It might be called the World Handicap System but its critics say it’s not always applied universally from country to country.
Whether that’s Most Likely Score, match play scores counting, or changes in the ways rounds are scaled, territories across the world have put their own cultural stamp on a system that’s designed to be global.
Now a top R&A chief has conceded that were it not for these regional differences it might have been difficult to get the WHS in place at all.
Speaking on The NCG Golf Podcast, Grant Moir, The R&A’s executive director for governance, said he thought that without them it would not have been possible “to get the former handicapping authorities to buy into this new system”.
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The World Handicap System began at the start of 2020, with Great Britain & Ireland adopting it in November 2020. It has been controversial ever since, with the governing body recently launching an awareness campaign to remind GB&I players of their responsibilities under the Rules of Handicapping in response to fears it can be manipulated.
Its arrival, though, has also been marked by the way it can be adjusted in the various territories where it is in place.
Whether that is different rules over what is as an acceptable score, or the difficulties golfers can encounter when trying to submit a score depending on where they are in the world, it has given those who don’t like WHS an easy stick with which to beat it.
R&A chief: Golfers aren’t moving away from the World Handicap System
Asked why we had these WHS variations, and whether some of them might eventually find their way into golf in Great Britain & Ireland in the future, Moir told the podcast: “I think in an ideal world, we wouldn’t.
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“But if we didn’t, I don’t think we would have achieved a World Handicap System. I’ve come to this a little bit late in the day and what I’ve realised and recognised is the amazing achievement of those that blazed this trail to achieve a World Handicap System.
“Had it not been for providing certain options, then I don’t think the R&A and USGA would have ever been able to get the former handicapping authorities to buy into this new system.
“Now look, I think we all hope that those options will reduce over the years. But it was necessary to have them to enable the agreements that were required to achieve WHS, which, as I say, I am forever in awe of those that brought all of these systems together and produced the WHS.”
Accentuating the positives of WHS, Moir emphasised the inclusivity and flexibility of the system and said the sheer number of scores submitted showed golfers were not rejecting the system.
“We’re talking about 14 million rounds for handicapping that were played [in 2024 in GB&I] and that’s a 1.4 million increase on 2023,” he added. “That, in itself, is telling us that people aren’t moving away from playing golf under WHS. They’re moving towards it. That’s really encouraging.
“Competition scores are up. General play scores are up. When we hear about people being put off from playing in competitions, we’re just not seeing that in the numbers.
“We’re seeing a continued increase now. We’re seeing continued increase in participation. Hopefully these things move in tandem.
“There are a lot of positives and there is no doubt that one of the real positives is the flexibility WHS provides. General play scores are a fundamental part of that flexibility – that you can go out and play for your handicap outside of competition golf, which doesn’t suit everybody.
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“People have more commitments now than probably ever before, yet you can go out, you can tee it up and you know you’re putting a score on your record and you’re giving it your all.
“I think that flexibility in the system, to cater for people’s busy lives but also to satisfy their competitive instinct outside of the competitive setting, is a massive positive.”
Have your say
What do you make of these comments? Should the World Handicap System be applied in the same way all over the globe, or is it right to take different golfing cultures into account? You can email me at s.carroll@nationalclubgolfer.com or leave a comment on X and we might reveal some of your views on a future episode of The NCG Golf Podcast.
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