The World-Handicap-System explained

The World Handicap System (WHS) is a unified handicap system for golf that was introduced worldwide in 2020. It was developed to ensure that golfers can calculate their handicap in the same way regardless of their location or playing ability.

The WHS is based on an average score system, where the average of the best 8 out of 20 rounds is used as the basis for a golfer's handicap. This is different from the previous system where the handicap was calculated based on the best 10 out of 20 rounds. The WHS also takes into account the difficulty of the course and weather conditions to ensure a golfer's handicap is appropriate and fair.

The WHS also includes a handicap revision, which is conducted regularly to ensure a golfer's handicap remains current and accurate. The handicap revision is conducted by increasing the number of best played rounds that are used for the handicap calculation. For example, if a golfer has played 20 rounds, only the best 8 rounds are used for the handicap calculation, while if a golfer has played 40 rounds, the best 16 rounds are used for the handicap calculation.

In addition to these changes, adjustments have also been made to handicap rules for stroke play and Stableford competitions. The changes are intended to ensure handicap rules are consistent across all competitions and that results are fair and appropriate.

The goal of the World Handicap System is to create a simple, fair, and accurate handicap system for golf that is consistently applied worldwide.