World Handicap System (WHS)
Rules of Handicapping FAQs
Handicap Index Calculation 101
Q. How is a Handicap Index calculated?
A. Once you have 20 scores in your scoring record, your Handicap Index is calculated by first averaging the best 8 Score Differentials out of your most recent 20 scores. This value may be adjusted due to built-in safeguards that are applied when:
- You submit an exceptional score, which is 7.0 strokes or better than your Handicap Index at the time the round is played, or
- Your 8 of 20 calculation is 3.0 or more strokes above your Low Handicap Index from the previous 365 days.
Fundamentals of Handicapping
Q. How many scores do I have to post before I get a Handicap Index?
A. In order to establish a Handicap Index, a total of 54 holes (3 18-hole rounds) must be played and posted to your scoring record. These scores can be made up of any combination of 9- or 18-hole rounds. 9-hole scores are combined in the order that they are received to form 18-hole Score Differentials that are used to calculate your Handicap Index. Once you have posted a total of three 18-hole Score Differentials, a Handicap Index will be issued to you the very next day. (Rule 4.5, Rules of Handicapping)
Handicap Index Safeguards
Q. Is there a limit on how much my Handicap Index can increase?
A. To prevent extreme upward movement of a Handicap Index, every time it is updated, the new value is compared to your Low Handicap Index and:
- If the result is more than 3.0 strokes higher, a soft cap will be applied to slow additional upward movement by 50%.
- If the result is more than 5.0 strokes higher (after the application of the soft cap), a hard cap will be applied to restrict any additional upward movement beyond 5.0 strokes.
For example: Player A has a Low Handicap Index of 10.0 and a current 8 of 20 calculation of 13.4. Since any upward movement beyond 3.0 strokes is reduced by 50%, the player's Handicap Index calculates at 13.2.
The Handicap Committee at the player's club can override the soft cap or hard cap if circumstances such as injury or illness exist. (Rule 5.8, Rules of Handicapping).
Q. I had a recent injury and can no longer play to my handicap. Can the Handicap Committee make an adjustment?
A. If scores made following an injury demonstrate that you can no longer play to your current Handicap Index®, the Handicap Committee can make an adjustment to better reflect your ability. Once an adjustment has been made, the Committee will monitor your scoring record as new scores are posted.
If it becomes evident that the injury has caused a permanent change in ability, the Handicap Committee can disregard the scores made prior to the injury and allocate a new Handicap Index based only on scores made afterwards.
A Handicap Index that has been modified will be displayed with an "M." In addition, where a Handicap Committee applied adjustment increases a player's Handicap Index, the Committee should consider resetting the player's Low Handicap Index™ to the same value as the adjusted Handicap Index.
(Rule 7.1, Rules of Handicapping)