Golf Implementing New “World Handicap Rankings” in 2020

Unfortunately, golf handicaps have had a history of being confusing because there are multiple handicap systems around the world. But this will all change in 2020.

That’s right…heading into 2020, the whole handicap system will change for players. Currently, there are six different handicap systems that are used around the world and there is no way to have golfers using different systems to play competitively in the same event. Through the new universal system, it will be much easier for players to register and maintain a handicap in order to compete.

Under the traditional handicap systems golfers were required to submit a scorecards with at least 90 holes in order to calculate an official handicap. That number has now moved down to 54 holes, and the scorecards can come from a combination of 18 hole rounds and 9 hole rounds.

The key features of the new World Handicap System are here!

The R&A and the @USGA have developed a system to encourage all golfers to obtain a handicap, and play the sport with with anyone, anywhere, on a fair and equal basis.#GolfWHS2020

More at: https://t.co/pgtoIlJbb6 pic.twitter.com/12ovbWcYbx

— The R&A (@RandA) February 20, 2018

Another major change that will be coming to the handicap system is the maximum handicap that players can have. Currently, the highest handicap for men is 36.4 and for women, it’s 40.4. Under the new handicap system the maximum will be 54 for both genders. The final big change will come with calculation. The new World Handicap Rankings will be calculated by averaging the top 8 scores in your last 20 rounds as opposed to 10 in the current system.

These changes will allow for a lot of players that couldn’t qualify for a handicap in the past gain an official number. It will also allow for all players from all skill levels compete on a level playing field in all formats and on any course in the world.

So while many of us already have a handicap that we play with, we will all have to update it in two years. And once that happens, hopefully, we’ll all be playing on a much more level playing field.

Cover Image via Flickr