Attention, golfers: New way to calculate, track handicaps coming in 2020
A year after modernizing the Rules of Golf, the game’s governing bodies will institute revisions that create a world-wide handicap index system Jan. 1
With collaboration that meshes six international networks into one, the newly named World Handicap System (WHS) will enable golfers of differing skills to compete on a fair and equal basis no matter where they play, the United States Golf Association says.
Golf associations from around the world are adopting the new process. The system will be implemented in the United States on Jan. 1, but the date will be later in some other nations.
“Different formulas were being used around the world,” said Biff Lathrop, executive director of the South Carolina Golf Association. “The new system should eliminate any confusion. Players will have handicaps that compare apples to apples.”
The new system began with an idea in 2015, and extensive study and discussions led to the global solution. Like changes in any endeavor, “There will be an adjustment period,” Lathrop said, “but players should adapt quickly.”
Five things to know:
▪ Your handicap index may change due to a revised formula and including only the eight (instead of 10) best scores of the 20 most recent rounds. In most cases in the U.S., the change will be less than one stroke.
▪ You need to know your course handicap, which will be the number of strokes needed to play to par.
▪ The maximum score for a player on a hole will be net double bogey. The calculation: par plus 2 plus any handicap strokes the golfer receives.
▪ Handicap indexes will be revised daily rather than twice a month.
▪ Safeguards in the system will limit extreme upward movement of an index, automatically reduce a handicap index when an exceptional score of at least seven shots better is posted, and account for abnormal course or weather conditions.
Golfers in the U.S. will continue to post scores on the GHIN (Golf Handicap and Information Network) system and use the same GHIN number. The system will shut down Jan. 1-5 for the changeover. Players should hold all scorecards from the transition period and post scores once the network is operational.
“Those are the changes that players will notice more,” Lathrop said. “The two biggest are knowing your course handicap and posting a score the day the round in played.
“Historically, your course handicap has been the number of strokes needed to play to the course rating. Now, it’s the strokes needed to play to the course’s par. And by posting your score the day you play, you have a quicker update on your handicap since the system updates daily.”
Complete details on the new World Handicap System can be found online at www.whs.com.
Chip shots. The Women’s South Carolina Golf Association brings three of its 2020 major championships to the Midlands. The Women’s South Carolina Open moves to Cobblestone Park Aug. 14-16, the Women’s State Amateur is set for Columbia CC June 8-10 and the organization’s junior title will be decided June 15-17 over Fort Jackson Golf Club’s Wildcat Course. Visit www.wscga.org for the complete schedule. . . . Gene Zeigler (Florence) and Mary Kathryn “MK” Talledo (Spartanburg) have earned the SCJGA player of the year honors. Zeigler, a South Carolina commitment, won the Jay Haas Award and Talledo, who has committed to the College of Charleston, will receive the Beth Daniel Award. Both are high school juniors . . . South Carolina Golf Day is scheduled for Jan. 11 at Columbia CC. In addition to presenting awards and honoring players of the year, the program will feature the induction of Kevin King and Mike Lawrence into the South Carolina Golf Hall of Fame. . . . Chris Eassy (Greer) and Scott Friday (Simpsonville) joined forces to win the SCGA’s Forty-Plus Series’ Better Ball title at Caledonia Golf & Fish Club at Pawleys Island.