It’s been almost two years since the USGA has announced the new changes to come with the World Handicap System. Now just months away from 2020, here are a few things to keep in mind and understand about the new system coming into place.
1. Daily Updates
Unlike the current handicap systems where your GHIN® is updated on the 1st and the 15th, you will now be able to see your updated numbers daily after posting a score.
2. Get Your Handicap established sooner
With the new system in place, you will be able to enter fewer rounds to receive your Handicap Index®. Where the old system required 90 holes to establish your handicap, this new system will only require 54. Also, the new World Handicap System will take your best 8 scores of your most recent 20 instead of your best 10.
3. Keep Your Scores Low
The World Handicap System will now have a maximum hole score. Capping it at net double bogey, this system will keep your score closer to your true playing potential.
4. Blame the Weather
As with most outside events and sports, the weather is unpredictable and can play a huge role in how well, or how poorly, you play. The new system will take into account the weather on your course and adjust your score accordingly.
5. Everyone gets a Handicap Index
It’s better to have everyone establish a Handicap Index®, even if you’re a first-time golfer. Thanks to this new system, that will now be possible and less intimidating. The maximum Handicap will now go from a 36.4 for men and a 36.4 for women, to 54.
For more information on the World Handicap System and some more frequently asked questions, visit the USGA FAQ page!
These new changes are geared towards standardization globally and to making the handicap system more accessible for people, but the single biggest thing that makes getting a handicap an issue is that you need to belong to a club to get one. Just create a USGA app and allow anyone to get an official GHIN and USGA index for like $20 a year without having to join a club.
I paid $35 for my GHIN service. I’m not a member of a club.
There are many methods to obtain an official USGA Handicap Index without joining a ‘green grass’ club. Many, on-line and App options are available. But this will become effective World Wide on 1/01/2020.
As a Club Administrator I would like to have more information but it has been lacking on how some of these proposed changes will be handled. Especially the ‘weather factor”? Wind ? Rain ? Cold ? Hot ? What? How course conditions? Aerated greens or fairways.
There will be a cost of $2-$4 per individual added to whatever base cost you pay for whatever service you use to keep a Handicap Index. It could be more or less, but that was the estimated cost the USGA was proposing.
Check out the USGA web site for information.
https://www.whs.com/faq.html#faq&questionId=1666798698&categoryId=-250504930
makewynn@rogers.com
System will not know what effected Your score. It will look at all scores recorded at a course that day and see that something caused unusually high scores. The program will make an adjustment to the differentials for that day. Any score posted later with that date will then have that factor applied as well.
I like the suggestion to increase the access to the GHIN system for those not affiliated with a club. A nominal charge will attract many golfers
Your local USGA probably already has this.
Anthony,
I don’t belong to a club so I get my handicap out of my local muni, you should be able to do the same. Best 40 bucks you can spend in golf!!!
Exactly! Our App just launched a week ago. Total free Beta version is out now and you can also play against anyone on different courses on different days.
Search $$$ – Dollar Dollar Dollar
what application do you have? I am interessted.
maryback@msn.com
you dont need to join a club currently…you can go to any public golf course pay your $35 fee and get into your states handicap system..theres no club..you simply establish your handicap where you paid…or you can go online and do it
Bad info. I am at a public course that charges $40.
They are overcharging you. The normal charge is $ 35.00 . Lucky at my club only $ 32.00
I don’t belong to a club, I keep my GHIN at a local course for $30/year.
you can pay now to join without belonging to a club…go to ghin.com
I agree with you. This will be make it more realistic.
Play t
If you’re not a member of a.club you are not a handicap golfer, you’re just a social player and who cares what you play off
Good article and the overall changes should help engage with the social and younger golfers. However for golfers in some countries particularly at smaller golf clubs where the may not have full time staff, uploading a score and receiving a handicap update is not likely to happen so easily.
Some governing bodies have not provided the software and some clubs will not have the technology to link to this software or the staff to carry out certain requirments every day.
I totally disagree with the new proposed maximu handicaps. How can a player in the single figures or mid teens be expected to compete against someone who has two shots at every hole in the case of the men or three shots at every hole in the case of the women. Ludicrous suggestion and I hope there are second thoughts on this
Not in my case, it would take me those extra 2 shots just to get anywhere near the hole so you’d still beat me 😉
Our club has so many bad golfers already and the ladies play for 5 1/2 hours minimum. I cant play that slow. This will encourage more higher handicaps to play and they have a better chance to get 10 under than I do.
As far as I’m aware, it’s 54 for both men and women!
Anyone approaching a 54 hdcp needs to fine a new sport. I sure hope I don’t have to play behind them
Very unkind of you.
I’ve played with 40 plus and single digits and most of the time the single digits are slower. Many feel entitled to hold up a field.
At our club the motto is “ you don’t have to be good, but you do have to be fast”.
Come on… you honestly think someone shooting 130 is faster (on average) than someone shooting 70?
I am a high handicapper, 38 to be exact, and I play faster than most. I count every stroke, every whiff and hole every green (NO GIMMES!) Now I have played with a lot of men with much lower handicaps. They take mulligans, forget strokes with penalties, and give each other “gimmes” that they might miss on the green. I find this common with most men that I play with.
Now, I can still take a 9 with this system (I rarely get a nine, but it happens occasionally). I also have to take my exact score in competition. How is this system going to make the system fairer for cheats out there that think they are better than they really are.
Please, get off your high horse. My handicap is high, but it is true. How about you?
David what was your beginning handicap? Get off your high horse.
Because a player that has two or three shots on a hole in general _needs_ two or three shots on a hole. Kind of the definition of a handicap?
Clubs can set a handicap limit for competitions.
Totally agree with you on this. The one good thing is double bogey max posting…then they go ahead and change the max hdcp to 54!!! What’s up with that.
Net double bogey. If you get 2 strokes per hole, your max is 4 over par.
We play to this system. You can’t beat them. 2 shots on par 3s is rubbish.
Agreed
You will always see scores of -10 netty from cat 3 but never from cat 1
Why do they keep trying to find a system to accommodate all abilities. It doesn’t exist. Max hcap should be 18. If you are unable to play to it live with it
Quite agree max handicap 18 for all comps, if I got to play against a 54 handicap player I would have to give them 3 shots on stroke index 1 to 8 and 2shots on the other 10, I wouldn’t even get my clubs out of the car. I am 70 years old and I’ve had to work hard for my handicap giving a player a 54 handicap is outrageous.
What???? 18 max? That’s stupid. Golf is played to par, that’s it. Everyone should be off scratch and let the better player win! If you have to have “shots” on some holes, you don’t deserve to play the sport, do something better suited to you, like fishing. (Obviously I’m totally ironic, here).
According to WHS.com, the maximum score any player will be able to card on any hole is NET double bogey, not GROSS double bogey.
09-16-2019
The new system seems great. My question is how with the Weather adjustment work? If I post with my iPhone app, will I be able to “click” a button for the weather adjustment. If this system is not governed by the Pro at every golf course, it is open to fraud.
Good question, we will have to wait and see what they say!
The weather adjustment is calculated by the system in a comp when a number of cards are significantly higher than the standard scratch the competition scratch score is adjusted to allow for the higher scoring.
I can see that working on private courses where the “field” on any given day would be more stable. However, a totally public, daily fee course could have a wild swing in golfer abilities from day to day.
The “weather” adjustments will be based on all incoming scores in the course for the day – and not something a player can influence himself – it will be a calculation the system will be doing at midnight when all scores have come in for the day (WHS can not work without a WHS calculator). Thus making it even more important to have apps or touchscreens to enter the scores after the round.
Are you saying that I will now be forced to enter a score for each hole rather than my total?
Also, if that is not the case, I don’t know how they could possibly believe that net double bogey is simpler than 0-9 max double, 10-19 max 7, etc. This new format will require the golfer to know the stroke holes and adjust max score from hole to hole – not easy if you are playing a course for the first time and/or a high handicapper. My wife and I have belonged to the same club for 5 years, she’s played it probably 300 times and she has NO IDEA which holes are her stroke holes!
Yesterday I was talking to a 39 handicapper. She does play in our Private Club tournaments and of course the card is popped for her. She was telling me that she doesn’t know or understand how to pop her card. I can teach her, it took me a few years Into the golf game to figure it out. I can’t teach all of them. Some who play only a few times each season will find this posting formula DIFFICULT!
This is standard in NZ. You put your card into (enter or scan) and it will work it out for you or your wife. Also your card should have stroke number on it and some will indicate the number of shots you get for your handicap
Max handicap of 54 is rediculous. This should not be changed.
Other changes are good
If the max score per hole is double bogey how can the max handicap be 54?
Please review net vs gross
So is your spelling of ridiculous
I agree that a 54 handicap is unfair. If someone has a handicap they should not be playing.
in Sweden we have been using 54 for many years, with a twist. You can only play on your home course until you reach 36.
In Scandinavia (where you have to belong to a club to play, except very few “pay and play/public courses” the max handicap has been 54 for years – some clubs even have 72 for beginners. They do this, so the new golfers experience improvements almost everytime the play where they will get a new handicap – and this has been key to keeping players playing. Normally they would never play against others – but keep in mind – if they have that high handicaps – they need the shots 😉
Is this the system which will apply in Ireland also and from what date will it be effective from.
This is through the USGA, right now it says January 2020, unsure on the exact date.
Jimmy, GB&I will start with WHS October 1. 2020
Jan 1st in Ireland, Nov 1st in England I believe.
Golf Canada uses a handicap factor. Not sure how this relates to the new world index.
What does it cost.
Not sure how it will work with each Association, so the cost will probably be something dependent upon your own golf association.
I like it
I’m the hdcp chair for our course. Need more info on how weather will be considered. Thanks.
Hi John, the USGA is in charge of this so we only know what we have in this article. All details have not been released by them so we know only as much as you!
I would guess and it’s only a guess, that this will be automated and looking at course location and weather info..
Hi John,
This is calculated based on all the scores entered throughout the day – this will happen just after midnight when all the new handicaps are calculated.
I work for a Danish golf software company called GolfBox, so we are already in the midst of developing the WHS for the governing bodies and our existing costumers.
Will this also mean that GolfBox and Golfshot will be working together? and thereby update the handicap both places?
Is there any integration planned?
(Danish club member here)
Not too sure what Golfbox is- this is just a preliminary heads-up about the coming changes of the World Handicap from the USGA.
Should be standard scratch score on the day what we already have competition wise
Thunk I’ll be quitting golf soon. USGA and the R&A won’t accept that the golf boom is over and won’t happen again in our lifetime. Stop screwing with a grand old game.
I will not renew my membership. This totally unfair to high handicappers like me.
How can you say Max handicap is 54? Double bogey times 18 is 36. This going to ruin the game.
It is double NET bogey.
I agree – why mess with a system that was not broke. it only encourages more hackers and results in six hour rounds. If some one is that bad (54 Hcp) they should take up bowling as I wouldn’t want to be playing behind them
Ken L
If a maximum score per hole is a double bogey, how could anyone get a handicap above a 36?
How is net double bogey figured? If you get a shot on a hole, does this mean you can take a gross triple bogey?
How does placing a maximum double bogey indicate a “truer playing potential “ handicap. Some courses can eat your lunch.
Where I live we often have calm mornings and windy afternoons. I guess that I should extablish my index in the afternoon and play for money in the morning?
If your posted score is capped at double bogey, how could you have a hdcp higher than 36?
Over all good improvements in hdcp changes!
54 is ridiculous for a max hdc. I am not sure I have ever seen anyone with this high of a hdc. These people deserve free help and lessons. I would be glad to give time for this.
54 handicap is ridiculous unless you have separate competition on different days for the high handicap players
Why do we need it ?! Once again we are pandering to the Americans, thr R&A have done a pretty good job so far, and who is going to police this new system – who verified that the golfer is just having a few bad rounds intentionally in order to achieve a higher handicap ready for the club championship? Who signs the card? Yes there’s always going to be a way of fixing any system but this electronic system throws itself wide open to would be cheats, there’s nothing wrong with a pencil a card and a firm handshake
Annoyed
Phill Shackleton
How will this affect me in New Zealand??
Until the rest of the world uses Slope and Course ratings in line with USGA or the USGA drops slope then there will never be a ‘World” handicap system.
How on earth do the governing bodies who wish to speed up play think giving handicaps of 54 will help!! Surely this will have the opposite effect and negate all the rule changes designed to speed up play.
I am a member of A golf Society, based in Spain. We do not have a home course and play at approximately ten different courses each year. This makes the setting of and maintenance of “true” handicaps an onerous and somewhat subjective exercise. We conform to the Congu system for the best part but, make occasional manual interventions when our handicap committee considers it appropriate. How will the new system be able to improve our current approach
Don’t understand why we still use different differentials for women & men playing the same tees.
We don’t do it for age.
My point is a 70 year old man & a 20 year old woman playing from the same tees both shoot 78.
Woman’s net differential is 6 & the 70 year old man’s is 10.
Both are the same caliber golfer but his handicap is 10 & hers is 6.
Need to rate courses on tees not by gender?
Minor improvement is always good. I still think handicaps need to be entered as hole by hole scores to factor in true playing potential, which is why they take lowest scores currently. It’s all about how good you can play. Not all 10 handicaps are created equal!
So if the most you can take on a hole is double bogey, how would someone achieve a 54 handicap? Am I missing something?
How is a high handicapper expected to know what net bogey is on each hole, especially those less proficient in math? It seems easy if the handicap is an 18 or 36, ie 1 or 2 strokes per hole, but less clear for those in between or less.
Relief from a divot should be considered with approval from playing partner
How close is England to have a course rating and slope rating on Every course.
This seems like a change for change sake. I cannot imagine being in an 8-10 man group and getting updated handicaps from yesterday. Someone shoots a great round yesterday but doesn’t post that day.I also cannot imagine properly posting with a net double bogey system. So could be two strokes on some holes and three on others etc. without oversight I can’t see it happening correctly. Last, 54 is you would definitely need flights to give any single or below 18 handicapper a chance.
Ridiculous, thought we were trying to speed the game up, how’s giving someone up to 54 shots going to help. I got my hcp down from 28 by lots of hard work and practice, so should others, this will encourage some to not bother working on their game as they have so many shots, a disgruntled Monsieur!
Handicapps are like the single most hot topic in southerstern ma. More golfers in this part of the country sandbag. i wish a system would figure when these cheaters par 14 holes doublr bogie 4 make them a 8 or a system that recalaulates we partnera are involved becsuse a guy that a 8 and get four bird a round or a 8 tgst averages 2 oh well chesters cheat
Some of my playing group use “free” online hdcp apps that change your index every time you enter a score, is this what the USGA is proposing? If so I’m all for it.
I would never elect to compete in events when some players get 3 strokes per hole.
Will Section 3.5 in the old handicap guidelines still be valid?
Why women 54 max is that because the courses are unfairly long for them. And once you putt make it continuous for speedier golf.
54 is ridiculous how can low markers have any chance?
So no change here in Oz except for the max handicap numbers
We have been playing with system for years now
I’m a Club Captain in Australia. We already use most of the changes that a lot of you are facing (Apart from 54 h/cap). It works pretty well. Minimises “cheating”, as good scores stay with you for 20 rounds. Course ratings change dependant on average scores in for the comp/day.
For those worried about the high handicappers winning, the handicap system will drop their handicap just like it dropped yours and puts an anchor so it can’t go out too far again. I’ve won match play where I’ve given 23 shots, the handicaps are there for a reason. The changes are for what’s best for the game, not the individual. If you have a mindset before you tee of that you can’t win, you probably won’t…
If handicap indexes change every day, then these will need to be looked up every day one plays. That creates extra work for my golf group. I manage the competition for a 32 member golf group which plays three times weekly. To reduce errors, we print handicaps along with pairings sheets.
Does daily updating of indexes really create a more fair competition?
My problem is that I am a 15 now and my scores swing more than normal I think from 80-92 most of the time..and using only 8 of 20 ? what about the other 12 scores I really shot? it seems to be forcing all our handicaps down instead of what we really are? 10 of 20 was bad enough
The handicap system is designed to balance competition based on potential scores, not average scores. Which is why your index is calculated based on your best scores. The net effect is that in a match, you will have to play better than average to get the maximum benefit of your handicap. The USGA apparently believes that the likelihood of winning a match should be the reward for those that, on a given day, can muster a better than average performance.
Cannot believe this system has not been introduced in the US already. Been using the exact same system in Australia for about 8 years and it’s great. Looks like this is a copy. Well done and long ovedue
I’m a club player in Australia and virtually all these changes have already been in play for quite some time. The system works very, very well. High markers come in very quickly when they shoot a couple of good rounds, and they don’t lose a good round for another 19 games so it has a legacy effect. Virtually all of the complaints I’ve read have very little merit compared to my practical experience. It really does level out the playing field and the weather factor makes it much fairer. eg shoot net par in a howling wind and you’ll likely be 2 or 3 under and it goes onto your handicap that way. It’s a pretty good system give it a chance.
54 handicap there is no way I’m playing behind that person talk about a long day
Current USGA Tournament scores stay 1 calendar year? Will this go away with WHS?
Not sure on that one Joyce, that may be a direct USGA question!
There was a study of 2000 men playing MSGA a few years ago and they kept all their scores. They found a 40 handicapper had a very good chance to play 10 under his score a few times a year however a player of 10 and almost a no chance of playing scratch. This new system stinks.
Also, our club has 50 handicappers playing in our league and I hate to get behind them. They play for 5 1/2 hours every time. I cant play that slow. They should play in their own league.
Will the active season continue in 2020
Can you post scores in the winter in previous inactive areas such as Cape Cod from January to April?
Please refer to the USGA for any detailed questions on their changes! https://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/handicapping.html
Why is the usga app still down 1/7/20
We do not have that answer as we are only a partner to the association and do not directly work for the USGA.
Great all the comments about handicap system. It’s a system based on honor.. haha. I have always tried to get my handicap down.5-7 ish. But with so many frauds in play and idiots running tournaments net at full handicap it’s a complete joke.
Lost is the common sense that the better score , the better shot wins.
The biggest joke is net skins where an actual birdie skin is cut by a guy who made a par with the shot given to him. Haha.
Tournaments I like group players in flights with similar numbers then they battle , potential vs potential. Strike the ball, make the putt. Play the game without shots against players close in index within 5 shots.
This is where it fails: The giving of shots. The index is just target number for grouping players then let them play golf and score normally. Especially in team format. If shots are given they should be reduced considerably. Like 50% or more… This will increase the honor system since the lower more honest handicap will not be penalized as massively as in the current system. So it takes away the incentive for fraud. IMO.
Hopefully someday the people who handle handicaps at the USGA will learn how to actually do it the right way. The new system is a joke. Handicaps should be strictly based on tournament scores. Nothing else !!