If it seems ages ago that we were talking about the dawn of the World Handicap System, that’s because it is. The new way of measuring our ability was introduced in the UK in November.
But successive lockdowns have meant many of us have barely had a chance to get to grips with terms like Course Handicaps and Slope.
As we now return to the golf course, and with the season upon us, we’re going to be dealing with our World Handicap System Indexes for the first time in a meaningful way.
In an interview with our partner National Club Golfer, Gemma Hunter, England Golf’s head of handicapping and course rating, reveals 5 key things you need to know about the World Handicap System.
1. Your World Handicap System Index and Course Handicap are not the same thing
Now we’ve moved into the new world of WHS you have two numbers you need to remember. One is your Handicap Index, which is the exact calculation of your handicap. This is equivalent to what was your CONGU handicap.
This number [usually expressed to a decimal point] is the average of the best eight of your last 20 scores – in terms of the score differential.
So if people ask ‘what’s your handicap?’ That’s your Handicap Index and that’s how we compare each other now.
Let’s look at Course Handicap. Whenever you play on a golf course, wherever you are, your index is going to change and you’re going to have a different Course Handicap.
It looks at the difficulty of that golf course for the scratch and bogey player and works out what your Course Handicap is based on the slope rating of the golf course you are playing.
2. Your Course Handicap can change depending on the course, or even the tees from which you are playing
Let’s say you are playing your home golf course: your white tees have a slope rating of 145, your yellow tees are 125, and your red tees (for men) are rated at 95. You’re going to have three very different Course Handicaps over those golf courses.
You’re going to lose shots on the red colour, you’re going to gain a few on the yellow and you’re going to gain quite a lot on the whites.
It’s all about the difficulty for the two players – scratch and bogey – playing that particular golf course.
We’re not comparing Course A to Course B. We’re comparing the same golf course but for two players of different ability.
Your handicap is no longer based on playing one single course. It is recalculated and that’s why we call it a Course Handicap. It can change for every course you play.
There are so many different ways you can check what your Course Handicap is going to be on any particular course.
You can do it via the My England Golf app, via the club boards, or you even manually work it out if you know the calculations.
Your Course Handicap is of primary importance because that’s how we work out where you are going to get your strokes.
So, in short, you know what your Handicap Index is, you’ll choose the right tee for your game on that particular day, work out your Course Handicap, and go out and enjoy your round of golf.
3. You receive a Playing Handicap during club competitions but it doesn’t affect the score that goes forward for handicap purposes
The playing handicap is purely for competition purposes. You may find the score you enter into the computer, because that score is based on your Course Handicap, will be different to what is shown on the results sheet.
That’s to be expected. It’s going to be slightly less if you play a medal, for example, because that format comes with a 95% allowance.
But don’t worry too much about the Playing Handicap. It’s purely for competition results purposes.
If you’re recording your gross score, we will use your Course Handicap to work out your new Handicap Index.
4. Social rounds can count towards your handicap
The idea of WHS is you have more opportunity to return scores for handicap purposes. It’s not limited to competition scores. It’s not limited to scores played at your home golf club, as it was with supplementary scores.
You now have the ability to choose to return a score in general play whenever you wish – either home or away.
As long as you are playing a measured golf course, and you pre-register your intent to score before you go out and play, you can return a score from anywhere.
5. You can always check your handicap, and much more, on the My England Golf App
We have launched an app with a range of features – primarily the ability to look at your handicap record. You have full access to scores and it highlights which scores are included in your handicap calculations.
It shows you handicap trends. It has a Course Handicap Calculator, which allows you to select the golf course you’re going to play, the relevant tees, and will do the calculation for you. It tells you what the Course and Slope ratings are and reveals, based on your Handicap Index, what your Course Handicap is.
The Friends functionality allows you to set up a group of people who you might normally play with, look at their records, and send notes and messages around.
We’ve got a lot more coming on stream over the next month or so. There’s much to look forward to and the app is certainly the first port of call for golfers looking to get more out of their Handicap Index.
