WHS: WORLD HANDICAPPING SYSTEM
Handicap Index Calculations
As of the 1st of April
Please see the video below, which explains how a handicap is now calculated using course rating minus par.
WHS as of 1st of April 2024
Expected Score
Handicap Index: How It’s Calculated and Changes
What is a Handicap Index?
It’s a number that represents your golfing ability, based on your scores and the difficulty of the course (Course Rating and Slope Rating).
Your Handicap Index adjusts over time, depending on your performance, using the lowest 8 scores from your last 20 rounds.
How to Get a Handicap:
To get your first Handicap Index, you must submit 3 x 18-hole rounds (or a mix like 6 x 9-hole rounds).
After submitting your scores, your Handicap Index will be calculated as follows:
- 3 scores: Your lowest score minus 2 shots.
- 4 scores: Your lowest score minus 1 shot.
- 5 scores: Your lowest score is your Handicap Index.
- 6 scores: Your average of the lowest 2 scores, minus 1 shot.
- 7 to 8 scores: Average of the lowest 2 scores.
- 9 to 11 scores: Average of the lowest 3 scores.
- 12 to 14 scores: Average of the lowest 4 scores.
- 15 to 16 scores: Average of the lowest 5 scores.
- 17 to 18 scores: Average of the lowest 6 scores.
- 19 scores: Average of the lowest 7 scores.
- 20 scores: Average of the lowest 8 scores.
How Your Handicap Index Changes Over Time:
Every time you submit a new score, your Handicap Index is updated.
If you score much better than usual (like a personal best), your Handicap Index may go down
Exceptional Scores:
If your score is 7 to 9 shots better than your Handicap Index, it goes down by 1 shot.
If your score is 10 or more shots better than your Handicap Index, it goes down by 2 shots.
This adjustment applies to your last 20 rounds and gradually fades away as you play more rounds.
Limits on Handicap Increases:
If your Handicap Index increases too quickly, there are limits in place to slow it down:
Soft CAP: Limits increases if your Handicap Index goes more than 3 shots higher than your lowest index in the past 12 months.
Hard CAP: Your Handicap Index can never increase by more than 5 shots above your lowest Handicap Index from the last 12 months.
Summary:
Your Handicap Index is based on your performance and adjusted as you submit more scores.
New players start with an initial Handicap Index after submitting 3 rounds, and it improves as you submit more rounds.
Exceptional scores can reduce your Handicap Index.
There are limits to how much your Handicap Index can increase to ensure fairness.
