The USGA and 5 other national golf associations around the world are codifying their handicapping systems into a single, "World Handicap System" (WHS) in 2020.  For the USGA, this change occurs January 1st.  For our friends across the pond, it looks like this will happen at the end of 2020, most likely November 1st.  Below outlines the Current USGA formula vs the new World Handicap System.

  • The new calculations only consider your lowest 8 scores of the last 20 as opposed to your lowest 10 scores.      Result, everyone’s Handicap Index will go down.

  • Maximum score by hole will change.  Currently the “Equitable Stroke Control” ranges from double bogey for low handicappers to as much as 9 for high handicappers.  The new methodology limits your score on a hole to "net double bogey".  EXAMPLES:

      ​Existing ESC: Golfer's handicap is 10 and on our par 4, 6th hole; the highest score he could record is a 7.    

  New ESC: Golfer's handicap is 10 and on our par 4, 6th hole the golfer would not get a "dot" on their card. Since the golfer does not get a stroke on the hole, net double bogey would be 6 for his maximum score.
 

  Existing ESC: Golfer's handicap is 7 and on our par 5, 16th hole; the highest score he could record is a 7.    
  New ESC: Golfer's handicap is 7 and on our par 5, 16th hole the golfer would get a "dot" on their card.
Since the golfer does get a stroke on the hole, net double bogey would be 8 for his maximum score.

​  Existing ESC: Golfer's handicap is 17 and on our par 3, 11th hole the highest score he could record is a 7. 
  New ESC: Golfer's handicap is 17 and on our par 3, 11th hole the golfer would not get a "dot" on their card.
Since the golfer does not get a stroke on the hole, net double bogey would be 5 for his maximum score.

A simple formula to follow to help understand the new ESC is:  Par for the hole (3,4,or 5) + Double Bogey (2) + Dots/Strokes received for that hole (0,1,or 2) = ESC max for that hole.


  • You will still post scores and a Handicap Index will be calculated.  The calculation is a slightly different but very few people will notice it. Your index is now adjusted daily, not twice a month. The score must be recorded as soon as possible and the playing conditions can be taken into account on individual rounds.


  • The big one is the way your Course Handicap is calculated.  Course handicap will now consider the course rating as well as the slope. Result, most Course Handicaps will go down. 

   EXAMPLE:   (Handicap Index * Course Slope / 113)   +   (Course Rating - Par) 
                                      11  * 133 = 1463 / 113 = 12.94     +    69.9 -  71 =  -1.1  =  11.8 (Rounded to 12)

 
Current Example  - 11 Handicap Index
i.     From gold tees – 12  Course Handicap
ii.     From white tees – 13 Course Handicap
iii.     From member tees – 13 Course Handicap
iv.     From blue tees – 13 Course Handicap
v.     From black tees – 14 Course Handicap

New Example – 11 Handicap Index
i.     From gold tees – 8 Course Handicap
ii.     From white tees – 11 Course Handicap
iii.     From member tees – 12 Course Handicap 
iv.     From blue tees – 13 Course Handicap 
v.     From black tees – 15 Course Handicap 

  •   World Handicap Systems recommends competitions being played at 85% of Course Handicaps. This then becomes your Playing Handicap for that event.    

        EXAMPLE: (Handicap Index * Course Slope / 113)   +   (Course Rating - Par) * 85%

                                                              17    *   133 = 2261 / 113 = 20   +    69.9 -  71 =  -1.1  =  18.9 (19)  * .85 = 16.15 (16)


Here is the USGA website if you want to go explore the all the information currently available.
https://www.usga.org/content/usga/home-page/handicapping/world-handicap-system/WHS-resources.html

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​2020 USGA Handicap Changes