The World Handicapping System (WHS) comes into effect on 2nd November 2020.

* Under the new system golfers will obtain and maintain a Handicap Index, which measures the ability of a player and can be used on any course and all around the world. The maximum Handicap Index will be 54.
* All courses will be given a Course Rating and a Slope Rating, which indicates the degree of difficulty of the course.
* All courses will display a Course and Slope Rating Table, which you will use to convert your Handicap Index to a Course Handicap before starting your round.
* Slope Ratings range from 55 to 155, with a ‘base rate’ of 113. The higher the slope rating, the more difficult the course and the more additional strokes you will get (and vice versa).

Course and Slope Ratings have been received for Glossop and District Golf Club and listed in the table below.


Course Rating is the evaluation of playing difficulty of a Scratch golfer. Slope Rating represents the playing difficulty of a course for players who are not scratch golfers.

For regular golfers, WHS will calculate your Handicap Index using an average of the best 8 scores returned in the previous 20 rounds. At transition, your handicap will not increase by more than 5 shots, although it is likely that a number of handicaps will increase.

When the system is launched, it will look back at the last 20 scores submitted in the last 2 years to calculate your Handicap Index.

If you have less than 20 scores, your Handicap Index will be calculated using the table below, until you have a ‘fully developed handicap record’. This transition calculation and table also applies to new golfers.

As a new score is submitted a player’s Handicap Index will automatically update to the most recent 20 scores. Your Handicap Index will be updated overnight.

Your Handicap Index will only be valid if you are a member of an affiliated golf club and once you have a Handicap Index your scores will not expire.

In the next few weeks, you will be able to see your Handicap Index displayed alongside your current handicap and see how it varies as you enter a score.

Over the next few months, you are encouraged to submit as many scores as possible. Accuracy of your Handicap Index will be improved the greater the number of scores submitted.

You should submit all singles competition scores (9 or 18 holes).

You may also submit scores from Social games (9 or 18 holes), provided you have pre-registered your intention.

Further information regarding WHS can be found on the internet. Useful websites include:

England Golf
The R&A

Click here so see the privacy notice which explains how England Golf collects and processes personal data of its members.