One Handicap System to Rule Them All

A guide to the World Handicap System. by Johann Naudé

Building a fair handicap system is hard. You need a sound calculation method, everyone has to agree to use it, and the values have to be accurate.

While no system meets these requirements perfectly, each of the six major golf federations has done a decent job over the years of calculating workable handicaps for their players.

There’s been only one major problem (if we ignore the issue of sandbagging): for the longest time, each federation had its own system. This made it difficult for golfers from different federations to compete on equal footing—or even simply to assert their superiority over their brother-in-law in Auckland.

In July 2011, golf’s governing bodies took action. During The Open at Royal St George’s, the R&A and USGA met with other handicapping authorities to explore the idea of a unified world system.

The idea gained traction. After years of research and consultation with golf organizations and individual golfers worldwide, the World Handicap System (WHS) launched in January 2020. Over 125 countries have since adopted it, including South Africa, which was among the early adopters.

Handicap Indexes for All

The WHS aimed to allow as many golfers as possible to earn a Handicap Index. Two key measures helped achieve this.

First, they set the maximum Handicap Index at 54—considerably higher than the previous maximum in South Africa and other countries. Second, they required new players to submit only three 18-hole scores to earn their first Index. With just a bit of effort, any new golfer can begin competing fairly against friends and, thanks to the WHS, against strangers from across the world.

The system also replaced the term “handicap” with “Handicap Index”, partly to distinguish the latter from its close cousins: Course Handicap and Playing Handicap.

A Handicap Index is a numerical measure of your demonstrated ability—a number indicating how well you play, based on your most recent scores.

A Course Handicap represents the strokes you need to play to par on a specific course. It’s your Handicap Index adjusted for the course’s difficulty and the tees you choose. It also determines the maximum score you can record on any hole. Unlike the Handicap Index, which carries one decimal point, it’s rounded to the nearest whole number.

A Playing Handicap is the actual number of strokes you receive (or, if you’re very good, give) during a competitive round. It’s often identical to your Course Handicap but can differ when an additional handicap allowance applies.

If you don’t yet have an Index and all this talk of calculations is causing anxiety, relax. Handicaps Network Africa (HNA) handles the math. As the official provider of Handicap Indexes throughout most of Southern Africa, they maintain a centralized system—accessible via their phone app, website, and handicap terminals—that provides all three handicaps.

Your Handicap Index is calculated daily and displayed on your profile. Course and Playing Handicaps are easily obtained by entering your round details: club, course, date, tee color, and handicap allowance (if applicable).

How Is a Handicap Index Calculated?

First, an explanation of Score Differentials. These measure the quality of a round by considering the course’s relative difficulty (its Course and Slope Rating) and conditions on the day—wind, setup, and so on—captured by the Playing Conditions Calculation (PCC).

To calculate a Handicap Index, HNA averages the eight lowest Score Differentials from your 20 most recent scores (or fewer, if you haven’t yet submitted 20). This recalculation happens nightly, ensuring your Index stays current.

If you’re just starting and eager to earn a Handicap Index, the first step is joining a GolfRSA-affiliated club. Their handicap administrator will create your HNA profile, order your handicap card, and assign you a unique SA Player ID. Then submit three 18-hole scores.

The next day, you’ll have your first official Handicap Index.