Virginia Golfer Nov / Dec 2019 | Page 9

Around The Commonwealth
Highlights of the
World Handicap System
These are some of the key features of the new
system, supporting enjoyment of the game
for golfers everywhere.
Player Submits Score –
Immediately allowing for
real-time updates
Under the new system,
golfers can simply play
and enjoy their round –
just the same as always
Playing Handicap –
Calculate handicap
to play chosen format
Abnormal Course and
Weather Conditions
Adjustment –
Measurement of
performance in
all conditions
Course Rating
and Slope Rating –
Worldwide consistency
and portability
Minimal Number of
Scores to Obtain a
Handicap – Inclusive
and accessible
Acceptable Scores for
Handicap Purposes –
Modern and adaptable,
providing plenty
of evidence of a
player's potential ability
Maximum Hole Score
of Net Double Bogey
– Handicap controls
aimed at fairness and
equity for all golfers
+ two strokes + any handicap strokes you
would receive on a hole. For example, a
golfer with a Course Handicap of 15 receives
one stroke on the first 15 allocated stroke
holes. On a par-4 hole with a stroke index
of 11, the golfer’s net double bogey is calcu-
lated as 4 + 2 + 1 = 7. 7 A new golfer can obtain a Handicap
Index after just three 18-hole scores. It
currently takes a minimum of five scores
for a golfer to obtain a Handicap Index.
In the WHS, that number will become
three allowing a new golfer to obtain a
Handicap Index more quickly.
6 The maximum Handicap Index for
both men and women is 54.0. A higher
maximum Handicap Index makes the
system more inclusive and accessible for
all types of golfers and will allow high
handicap players the ability to better
track their progress. 8 An exceptional score can lower your
Handicap Index. In the USGA Handicap
System, a golfer can see their Handi-
cap Index reduced if they have outper-
formed their Handicap Index by 3.0 or
more strokes in at least two tournament
rounds. In the new system, a player’s
Handicap Index is reduced when a score
“Golf is a global sport, with a single set of
playing Rules, a single set of equipment Rules
and a single set of Rules of Amateur Status. The
World Handicap System will bring together the
six different handicap systems currently in use
by golfers around the world.”
vsga.org
Basis of Handicap
Calculation – More
responsive to good
scores that better
represent a player’s
potential ability
differential is at least 7.0 strokes below
their Handicap Index at the time the
© 2018 R&A Rules Limited and the United States Golf Association. All rights reserved
round was played. This applies to all score
types, not just tournament scores.
9 Caps will limit the upward movement
of your Handicap Index. In our current
system, there is no restriction on how much
a Handicap Index can increase. The WHS
will implement two types of capping mech-
anisms, a soft cap and hard cap, to ensure a
slump does not cause a golfer’s Handicap
Index to increase to a level inconsistent
with their demonstrated ability.
10 Your golf course will not need to be
re-rated. The USGA Course Rating System
will become the Course Rating System and
will be implemented around the world.
Despite a new name, the system is largely
the same one we have been using domesti-
cally for nearly 50 years.
Check out VSGA.org for more information
and resources concerning the World
Handicap System. Michael Walder is the
VSGA’s Director of Handicapping.
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