Handicap Index
Under the World Handicap System, your current Playing Handicap will be replaced by your Handicap Index which is a measure of your playing ability and is portable from course to course.
- It is calculated from the best 8 scores from a player's last 20 rounds - as a new score is accepted, a player's Handicap Index will automatically reflect the most recent 20 scores.
- Your Handicap Index will update overnight after submission of an acceptable score and be ready before the next time they play.
- There are safeguards built into the system to ensure that a player’s handicap does not rise too quickly after a spell of poor form.
- The maximum Handicap Index for any player is 54.
- From mid/late September, golfers will be able to see their Handicap Index displayed alongside their current handicap and see how it varies with each score entry.
- No competition handicaps (i.e. 'c' after your handicap)
- No handicap categories (currently 1-6)
- No Standard Scratch
- No buffer zones in determining handicap adjustments
Course Rating and Slope Rating
- Course Rating - how many strokes a scratch golfer should take on that course.
- Bogey Rating - measures playing difficulty for a bogey golfer
(someone with a handicap of roughly 20 for a man and 24 for a women).
- The Slope Rating is a key component in the calculation of the number of strokes each player will receive when playing a a particular golf course.
- The higher the Slope Rating, the more strokes a player will receive.
- Slope Ratings are gender-specific and will vary for each set of tees.
- The Slope Rating will be higher on a course with long carries, narrow fairways and thick rough.
- The Slope Ratings will fall within a range of 55 and 155 with an average across GB & Ireland of 125.
Course Handicap and Playing Handicap
Before a player starts their round on any course, they must convert their Handicap Index into a Course Handicap which will will determine the number of strokes you will receive during your round. This will depend on which set of tees you are playing from. A Handicap Allowance will then be applied according to the format of play you have chosen to calculate your actual Playing Handicap.
- Each course will have an easily accessible Course and Slope Rating Table.
- You have to choose which tee you are playing off that day and cross reference your Handicap Index on the Course and Slope Rating Table to ascertain your Course Handicap.
- The chosen format of play will dictate the Handicap Allowance which will determine the number of strokes you receive.