Welcome to the World Handicap System (WHS)
NEW WORLD HANDICAP SYSTEM - INTRODUCTION
Course Rating Explained
Video Explaining How the Course Rating is Calculated
Slope Rating Explained
Slope Rating at Stock Brook
Handicap Index
Show Video
WHS - COURSE HANDICAP
What is Course Handicap?
A Course Handicap will determine the number of strokes a player will receive when playing from any set of tees on a given course.
Before any player starts their round they must convert their Handicap Index (based on average of best 8 from last 20 qualifying scores) into a Course Handicap …
The calculation for doing this is:
Handicap Index x (Slope Rating / 113) = Course Handicap
However, ALL clubs will be providing look up tables to convert your Handicap Index into the Course Handicap – at Stock Brook, we are in the process of arranging this now
The COURSE HANDICAP TABLES will cover the combinations of Stock/Brook, Stock/Manor, Brook/Manor and Manor/Manor
The examples of COURSE HANDICAP TABLES shown here cover Stock/Brook off the White, Yellow and Red tees. You will see that (Men) if you have a Handicap Index of 20.0 you will play off 22 when playing off the Whites and 21 when playing off the Yellows.
Here is a short video to explain this further:
WHS - PLAYING HANDICAP
The final piece of the jigsaw is the PLAYING HANDICAP – which is for COMPETITIONS ONLY – and you will be advised of this prior to any competition you play in – and is dependent on the format of play.
It is calculated by taking your COURSE HANDICAP (which we looked at last week) and multiplying it by a HANDICAP ALLOWANCE which the Committee will advise prior to the competition.
For example – an Individual Stableford Competition may have a (recommended) HANDICAP ALLOWANCE of 95% which will be applied to your COURSE HANDICAP to give you your PLAYING HANDICAP for that day/competition/course.
So, if your COURSE HANDICAP = 22 then your PLAYING HANDICAP for that competition would be 21 (20.9 rounded) ….. 22 x 95% = 21 (20.9 rounded)
Here is a link to a video which explains:Show Video
WHS QUICK GUIDE
Click below to view the WHS Quick Guide
WHS – Submitting & Verifying Scores and Miscellaneous Matters
This is the final part of the information on WHS and covers when to submit scores to count towards your Handicap Index and other miscellaneous matters
How to submit a score?
After the completion of a competition round, a player has to submit their scorecard as soon as possible in order for their Handicap Index to be updated. Preferably, scores should be posted at the venue being played and on the same day, as this will be when a player’s Handicap Index will be updated
How to verify a score?
In order to verify a score and for it to count towards a player’s WHS Handicap Index, some basic rules should be followed:
- Play in accordance with The Rules of Golf
- Use an authorised format of play
- Play nine holes to post a 9-hole score (all 9 must be played)
- Play at least 10 holes to post an 18-hole score – If 10-13 holes are played the score of the remaining holes will be net par +1 on first unplayed hole and then net par on the remainder of the unplayed holes and if 14 or more holes have been completed then net par will be the allocated score for all the unplayed holes
- Play with at least one other person
- Play on a course with a current Course Rating and Slope Rating
Which Scores should be included?
All singles competition rounds must be included but not better ball or foursomes or matchplay. For a score from general play or a social game to be included – that round must be pre-registered (this can be done via the HowDidiDo App)
High Scores on Individual Holes
If, on an individual hole, a high score is made, e.g. a 10, then net double bogey will be used for the handicap calculation.
For example – a player with an 18 as course handicap plays a par 5. Par is 5 so for him net par is 6 (allowing 1 for his handicap) so net bogey for him is 7 and net double bogey is 8. So, 8 will be used in his handicap calculation – although 10 will still be his score in the competition.
No Returns
No returns will be reviewed by the Handicap Committee or its representative. If the reason given for the NR is valid, e.g. an unforeseen illness or injury, then the score will not count towards handicap. Otherwise a penalty will be applied to the player’s handicap.
Exceptional Scores
If you enter a score which is 7 shots below your Handicap Index then you will incur an exceptional score reduction. 7-9 below Handicap Index will incur an additional reduction of 1 after the handicap has been adjusted and at 10 + below Handicap Index the reduction will be 2 shots
Playing Conditions Calculation
When the scores are used to calculate handicaps at midnight, all scores from that course on that day will be reviewed AND MAY BE ADJUSTED if they indicate easy or difficult playing conditions This is very much like the old CSS. The review will be carried out only if there re at least 8 scores from that course on that day. The range is from -1 to +3
Limitation of Extreme Upward Movement (Capping) of Handicap Index
A Soft Cap and Hard Cap will be implemented to limit any extreme upward movement of a player’s Handicap Index within a 365-day period. This has been introduced to act as a safeguard to prevent any handicap manipulation.
The Soft Cap will suppress movement by 50% after a 3 stroke increase over a player’s Low Handicap Index (a Low Handicap Index is the lowest Handicap Index a player has had during the previous 12-month period) – Caps only start to take effect once a player has at least 20 acceptable scores in their record.
The Hard Cap will restrict upward movement on 5.0 strokes over the Low Handicap Index.
Annual Review
This will still take place and will look at trends in scoring much as previously. The handicap committee may also change or freeze a player’s Handicap Index when appropriate, in light of injury, protracted health issues etc.
WHS Privacy Notice Requirements
View WHS Privacy Notice Requirement
