Golf News

On 22nd January 2020

New World Handicap System.

As most members would be aware, the R&A and the USGA have been looking for a way to bring all handicapping systems together to make a world handicapping system. Golf Australia has been working very hard to try and get the important information out to all clubs and members on their database. Settlers Run Golf and Country Club encourages ALL members to read over the information below.

Now all the handicaps are up and ready to go, Here is the latest information from the R&A and USGA regarding the WHS.

  1. WHS now live in Australia
  • The WHS is now live in Australia.
  • All handicaps displayed on www.golf.org.au, as well as all handicaps being provided to you through your competition management software system, have been calculated under the new WHS rules.  (Note: Your ‘competition management software system’ means either the GOLF Link Tier 1 system, or your 3rd party software system.)
  • From today onwards, it is the WHS-calculated handicap that should be used for all play in Australia.
  • Where a club is processing scores from a competition played around the GOLF Link offline period of 27-30 January, the number that should be listed in the ‘Played Off’ box on the score entry screen is the handicap the player ACTUALLY played off in that competition.  This process should be followed even though this may not be the Daily Handicap that would have been calculated for the player under the WHS – GOLF Link will then calculate everything correctly using the inputted numbers.
  • The best source of information on the WHS is www.golf.org.au/whs
  1. Results of Multi-Tee & Mixed-Gender Competitions | STROKE COMPETITIONS: NEW DISPLAY & RESULTS-DETERMINATION PROCESS IN YOUR SOFTWARE

As you will know, the WHS calculation for a Daily Handicap includes an adjustment for the difference between the Scratch Rating and the Par of the set of tees being played.  This makes playing to par the universal measure of whether a player has played to their handicap, regardless of the course or set of tees.

  • As a result, in a handicap competition played from two or more sets of tees (such as in mixed-gender or mixed-ability events), the appropriate comparison of two players who have played from different sets of tees is their net scores in relation to par.
  • It is not appropriate to use any other comparison (such as just their net scores).
  • Your competition management software has been configured to automatically determine the finishing positions of players in a competition by using this new process, together with what is described below.

STROKE.  Under the WHS in Australia, all results should be determined by using a player’s net score relative to par.

  • Within your competition management software, a column is included in the WHS display of Stroke competition results which lists each player’s net score versus par.  It is this column that your software now uses to determine the finishing positions in a competition.
  • Each player’s net status versus par for the round is compared directly against that of every other player – no adjustment applies when par is different between tees.
  • For example in a handicap medal competition, a course is par 74 for women and par 72 for men.  Michelle has net 76 which is 2 over par, and David has net 75 which is 3 over par.  2 over is better than 3 over so Michelle finishes ahead of David.

STABLEFORD.  Each player’s total number of Stableford points for the round is compared directly against that of every other player – no adjustment applies when the par is different between tees.

PAR.  Each player’s Par result for the round is compared directly against that of every other player – no adjustment applies when the par is different between tees.

  1. WHS Official Reference Guide for Australian Administrators – OPERATIONAL GUIDANCE & SUPPORTING REGULATIONS

As a part of the move to the WHS, we’ve posted a new resource on the GA website titled: WHS Official Reference Guide for Australian Administrators – OPERATIONAL GUIDANCE & SUPPORTING REGULATIONS.

  • This resource is available for download from Item 20 on www.golf.org.au/whs.
  • It provides guidance on the operational elements of the WHS.  It also includes all of the Rules of Handicapping that now apply in Australia.