WORLD HANDICAP SYSTEM (WHS) – THE BASICS
WHS comes into effect on 2 November 2020. Individual golfers do not need to take any action themselves to be ready for this.
Provided that you have submitted 3 cards since 2017 you will be awarded a “handicap index”. You do not need to have submitted 3 cards this year to be awarded a “handicap Index”. However, the more cards you submit before WHS comes in, the more your handicap index will reflect your current playing form.
Your “handicap index” will be calculated on the basis of the best 8 scores of the last 20 scores you have submitted (a smaller number if you do not have 20 scores). You will be told what your “handicap index” is – you do not need to calculate it. The “handicap index” is the number that enables you to know what handicap you must play off at different courses and from different tees.
Each course will have a separate slope rating for 18 holes from the red, yellow and white (and any other) tees respectively and will also have a rating for the front 9 holes and back 9 holes.
Each course will display (usually at the box or the first tee) a chart showing you what handicap to play off with your “handicap index” depending on which tees you wish to play from. This is your “course handicap” and is the handicap you put on your score card.
There will no longer be a CSS calculation following a competition. Instead the WHS software will make a “playing conditions calculation” which reflects the scoring of everyone on the day and how your “handicap index” will be affected. This will be your “playing handicap” but this will be calculated automatically and is not the number you put on your scorecard.
There will no longer be buffer zones and your “handicap index” adjusts based on a range of scores, not just the last one.
You do not have to put in a card every time you go out to play. Only qualifying competitions ie strokeplay medals and stablefords count.
If you wish to submit additional scores from any courses you are playing you must “pre-register” with your home club. We will let you know how to do this if Gullane (Dirleton Castle) is your home club.
The WHS software will automatically upload all players’ records daily so all players will be able to check their home club’s records and get their correct “handicap index” for that day.
A capping mechanism is built into the WHS software to avoid extreme swings in your “handicap index” when you have an exceptional score.
Dirleton Castle Ladies’ GC will continue to have no restrictions in “handicap index” when playing in qualifying competitions but members must play off a maximum of 36 in knockout or social competitions.
The slope rating for Gullane No 2 from the red tees is 129 and the slope rating for Gullane No 3 from the red tees is 117.