World Handicap System™

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The World Handicap System™ (WHS) unifies the six handicapping systems used around the world into a single system. The WHS enables golfers of different abilities to play and compete on a fair and equitable basis, no matter how or where they play.

Below you will find an explanation provided by the USGA® for each major change for the World Handicap System. Each topic in the list below will feature the old USGA Handicap System policy, the rule change and the reason for the rule change. Simply click on a topic below:

• Course Rating™ and Slope Rating™
• Number of Scores Required to Obtain a Handicap Index®
• Basis of Handicap Index Calculation
• Limit on Upward Movement of a Handicap Index (Cap)
• Exceptional Score Reduction (ESR)
• Playing Conditions Calculation (PCC)
• Frequency of Handicap Index Updates 
• Maximum Handicap Index
• Importance of Determination of Par
• Course Handicap Calculation and Application
• Playing Handicap Calculation and Application 
• Maximum Hole Score for Handicap Purposes (Net Double Bogey)
• Treatment of Nine-Hole Scores

We will continue to update this page with educational materials, but for the time being, feel free to access the WHS site by clicking here.