News

USGA, R&A to roll out new World Handicap System in 2020

Published

8 years ago

Feb 20, 2018

A new handicap system is here, or rather, it will be once the USGA and R&A begin to fully implement the World Handicap System in 2020.

The new system focuses on achieving three main objectives: 1) encouraging as many golfers as possible to maintain a handicap, 2) enabling golfers of different abilities, genders, and nationalities to compete fairly, and 3) determining the score a golfer is reasonably capable of shooting at any particular course anywhere in the world.

Currently there are six handicapping systems worldwide, owing to the existence of six handicapping authorities: Golf Australia, the Council of National Golf Unions (CONGU) in Great Britain and Ireland, the European Golf Association (EGA), the South African Golf Association (SAGA), the Argentine Golf Association (AAG) and the USGA.

The six handicapping authorities represent approximately 15 million golfers in 80 countries who currently maintain a golf handicap.

Under the new program, the USGA and R&A will oversee the World Handicap System and the governing bodies will be in charge of local administration.

The USGA presents the WHS as a better system that simplifies the existing structures. Not surprisingly, the organization believes the WHS will compel more golfers to maintain a handicap.

“For some time, we’ve heard golfers say, ‘I’m not good enough to have a handicap,’ or ‘I don’t play enough to have a handicap,’” USGA executive director Mike Davis said. “We want to make the right decisions now to encourage a more welcoming and social game.”

Davis sees the new system marching arm-in-arm with the revisions to (and simplification of) the Rules of Golf.

“We’re excited to be taking another important step – along with modernizing golf’s rules – to provide a pathway into the sport, making golf easier to understand and more approachable and enjoyable for everyone to play.”

Key features of the WHS include:

Flexibility in formats of play, allowing both competitive and recreational rounds to count for handicap purposes and ensuring that a golfer’s handicap is more reflective of potential ability.
A minimal number of scores needed to obtain a new handicap; a recommendation that the number of scores needed to obtain a new handicap be 54 holes from any combination of 18-hole and 9-hole rounds, but with “some discretion available for handicapping authorities or national associations to set a different minimum within their own jurisdiction.”
A consistent handicap that “is portable” from course to course and country to country through worldwide use of the USGA course and slope rating system, already used in more than 80 countries.
An average-based calculation of a handicap, taken from the best eight out of the last 20 scores and “factoring in memory of previous demonstrated ability for better responsiveness and control.”
A calculation that considers the impact that abnormal course and weather conditions might have on a player’s performance each day.
Daily handicap revisions, taking account of the course and weather conditions calculation.
A limit of net double bogey on the maximum hole score (for handicapping purposes only).
A maximum handicap limit of 54.0, regardless of gender, to encourage more golfers to measure and track their performance to increase their enjoyment of the game.

The USGA and R&A conducted quantitative research in 15 countries around the world. 76 percent of the 52,000 respondents voiced their support for a World Handicap System, 22 percent were willing to consider its benefits, and only 2 percent were opposed.

The research also helped model the tenets of the WHS, but, as mentioned, don’t tear up your GHIN cards just yet: We’ve only just begun the two-year transition period prior to the implementation.

To provide feedback to the USGA on the new World Handicap System, golfers can email the USGA at whsfeedback@usga.org, or see usga.org/whs for more info.

Additionally, the USGA created this FAQ.

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Ben Alberstadt

Ben Alberstadt is the Editor-in-Chief at GolfWRX, where he’s led editorial direction and gear coverage since 2018. He first joined the site as a freelance writer in 2012 after years spent working in pro shops and bag rooms at both public and private golf courses, experiences that laid the foundation for his deep knowledge of equipment and all facets of this maddening game. Based in Philadelphia, Ben’s byline has also appeared on PGATour.com, Bleacher Report...and across numerous PGA DFS and fantasy golf platforms. Off the course, Ben is a committed cat rescuer and, of course, a passionate Philadelphia sports fan. Follow him on Instagram @benalberstadt.

17 Comments

Wlcdrifter

Feb 22, 2018 at 1:09 pm

If they are going to throw out the 12 worst scores, they should throw out the best 2 scores. Unless they are tournament scores.
Just my opinion.

Reply Report comment
Peter Renggli

Feb 21, 2018 at 10:55 pm

This is the best thing you can do for anoid slow play

Reply Report comment
Tom

Feb 21, 2018 at 10:03 pm

A couple of major issues exist with very active players and with players with very few rounds. The small number of score players will have a big variance in scores. The active 4 or more rounds a week players go through the motions of experimenting daily. Then when it counts don’t experiment any more. They then are known far and wide as baggers even though they put in all their scores… My suggestion is to continue to take the best 8 scores but over a larger sample of scores for the active players. They play more so they likely don’t exert the same amount of intensity when casually playing. Bet the farm on competitions.

Reply Report comment
Regis

Feb 21, 2018 at 9:31 pm

The only suggestion I have is for the USGA to provide a service (for a fee) so as to allow golfers to maintain a handicap directly with them. If you don’t belong to a club, association, or play one course regularly (assuming they provide a service) it’s difficult to maintain a handicap. I have a number of friends who play all over and that’s the reason they can’t maintain a legitimate USGA handicap

Reply Report comment
Laurie Blundell

Feb 21, 2018 at 5:52 pm

a 54??? Must be a misprint. Maximum double bogey would mean maximum 36…which is BAD enough!

Reply Report comment
peter collins

Feb 21, 2018 at 1:52 pm

“We want to make the right decisions now to encourage a more welcoming and social game.”
I will not welcome a 54HCP player to my round of golf, i for one, will NEVER go round with a 54 HCP.Make them take lessons and get a decent HCP before mucking up my round of golf.
This is the worst backward step i have ever heard of.
Keep the Hcp system as it is, just introduce the slope system.

Reply Report comment
- David R
  
  Feb 21, 2018 at 2:10 pm
  
  If a 54 handicap is the average of your best 8 rounds from the last 20, then you have no business being on a golf course let along getting a handicap.
  Max handicap should be 24, not 54.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Jason
    
    Feb 21, 2018 at 4:12 pm
    
    How can it be higher than 36 if double bogey is going to be the max score for cap purposes???
    
    Reply Report comment
    - Daniel
      
      Feb 21, 2018 at 6:08 pm
      
      Perhaps re read the article.. 54 holes of golf to obtain your handicap, which australia already do but others dont. Nothing to do with max scores at all.
      
      Reply Report comment
GMatt

Feb 21, 2018 at 11:35 am

I’m curious as to how they are going to calculate based on weather conditions. Are you going to have to enter temperature, relative humidity, and wind speeds when you enter your scores?

But then again when the USGA is involved, everything is clear as mud….

Reply Report comment
- David R
  
  Feb 21, 2018 at 2:08 pm
  
  I read they would take all scores posted from your course that day and use some kind of algorithm to figure out how well you scored relative to everyone else. If scoring was tough, your score would be reflective of conditions.
  Good idea I would say.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Jason
    
    Feb 21, 2018 at 4:14 pm
    
    Good idea… sounds like a mess..
    
    I think they should have weather days.. Like level 1,2,3,4 or something. and you can that maybe times your score by a factor for each level.
    
    Each day the course sets the level of weather.
    
    Reply Report comment
    - OninTwoDowninOne
      
      Feb 21, 2018 at 5:57 pm
      
      No, David R.’s statement is better than “weather days”. It’s almost like a “strength of course” rating and as such already has weather and course conditions baked in.
      
      Reply Report comment
- Jack Nicholas
  
  Feb 27, 2018 at 9:55 am
  
  Spot on comments. The R&A should be the one and only body for world golf. Let the US loose on anything and they have to create something different just to be different.
  
  Reply Report comment
the dude

Feb 21, 2018 at 10:25 am

max handicap of 54……LOL!!!

Reply Report comment
- James T
  
  Feb 21, 2018 at 12:08 pm
  
  Please, please, please don’t pair me up with a 54!
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Peter Renggli
    
    Feb 21, 2018 at 10:46 pm
    
    You absolutely right. Get to your Pro and take some more lessons. HC 36 is already high!
    
    Reply Report comment

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Scottie Scheffler +345 – (Check 0ut his WITB here)

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Bryson DeChambeau +1700
Xander Schauffele +1850
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Davis Riley +225000
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Photos from the 2026 PGA Championship

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2 days ago

May 11, 2026

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GolfWRX is on site for the second major of 2026: The PGA Championship from Aronimink in Newtown Square, Pennsylvania.

The tournament’s location, just outside Philadelphia, and its status as a major championship mean GolfWRXers are in for a treat: WITBs from a strong field, custom gear celebrating the PGA Championship, and the rich culture of the City of Brotherly Love — we have noted a relative absence of cheesesteak-themed items thus far this week, but most of the rest of the usual suspects are well represented.

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