World Handicap System has created a more level playing field

Alistair Dunsmuir
By Alistair Dunsmuir August 21, 2022 11:10

Analysis of nearly two years of data since the World Handicap System was launched has shown it has effectively made club competitions fairer, particularly by reducing an unfair advantage Category 1 players used to have.

The World Handicap System (WHS), which is based on average scoring, was launched in the UK in November 2020, replacing a previous CONGU system based on aggregate scoring. After some initial teething issues, it seems to have become an accepted system for golfers to use.

Europe’s largest network of golfers, HowDidiDo, has collated club competition data on the system since November 2020, and submitted it to Golf Monthly magazine, which has said it ‘shows the World Handicap System is working effectively to make competition fairer’.

‘A principal objective of the WHS has been for golfers’ handicaps to be more representative of their current playing ability, as the system allows handicaps to be more fluid with calculation based on average scoring. That should mean that, across the handicap categories, players have a handicap that is fair and representative, making competition more equal. Data collated and provided to Golf Monthly by HowDidiDo confirms that WHS is achieving that goal,’ it states.

The data shows that the average Stableford points score in competitions has gone from dramatically favouring those in the lower categories pre WHS to being ‘almost equal’ (there’s now just under two points between the average total scored in competitions between players in all categories. That has reduced from almost 13 points difference in the 2020 season).

The average score of Category 1 golfers has come down by over 4.5 points in the last two years.

Golf Monthly wanted to see if lower handicap golfers are now less likely to win club handicap events and the data appears to suggest that that is the case, but only because they previously had an unfair advantage.

‘It’s been suggested that the handicaps of the lowest handicap golfers have, on average, come down with WHS owing to the more consistent nature of their play and the likelihood that they will have eight or more solid rounds within their last counting 20. The figures show this might be the case. The average handicap of winners in Category 1 has come down by some 0.5 of a point post WHS compared to only very minor changes in all other categories,’ states Golf Monthly.

‘That might not seem like much. But 0.5 of a shot from 3.4 to 2.9 is a 15 percent decrease compared to changes of less than 1.5 percent in all other categories.

‘If those percentages in handicap reduction are indicative, it goes quite some way to explaining why the average competition Stableford score for Category 1 players has come down so dramatically since WHS – their handicaps are indeed lower.

‘In fact, this year in competition (to end July,) Category 1 players have posted the lowest average Stableford score of all categories – 27.48 compared to the highest of 29.62 in Category 4. That’s quite a turnaround from 2020 when Cat 1 averaged more than six points more than Cat 4.

‘That shows the system is fairer than it was though. Category 1 players now feel hard done by as they’re not winning everything in sight, but there’s a difference of just two points across the board, compared to the 13 before.

‘No system is ever going to give every amateur of every standard an absolutely equal chance. There are too many variables at play for that to happen. But the numbers here show the WHS is doing a better job of keeping things level across the board and giving more players a chance. The Category 1 players might not like it but, going by these stats, any disadvantage they now have is far less than the advantage they had under the old system.’

 

Alistair Dunsmuir
By Alistair Dunsmuir August 21, 2022 11:10
Write a comment

27 Comments

  1. Dav July 14, 07:28

    Absolutely spot on mate. I’m the handicap chairman at our club and this system is causing mayhem to a point where better players are thinking of giving up the game. It’s skewed so highly in favour of the high handicap hackers, that there is literally no point trying to improve, in order to compete you’re better off not practicing and having your handicap go up, that is completely against the spirit of the game for most people. Why should someone who doesn’t practice and just rocks up once a week have the same chance as a fella putting in 2 to 3 hours practice every evening. It’s like saying Burnley are rubbish so every time they play Man City the get a 3 goal start. The system is flawed to the core, and don’t even get me started on cheats/manipulators of the handicap system, you’ve just opened pandoras box for them to cheat. It’s an absolute joke and it’s ruining golf, I’m yet to speak to anyone who likes it, and I mean anyone, pro’s club officials, everyday members. Oh I lied, the cheats love it.

    Reply to this comment
    • Deek August 21, 11:25

      100% agree with this, as a low handicap golfer off 2.
      Our low handicap guys from at least 5 and down are all the saying the same.
      We have zero chance of winning anything. At our club, we are see a whole lot of higher players coming in with 64 nets. It’s getting ridiculous. The amount of hours I put into practicing is almost pointless, as if we can’t win anything. All im playing for is my handicap and one scratch completion of the year, the club championship.
      Personally, I didn’t see anything wrong with the old system. If you had a bad score, you went up 0.1, and if you had a good score, you came down, it would take much longer for our handicap to go up.
      I have been told that there are some in the club going out during the week and deliberately handing in cards so their handicap goes up a few points to better their score at the more significant competitions. It is even being a debate if these particular people even go out for a game or are just sitting in their car in the club car park typing their scores in on their phones.

      Reply to this comment
  2. Chippy December 1, 22:17

    WHS was intended to encourage new players to the game. All it has done is made it possible for those high handicappers who didn’t practice, to get even higher handicaps making them more competitive. I put in cards whenever I can. I still know I have no chance of winning a comp, so just play the course. I am not a Cat 1 player 11.3 index.

    Reply to this comment
    • Buck May 10, 19:45

      Alistar Dunbar
      The so called unfair advantage is because they are better at their chosen sport you complete fool, now all the effort they put in has been nullified by this ( the fat kid must get a prize way of governing golf ) it’s basically ruined the game, non of these stupid scores coming in are deserved and they should be embarrassed to win of a ridiculously inflated handicap, I can only assume you’re a chopper or completely non competitive. This article is utter rubbish

      Reply to this comment
      • dav July 14, 07:26

        Absolutely spot on mate. I’m the handicap chairman at our club and this system is causing mayhem to a point where better players are thinking of giving up the game. It’s skewed so highly in favour of the high handicap hackers, that there is literally no point trying to improve, in order to compete you’re better off not practicing and having your handicap go up, that is completely against the spirit of the game for most people. Why should someone who doesn’t practice and just rocks up once a week have the same chance as a fella putting in 2 to 3 hours practice every evening. It’s like saying Burnley are rubbish so every time they play Man City the get a 3 goal start. The system is flawed to the core, and don’t even get me started on cheats/manipulators of the handicap system, you’ve just opened pandoras box for them to cheat. It’s an absolute joke and it’s ruining golf, I’m yet to speak to anyone who likes it, and I mean anyone, pro’s club officials, everyday members. Oh I lied, the cheats love it.

        Reply to this comment
  3. AKS November 17, 09:35

    Bringing back 7/8ths handicap allowance for singles stableford would make it fairer. It would also make players try to play to the given handicap and therefore the higher handicappers would get their handicaps down quicker.

    Reply to this comment
  4. Randall November 15, 10:44

    I am in Adelaide South Australia at Kooyonga GC and have different figures here than howdidido!
    In 3000 men’s rounds from the blue tees recently, the elite and cat1 golfers still were scoring better than anyone on average, and not so much the cat4 and cat5 I can only approximate as I don’t have their GA , but excel formulae are probably ok..
    Elite <3.2: 30.9..vs Europe :
    Cat1: : 30. 8..vs Europe :27.5
    Cat2. : 30.5 ..vs Europe :28.2
    Cat3. : 29.4 ..vs Europe :29.5
    Cat 4. : 27.5 ..vs Europe :29.6
    Cat5. :26.4 ..vs Europe :28.2

    Cat3 is identical; I wonder if there is some systematic reason the Europe figures to be so different, as I can’t imagine mine are wrong!!???

    Reply to this comment
  5. Paul Buchan October 26, 09:44

    Just read you article on whs, of course cat 1 should win more often as they are the better players, this system is like giving the fat kid a prize for coming last in the school sports day. Was anyone complaining before the introduction of whs that the better golfers won stuff, that seems like the natural order of everything in life, if you’re better you will win. Now with this new system it’s really putting me off golf. I’ve played since 13 years old I’m 55 now off 3 and honestly I’m getting less into golf when you can’t win anymore, what’s the point of playing to just take part. The whole thing is a joke and a dumbing down of the sport, some who is not very good should not be winning anything. Your chart is not indicative of my golf club, not one low handicap golfer has won anything since the introduction of whs, just choppers.

    Reply to this comment
  6. Lazarus Law September 30, 18:58

    The system works when players put plenty of cards in. Get a whole new handicap very quickly. Any player who wants to retain a low handicap, that they can no longer play to, do themselves a disservice.

    Reply to this comment
    • G ban February 23, 10:30

      I am a 64 year old man playing off 4.5 . I have stopped playing in most comps as to score 55pts with my partner who is off 3.6 is impossible. It’s a joke

      Reply to this comment
  7. NM August 25, 09:15

    It is also having the effect that fewer low handicap players are entering comps and playing in seniors matches. Should there be more divisions in competitions?

    Even high single figure handicappers now find themselves giving 20+ shots to an individual in 4 ball match play.

    Maybe the percentage of allowance now needs reviewing?

    Reply to this comment
  8. Hydraulic mechanic August 21, 13:18

    This doesn’t account for people manipulating the system to get there handicaps put up which seems to be the major issue when you speak to people at clubs all over. Also the average score to win has came down with people returning nett 60s and even into the 50s regularly.

    Reply to this comment
  9. Daly August 20, 19:26

    Agree, it’s stopped the bandits

    Reply to this comment
  10. Price August 19, 18:21

    It’s basically stopped low handicap players winning any big club comps. Not really level

    Reply to this comment
    • sjn August 25, 20:37

      no , it hasnt if you actully looked at data . I run comps at my club btw and cat 1 winning as much as they ever did . Remwmber they are only about 10% of entrants v about 30% for cat3 .

      Reply to this comment
  11. USP College August 19, 17:33

    Did you actually ask any club members where comps are routinely won with 43/44 points now?

    Reply to this comment
    • Dav July 14, 07:32

      our club yesterday if you want a current example, 46pts won 44pts second. Literally impossible of scratch, so what we have done is skewed the game so hackers have a better chance than scratch players, Big round of applause please thats brilliant. Detect the sarcasm, Next premier league game Burnley V Man City can we please give Burnley a 3/4 goal start please cos they are rubbish and everyone deserves a chance. Do one with this nonsense will you.

      Reply to this comment
  12. George August 19, 14:47

    Quoting Mark Twain….”Lies, Lies and damned Statistics”.
    As a 70 year old, 7 handicap player, I now only enter senior comps for the 2’s sweep as it is IMPOSSIBLE for me to come anywhere near the prizes. Winning Stableford scores in singles never falls below 42 points and in pairs, if you are under 50 points then don’t bother waiting around.
    So absolutely dispiriting I wonder why I bother

    Reply to this comment
    • Lazarus Law September 30, 15:28

      George, if as you say it’s impossible for you to compete, liklihood is tour handicap is no longer a true reflection of your playing ability.
      Put some general play cards in, that’s how WHS works best.

      Reply to this comment
      • Angry elf October 4, 20:23

        You have no idea what you are talking about, most comps are now won on over 42 points, a single figure handicapper who shoots 36 points (playing to handicap,)there handicap increases due to ridiculous scores by higher handicappers, 36 points should stay the same, 42 points should be cut drastically

        Reply to this comment
  13. Kelly August 19, 12:17

    The best golf on any given day gets you bottom third, middle third at best and no matter how good in most clubs your not even in the conversation, hack it around with mental handicap and make a few putts to win, hardly an improvement for the game or any golfer good bad or indifferent

    Reply to this comment
    • Buck May 10, 19:54

      Lazarus law, what a stupid comment, George is consistent so is off the correct handicap, you choppers are 90% useless so keep going up and up until one day your hand eye coordination turns up for the day, you win, then go back to being useless, this goes on between about 400 of you at your club and you choppers alternate and win, George should be winning as he’s consistent, but you lot go so high it’s impossible. Dumbing down of golf the only sport where the worse you are the more chance you have of winning, since 2020.

      Reply to this comment
  14. DR August 19, 12:02

    However it is fundamentally flawed for new or junior golfers.
    2 juniors at our club have had their handicaps reduced by 18 and 15 shots after just one round.
    Neither shot close to those numbers (one shot 15 over par and was cut from 25-10!!, the other shot 32 over and was cut from 42-24)…
    I know they need to get 20 rounds in, but this is not helping them want to play competitive golf with such a ridiculously huge chop…

    Reply to this comment
View comments

Write a comment

<

Join Our Mailing List


Read the latest issues

Advertise With Us

For editorial enquiries in the magazine or online, contact:

Alistair.Dunsmuir@hdidmedia.com


For advertising enquiries in the magazine or online, contact:

georgina.hirst@hdidmedia.com