Key Points:

• The USGA and The R&A update the World Handicap System™, effective January 1, 2024.
• Revisions reflect golf’s growing popularity and extensive score submissions since 2020.
• Changes include rating for shorter courses, updated methods for unplayed holes, more frequent Playing Conditions Calculations, and enhanced Handicap Review guidance.
• Efforts aim to unify golfers globally through consistent handicapping and to make obtaining a Handicap Index more accessible.

The governing bodies of golf, the USGA and The R&A, have announced a significant update to the World Handicap System™, slated to take effect from January 1, 2024. This initiative is part of the continuous review of the system, with the goal of improving accuracy, consistency, and fairness.

Since the introduction of the World Handicap System in January 2020, there has been a substantial increase in the number of scores submitted for handicapping, indicating a wider engagement with the sport. Over 100 million scores are now posted annually, demonstrating the system’s effectiveness in providing a unified measure of playing ability for millions of golfers across 125 countries.

The upcoming 2024 update is informed by performance data and user feedback, leading to several noteworthy changes. These include the inclusion of shorter-length golf courses in the Course Rating System™, enabling a broader range of courses, like par-3 courses, to be rated and thus allowing more golfers to obtain and utilize a Handicap Index®. Moreover, an expected score will replace net par for holes not played, reflecting a player’s ability more accurately. Adjustments to the Playing Conditions Calculation will be more frequent to account for abnormal conditions, and there will be enhanced guidance for conducting Handicap Reviews, ensuring indexes remain true to players’ abilities.

The system’s flexibility allows national associations to tailor certain aspects to their regional needs while moving towards greater alignment overall. Golfers are encouraged to visit their national association’s website for information on regional discretionary items.

Additionally, a new WHS Software Accreditation and Interoperability Programme has been launched to assure consistency in handicap calculations globally and facilitate score retrieval across borders.

Leaders from the USGA and The R&A express their commitment to the evolution of golf, emphasizing the importance of accessibility to handicaps and the use of data and technology to track performance accurately. The World Handicap System, governed by these bodies, integrates the Rules of Handicapping and the Course Rating System, administered globally by various bodies and associations.

The system’s adaptable nature has spurred initiatives making it easier for golfers to obtain a Handicap Index and engage with the system. Regular reviews, akin to those for other governance areas in golf, will continue to ensure the system’s improvement based on data and feedback.

For further information on the World Handicap System, visit www.WHS.com or www.usga.org/whs for U.S. residents.