2024 Changes to WHS Calculations

Course Handicap

The 18-hole Course Handicap now includes CR - Par and is consistent with the 9-hole Course Handicap.

\[ \begin{gathered} \bf{CH = HI \times {\frac{SR}{113}} + \color{#593196}{(CR - Par)}} \end{gathered} \]

Rounding of Course Handicap

The Course Handicap is no longer rounded before applying the Handicap Allowances when calculating the Playing Handicaps. This means that two players with different Handicap Indexes may have the same rounded CH but different PH or different rounded CH but same PH. In some limited circumstances, the Course Handicap may still be rounded.

Note that the rounding of a plus Playing Handicap is towards zero to maintain the same relative difference between Playing Handicaps.

Handicap Allowances

The Handicap Allowances for the formats have not changed. What has changed is where the allowance is applied in the two match play formats:

4BBB match play - The 90% allowance is now applied to the difference in Course Handicap to that of the lowest Course Handicap. See Post

Foursomes match play - The 50% allowance is now applied to the full difference in the combined Course Handicaps of the two teams.

With these changes to the two formats and depending on where rounding is applied, there may be a difference in one stroke for one player or team over another compared to the previous approach where the Handicap Allowance was applied to the Course Handicap.

Adjustments for Multiple Tees

With the new 18-hole Course Handicap, all players need 36 points to play to handicap in individual stableford formats using own card. Therefore no adjustments are required for such formats where multiple tees are used.

For individual formats where all players play to a common par such as in a mixed medal competition, an adjustment is needed if there is a difference in pars between the tees.

For Foursomes, Greensomes and Scramble team formats where all teams score using the par of a common scoring tee, the method of adjusting has changed and is slightly different to individual formats. Instead of adding the adjustments after applying Handicap Allowances, the Course Handicaps are now adjusted for the common scoring par before applying Handicap Allowances. See Post