There are big changes coming to the World Handicap System – but how will it affect you?

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The changes to the World Handicap System will give more powers to golf clubs.

Golf clubs in Great Britain and Ireland will soon be given more power with the World Handicap System. Here’s what you need to know…

There is a rather significant change coming to the World Handicap System – and it will affect each and every one of you.

Under new measures from Golf GB&I – the governing body responsible for WHS in England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland – golf clubs will be able to alter Playing Handicaps in singles competitions, as well as fourball stroke play, Stableford, and V-Par events.

What is a Playing Handicap?

The USGA website describes a Playing Handicap as “the actual number of strokes you receive or give during a round and the number used for the purposes of the game or competition”.

It continues: “This number is often the same as a Course Handicap” – which represents the number of strokes needed to play to par of the tees being played – but “if a handicap allowance is applied, if the format is match play, or if players are competing from tees with different pars, it may be different”.

For club competitions, a Playing Handicap is often set at 95% in individual stroke play and Stableford events, and 85% for fourball stroke play and Stableford.

But this is soon to change.

In response to criticism that these numbers favor high handicappers, Golf Ireland will trial allowing clubs to adjust the Playing Handicap from competition to competition from one of three options.

For singles competitions that count for handicaps, clubs can:

  • Play with the current 95% allowance
  • Reduce the allowance to either 90% or 85%
  • Increase the allowance to 100% of the Course Handicap and therefore remove Playing Handicap altogether

For fourball competitions, the options are:

  • Play with the current allowance of 85%
  • Reduce the allowance to either 80% or 75%
  • Increase the allowance to 90%

In a notice to clubs and members, Golf Ireland said “feedback has indicated that lower handicappers in a number of clubs feel less competitive as a result of the changeover to WHS, and in some cases are even less inclined to play in club competitions”.

They added: “In these circumstances, the option to lower the Playing Handicap allowance is one that club committees may wish to consider.

“Whatever approach is taken, the decision should be made following consideration of the size of fields and the spread of Handicap Indexes in order to rationalize their decision.”

Golf Ireland explain: “The general guidance provided in Appendix C of the Rules of Handicapping is that a lower Playing Handicap allowance is more likely to provide equity [in] larger fields (i.e. in excess of 100 golfers) where the difference in shots between the lowest and highest Handicap Index in the field is significant.”

When will the World Handicap System changes take place?

Golf Ireland – which is the governing body for both the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland – will roll out the plans from April 1, 2025, with England Golf, Scottish Golf and Wales Golf set to follow suit in 2026.

You can read more about the WHS changes in the Resources for Handicap Committees section of the Golf Ireland website.

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