The World Handicap System (WHS) launched in England in 2020 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.

It was developed by The R&A and The United States Golf Association (USGA), supported by the world’s handicapping authorities, including CONGU, which represents the four home countries of Great Britain and Ireland.

To make the game more enjoyable, the WHS system includes:

• Course Rating and Slope Rating to reflect playing difficulty
• A minimum number of scores required to obtain a handicap
• Inclusion of both competitive and recreational scores for handicap purposes
• Handicaps calculated using the average of a player's most recent scores
• A maximum handicap limit of 54
• Adjustments for abnormal course and weather conditions