It’s been in place across the globe for five years. It’s called the World Handicap System. But, for many of us, that doesn’t mean what it says on the tin.
In a digital world, WHS is still analogue – at least when it comes to submitting scores to our indexes.
Interoperability, as it is known, came to Great Britain & Ireland in 2023. But if you want to use your phone app to record a general play round anywhere but England, Scotland, Ireland, or Wales, you are going to be frustrated.
The problem is one of software. Different WHS jurisdictions are using different software to run the system in their country. And those programmes aren’t always compatible with each other.
In GB&I this problem was solved when the home unions started using the same DotGolf applications, but it remains an issue elsewhere.
That’s been particularly irritating for golfers playing in places like Spain or Portugal, especially for those who have golf club memberships in those countries.
They’ve effectively had to balance two numbers, ensuring they’re pre-registering, taking photographs of their scorecards and manually submitting those to club managers and hoping they accept them as bona fide.
Is this World Handicap System problem going to be addressed any time soon?
With a handicap that could be utilised anywhere on the planet being such a key part of the ethos of the World Handicap System, England Golf’s Richard Flint told NCG federations were hard at work trying to make a digital solution happen.
But a timescale? The governing body’s chief operating officer said it was not within his gift to say when others might come up to speed.
Asked if it remained a source of frustration, Flint said: “It is and, of course, not just us but other federations will have that element of frustration. They’re hearing from other golfers and their members, ‘why isn’t this in place?’
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“Of course, if it was that easy we’d all have done it. I think we’re just pragmatic in terms of the number of federations around the world and the different tech suppliers that need to talk to each other and make sure the systems come together.
“We’re pretty confident that will happen. I’d be crazy to give you a timescale on that because it’s obviously not within our gift.
“Certainly the R&A and USGA recognise that and they’re working directly with both federations and suppliers. Fingers crossed we can get there, and wouldn’t it be great that the My England Golf app can travel anywhere in the world and you can put scores in through the app.”
Now have your say
Do you want to put scores in for handicap in other parts of the world? Is it frustrating we’re still waiting for this to happen with the World Handicap System? Let us know with a comment on X.
