The World Handicap System launched in Wales on 2 November 2020. It is designed to welcome more players, to make golf easier to understand and to give all golfers a handicap which is portable all around the globe.
On this page you can find help on understanding the new handicap system including how to find course and slope ratings and how to calculate your handicap for social and competitive rounds.
Social and General Play Scores
The World Handicap System now allows golfers to register scores for handicapping purposes during a general play round. Acceptable scores include those played with friends, colleagues and in societies. You can now submit social scores directly via the Wales Golf App
How do I submit a general play score?
To post a general play score from any venue, a golfer is required to:
- Pre-register the round with the host club.
This can be done on the Wales Golf App, via the club’s own computer software or by simply telling the Pro/Club Manager of an intention to submit a score - Play and enjoy the round in accordance with the Rules of Golf
- Enter the score using the Wales Golf App or ask the host club to enter the score on your behalf either onto the Wales Golf WHS Clubhouse platform or their club software
Members can enter social scores directly via the app by clicking on the ‘Enter Score’ function at the foot of the dashboard screen and following the step-by-step instructions.
Please note, when using the Wales Golf app to submit a social score the following regulations are in place in order to protect the integrity of the handicap system:
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- Geo-location technology will ensure pre-registering the intent to post a score can only be done in close proximity to the course where the round will take place
- A time lag will be in operation from the point where intent to play a round is registered to the stage when a score can be accepted
- A golfer’s final score must be verified by a playing partner who has witnessed the round and who holds a World Handicap System handicap index, and is registered on the Wales Golf app too.
How do I Submit an away score
How do I submit an away score in Wales?
A golfer should follow the same steps as above for submitting a score at an away venue.
If you can’t use the app or the host club at an ‘away’ venue cannot enter the score, the player should return the card to their home club as soon as possible for them to enter into the WHS Platform.
How do I submit an away score outside of Wales?
A golfer should follow the same steps as above for submitting a score at an away venue.
The only differenec outside of Wales is you currently cannot use the Wales Golf app. Therefore the score must either be entered by the the host club, or the player should return the card to their home club as soon as possible for them to enter into the WHS Clubhouse Platform.
Submitting 9-hole scores
To add a social 9-hole score to your record you will need to pre-register the intention to post a 9-hole round before teeing off. If you set off for 18 holes, but fail to finish you must play at least 10 holes for that score to count towards handicapping.
Once you’ve finished a pre-declared 9-hole round the club can accept the card and input the scores for you, or if registered on the club computer, it should anticipate your entry of a 9-hole score yourself.
Course Handicap Calculator
Want to calculate your course handicap ahead of your next round? You can do so simply by using the Wales Golf App which you can download onto your mobile device via Apple or Android stores.
To calculate your Course Handicap for a social round you need just one calculation:
Handicap Index x (Slope Rating/113) = Course Handicap
You can find out more about how your handicap index is calculated with the Player Reference Guide
Competitive and Competition Handicaps
The Course Handicap converts to a Playing Handicap for competition purposes and changes depending on the format of play. The most important aspects of the Playing Handicap to remember are:
- It is only used for competition purposes
- It ensures equity to calculate competition results
- Golfers do not need to calculate it
- It is a mandatory stroke allowance that must be implemented in competition play
To calculate your Playing Handicap for a competitive round you need just one calculation
Course Handicap x Handicap Allowance = Playing Handicap
How do I submit a competitive score?
The method for submitting scores within a competition remains the same as before. Golfers should provide their marked scorecards to the competition’s organising committee/host club who should collect and input all scores in line with the competition’s entry conditions.
Playing Handicap Allowances Table
You can find the mandatory handicap allowances for all competition formats using the playing handicap allowance table link below. This table includes the following competitions:
- Stableford
- Individual Par/Bogey (and best of 1/2/3/4 Par/Bogey)
- Individual Maximum score
- Fourballs
- Foursomes
- Greensomes
- Pinehurst/Chapman
- Scramble/Texas Scramble