap system work?
Course and Slope Rating
Handicap Index
Course Handicap
Playing Handicap
General Play<\/p>\n\n\n\n

WHY HAS THE NEW WORLD HANDICAP SYSTEM BEEN CREATED?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"why<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

HOW DOES THE WORLD HANDICAP SYSTEM WORK?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\"golfers<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

COURSE AND SLOPE RATING<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Click here to watch the England Golf Video<\/a>\u00a0which explains the course and slope rating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Course Rating<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The Golf Course Rating measures the playing difficulty of a golf course, in perfect conditions in mid-summer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

First, it measures how many strokes a scratch golfer (handicap 0) should take on a given course. The rating does this by assessing two main types of challenges:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Playing length of the course, measured hole by hole which due to features such as dog legs, ponds etc is different from the measured length of a hole.
Obstacles that a player will encounter, for examples, trees, slopes, rough, etc.
Second, it measures how many strokes a \u201cbogey\u201d golfer, a player with handicap 18 \u2013 24, will take to play the course. By definition, they don\u2019t hit the ball as far as a scratch golfer and so will have a different experience playing the course and encounter different obstacles resulting in a different number of strokes being taken.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Knowing how many strokes a scratch and a bogey golfer will take to play the course gives 2 reference points and enables the slope to be determined.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Slope Rating<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The slope rating is a key component in calculating the number of strokes each player receives to play a particular golf course, it allows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A player\u2019s Handicap Index to be portable from course to course and country to country.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Acceptable scores from any rated golf course in the world to be submitted on a consistent basis for handicap purposes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The slope index has an average value of 113, determined when first calculated in the US this has become the accepted average slope value for the WHS system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This means 113 is the slope value at which players play from their handicap index with no slope rating adjustment required. Slope rating values can vary from a low of 55 to a high of 155.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A higher slope rating than 113 means more additional strokes will be needed to play a course. A lower slope rating means fewer strokes will be required.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, the course handicap for a player is determined by the course rating adjusted by the slope rating for their handicap index.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

HANDICAP INDEX<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Click here to watch the England Golf Video<\/a>\u00a0which explains the Handicap Index.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In our introduction to the new Worldwide Handicapping System (WHS) we now cover arguably the most important topic, Handicap Index.
A player\u2019s Handicap Index is a measure of their playing ability which is portable to golf courses around England \/ the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is a Handicap Index?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Handicap Index:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Measures the ability of a player
Is portable from course to course
Enables players to compete fairly and therefore promotes inclusivity within the game
It is calculated from the best 8 scores from the last 20 rounds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a new score is submitted, a player\u2019s Handicap Index will automatically update to use the 20 most recent scores. It will update overnight after the submission of an acceptable score and should be ready before you next play.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to obtain a Handicap Index?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When the new system comes into play in England most golfers will have a Handicap Index automatically generated based on their existing records.
If fewer than 20 scores are available to calculate a Handicap Index, a sliding scale is used.
For new golfers to gain their Handicap Index, they will have to submit a minimum of 54 holes (using any combination of 9 and 18 holes).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Initially, their Handicap Index will be the lowest of the three rounds minus two strokes, this will continue to be built until the 20 scores are achieved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Handicap Index safeguards<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

To stabilise or safeguard your Handicap Index some controls have been built-in.
A Soft Cap and Hard Cap limit any extreme upward movement of a player\u2019s Handicap Index within a 365-day period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Restricting the extreme upward movement of a Handicap Index to no more than 5 shots above the low point will ensure that a player\u2019s temporary loss of form does not cause the Handicap Index to move too far away from their actual ability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Caps only start to take effect once a player has 20 acceptable scores in their record.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

COURSE HANDICAP<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

After Handicap Index, the next step in the World Handicapping System is Course Handicap, watch this\u00a0England Golf video<\/a>\u00a0for a quick summary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"easy<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

What is a Course Handicap?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Course Handicap will determine the number of strokes a player will receive when playing from any set of tees on a given course.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before a player starts their round, they must convert their Handicap Index into a Course Handicap.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to work out a Course Handicap?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Course Handicap calculation is:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Course Handicap (rounded) = Handicap Index x (Slope Rating \/ 113)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

But don\u2019t let this calculation concern you because working out a Course Handicap has been made simple.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Coming Soon)<\/strong> England Golf will be providing Course & Slope Rating tables ahead of the new System launching in November. We will then make these tables available for reference once WHS starts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Golfers simply have to choose the tees they are playing off that day, look at the relevant Course & Slope Rating table and cross-reference their Handicap Index to ascertain the Course Handicap. It really is as simple as that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If playing a competition, you will need to determine your Playing Handicap allowance, for example, 95% for singles stroke play. This allowance converts your Course handicap to a competition Playing handicap. This topic will be covered in the next document.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

PLAYING HANDICAP<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

What is Playing Handicap?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Playing Handicap is the stroke allowance that a player will receive when playing in a competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is important as it allows golfers to compete on a level playing field that should promote enjoyment and inclusivity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n