The World Handicap System™ launched in England on 2 November 2020. It is designed to welcome more players, to make golf easier to understand and to give all golfers a handicap which is portable all around the globe.
On this page you can find help on understanding the new handicap system including how to find course and slope ratings and how to calculate your handicap for social and competitive rounds.
Course handicap data
Course Handicap Calculator
Want to calculate your course handicap ahead of your next round? You can do so simply by using the My England Golf App which you can download onto your mobile device via Apple or Android stores.
To calculate your Course Handicap for a social round you need just one calculation:
Handicap Index® x (Slope Rating™ / 113) + (CR-PAR) = Course Handicap™ (Rounded)
Find out more about the benefits of the My England Golf App here.
Social and General Play Scores
The World Handicap System™ now allows golfers to register scores for handicapping purposes during a general play round. Acceptable scores include those played with friends, colleagues and in societies. You can now submit social scores directly via the My England Golf App.
How do I submit a social score?
To post a general play score from any venue, a golfer is required to:
- Pre-register the round with the host club.
This can be done on the My England Golf App, via the club’s own computer software or by simply telling the Pro/Club Manager of an intention to submit a score
- Play and enjoy the round in accordance with the Rules of Golf
- Enter the score using the My England Golf App or ask the host club to enter the score on your behalf either onto the WHS™ platform or their club software
Members can enter social scores directly via the app by clicking on the ‘Enter Score’ function at the foot of the dashboard screen and following the step-by-step instructions.
Please note, when using the MyEG app to submit a social score the following details will be active In order to protect the integrity of the handicap system:
- Geo-location technology will ensure pre-registering the intent to post a score can only be done in close proximity to the course where the round will take place
- A time lag will be in operation from the point where intent to play a round is registered to the stage when a score can be accepted
- A golfer’s score must be verified by someone who has witnessed the round. This attester, also needs to be registered user of the MyEG app, or return a physical scorecard for verification purposes
How do I submit an away score?
A golfer should follow the same steps as above for submitting a score at an away venue.
If the host club at an ‘away’ venue cannot enter the score, the player should return the card to their home club as soon as possible for them to enter into the WHS™ Platform.
Submitting 9-hole scores
To add a general play 9-hole score to your record you will need to pre-register the intention to post a 9-hole round before teeing off. If you set off for 18 holes, but fail to finish you must play at least 10 holes for that score to be acceptable for handicap purposes.
Playing Handicap (used for competition purposes only)
The Course Handicap is used in calculations for a Playing Handicap which is used for competition purposes only and changes depending on the format of play. The most important aspects of Playing Handicap to remember are:
- It is only used for competition purposes
- It ensures equity to calculate competition results
- Golfers do not need to calculate it
- It is a mandatory percentage allowance that must be implemented in competition play
To calculate your Playing Handicap for a competitive round you need just one calculation:
Course Handicap x Handicap Allowance = Playing Handicap
How do I submit a competitive score?
The method for submitting scores within a competition remains the same as before. Golfers should provide their marked scorecards to the competition’s organising committee/host club who should collect and input all scores in line with the competition’s entry conditions.
Playing Handicap Allowances Table
You can find the mandatory handicap allowances for all competition formats using the playing handicap allowances table link below. This table includes the following competitions:
- Stableford
- Individual Par/Bogey (and best of 1/2/3/4 Par/Bogey)
- Individual Maximum score
- Fourballs
- Foursomes
- Greensomes
- Pinehurst/Chapman
- Scramble/Texas Scramble
World Handicap System™ Member FAQs
As part of the launch of the World Handicap System™ we developed a frequently asked questions document for members to help understand how the new system works. This can be used in conjunction with the golfer toolkit, and contains answers to general questions on the WHS™, your Handicap Index® and how it works and competition and general play:
Useful player resources
If you want to understand better how your handicap is calculated under the World Handicap System™ you can find full details in the WHS™ Golfer Toolkit and the Rules of Handicapping Player Reference Guide which you provide you all you need to know:
Adverse/Extreme Weather Reference Guide
The Adverse/Extreme Weather Reference Guide replaces the Winter Checklist, and is being introduced to help clubs not just through winter, but all year round.