The World Handicap System (WHS) has been in place since 2020, giving golfers across the globe a fair way to measure their game, no matter where they play. But in 2025, a few important tweaks are coming — and if you’re playing in club comps or just keeping an eye on your Handicap Index, you’ll want to know what’s changing.
The good news? These updates are all about making things fairer, more flexible, and giving golf clubs a bit more control when it comes to how competitions are run.
Let’s break it down.
What’s Changing, and Why?
Since WHS launched, players and clubs have been feeding back about what works and what doesn’t. One of the big topics? Playing Handicap allowances.
Right now, in most stroke play competitions, you play off 95% of your Course Handicap. For fourball comps, it’s 85%. But not everyone’s been happy with how that’s played out. Some lower-handicap players reckon they’re at a disadvantage — and that’s discouraged a few from taking part in club events.
So, starting in April 2025, clubs (at least in Ireland to start with) will get more freedom to adjust those allowances. England, Scotland, and Wales are expected to follow in 2026, but this year’s trial could be a game-changer.
Here’s What Clubs Can Now Choose:
Singles Competitions:
- Stick with the usual 95% allowance
- Drop it to 90% or even 85%
- Or go all in with 100% – meaning your Playing Handicap becomes exactly the same as your Course Handicap
Fourball Stroke Play (including Stableford and vs-Par):
- Keep the standard 85%
- Lower it to 80% or 75%
- Or bump it up to 90%
This doesn’t mean every comp will suddenly feel different overnight, but clubs now have more say in how they set things up — which is a win for flexibility and fairness.
Why Bother Changing the Allowances?
The idea is to level the playing field even more. Some golfers — especially those with lower handicaps — felt like the percentage reductions didn’t quite reflect their scoring ability, especially in certain formats. Clubs can now tweak the setup to match their players better.
Let’s say your club has a wide range of handicaps playing in a comp. The committee might decide a 90% allowance works better than 95% to keep things balanced. Or they might go 100% to make things simpler for players and avoid confusion with two different handicaps (Course vs Playing).
Will This Be Confusing?
It doesn’t have to be. Clubs will still need to make things clear in comp details, and the Handicap Software (like ClubV1 or WHS platforms) will do the number crunching for you. Players just need to check what allowance is being used and let the system do the rest.
For the most part, it’s just a matter of “Know before you play”. If you’re unsure, ask your comp organiser or check the noticeboard. Easy.
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What Else Should You Know?
📍 It’s a Pilot in Ireland (for now)
Golf Ireland is leading the charge here, rolling out the changes from April 1, 2025. They’ll be keeping a close eye on how things go — and if it’s a hit, we can expect England, Scotland, and Wales to follow suit next year.
🏌️ No Change to Your Handicap Index
Just to be clear — your Handicap Index isn’t changing. This is all about how it gets adjusted for competition play. The number you see in your app or on the clubhouse screen is still calculated the same way.
📊 Consistency is Key (but Flexibility Matters)
Golf committees will be encouraged to apply changes consistently across similar competitions — but they’ve got the freedom to make adjustments as they see fit. If a certain format or event tends to favour higher or lower handicaps, they can tweak the setup to even things out.
So, What’s the Big Deal?
These changes might sound small, but they could make a big difference in how fair — and enjoyable — competitions feel. They’re a direct response to feedback from everyday golfers, and that’s refreshing to see.
If you’ve ever felt like the maths behind your Playing Handicap didn’t quite add up, or that your club comps were skewed one way or another, these tweaks might just sort that out.
More than anything, this is about giving clubs more power to run events in a way that works for their members. And who doesn’t want that?
The WHS changes coming in 2025 won’t flip golf on its head — but they are a step in the right direction. Giving clubs more flexibility while keeping the core system in place is a smart move. Whether you’re a single-figure player or a weekend warrior, these updates are about making the game more competitive, more inclusive, and, hopefully, more fun.
Who decides in the club? Will lead to more aggravation than now.
The system simply doesn’t work !!
I for example play off 8 , I play in a comp off the white tees .
My white tee handicap is 11 but adjusted back to 10 .
Why ???
Just have a handicap and that’s it …..
If I play someone off 15.9 , they go to 19 !!
Then back to 18 .
They gain 2 shots , I gain 1 shot , then I get beaten anyway because they can easily play between 3-6 shots under their handicap ( most members do tbh )
It’s a complete joke , therefore I now don’t play in club comps because someone always comes in with 45 points playing off 15 or 30 odd !!
Just no point in trying to compete
If”most members” are “easily playing 3 -6 shots below their handicap” then there’s a rabbit away. Are they putting cards in? Every club should require a minimum number of cards to be recorded ieach year to play in club competitions. I simply don’t believe that most players are recording net 3-6 under (39 to 42 points)
I think WHS need to explain how this levels the field as I don’t get it.
If you have an index up to around 4 you’ll get your full course handicap but above that you start losing shots. At my club, a 54 index would have a Course Handicap of 59 but at 85% that becomes 50. A 9 shot reduction against zero reduction for the best players in the club.
Either WHS is nonsense or the R&A are just trying to appease the better players.
WHS was sold as being fairer and I’m yet to see any evidence of this. Indexes fluctuate wildly and do not reflect ability rather more recent form if you play regularly and put in cards.
The old system was better and worked for the vast majority. Surely sense must be seen sooner rather than later.
Usual thing,low handicappers think the system is run just for them……it’s not.
There are many players,learners,old ones,injured etc who will never be able to reach the single figure handicap pinnacle and for whome the system gives them a chance to be competitive.
You both gain 2 shots against your WHS handicap, so nothing changes in reality other than you both gain 2 shots against the course.
At our club it is a mix of winners not always the higher handicappers. I think there is possibly a sweet spot regarding shots received and ability. As your handicap comes down and your parring more holes or bogey golf you might just have to that one round where things click, but even if you beat your handicap by 8 shots as that score is only 1 in 8 used to calculate the handicap index it will only come down by one shot.
Our pro will adjust handicaps depending on the scores being submitted, eg winners can lose 2-4 shots if they come in with high 40’s stableford scores
How the hell does your pro adjust members handicaps by 2 to 4 shots. when I thought the system didn’t allow individual handicap adjustments
Clubs having division 1 & 2 on comp days helps if not 80% handicapp for all would help make it fairer
Go back to the old system this ones pathetic nobody I talk to thinks it’s any good .it’s complicated no one as any idea what shots they get in doubles especially ,no ones off the handicap they supposed to be worst thing England golf ever did grow some admit it doesn’t work 28 maximum handicap or people won’t improve if they rely on 50 shots it’s the biggest joke since Patrick Reed got away with cheating 🙄
The WH system is a great step forward but unfortunately, like most areas of life people don’t like change! But, anything that helps the low handicap player to have a better chance of winning comps gets my vote.
Why should you skew a competition to help the low handicap player?
The system is crap but those with their noses in the trough don’t want to know. WHS / R&A just jobs for the boys. Fxxking useless the lot of them.
I CAN SYMPATHISE WITH THE LOW HANDICAPPERS, MY GAME WAS SLOWLY IMPROVING AND WAS HEADING FOR 22 HANDICAP HAVING BEEN A 27, THEN SUDDENLY I START LOSING 2 SHOTS INSTEAD OF POINT 1 OR 2 FOR A BAD ROUND. BACK TO 27 IN A FLASH. OLD SYSTEM I WOULD HAVE GONE TO 24 AT THE WORST, SLIGHTLY EMBARRASED PUTTING IN A 40 POINT ROUND. AS SLOPE RATING GAVE ME A 29 HANDICAP. NEVER RIGHT.
Yes it’s very disappointing when every week our VETS you need over 40 points to get I. The top 3. Bring back a maximum handicap say 28. Not bloody 54. Played a 49 handicapper the other day first blob, 2nd blog, 3rd 3for 5 its stupid.
The current system is flawed. The obvious thing is that in singles play everyone should play off their course handicap. Why? Because the WHS is supposed to be an accurate reflection of your playing ability. So if a player has a course handicap of 30 under 95% they lose 2 shots. A player off 7 loses none. So the higher handicapper is penalised. Why? The index plus course rating is the correct handicap allowance. Play to it. For the low handicap golfers to be moaning is hilarious. It’s skewed in their favour to start with
Bring back the Congu handicap system, it was a far better system. I played off 16 for 15 years or so. The new system I’m now off whc 21. I get 23 course hcp and 22 in singles comp. I’m still playing same standard golf, having 3 or so under par net scores per season. While still playing in all the qualifying comps at my home course. I worked out from all last seasons scores, in qualifying comps. Using The old system. I would have been playing off 17 (16.7 exact).
I posted 100 qualifying scores last year and no one could question my handicap index of 3.4. The problem really is members not returning enough qualifying scores. 100 is obviously too high for most members (I’m retired so can play as much as I want to). However, although EG encourage members to return cards it doesn’t happen in practice. They even removed the minimum requirement to post 3 qualifying scores per year. If we are to stick with the current system we should be expecting members to return a minimum number of qualifying scores – say at least 12 during the summer playing season. I also question whether handicap committees are truly committed to undertaking proper annual reviews.
I couldn’t agree more with your comments. I’m in a similar position concerning card returns, over 100.
We definitely need more than 3 qualifying scores and this is something that a handicap committee could/should enforce
The problems arose when they decided to scrap a card being put in every time you played
I play most of my golf in Spain. We play federated competitions every weekend. My hcp is 9.1. When I return to the UK my hcp is 6.8. Even when I show the secretary my results on my phone he says I’ve to play of the lower hcp. I’m only a country member but feel nobody cares. What can I do to get parity in the whs system. Also when I try to book into open competitions at most clubs they don’t accept my Spanish hcp and I have to play off the lower hcp which is given at my UK club.
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The whole system is flawed. I turn up I have course and a playing neither correct as it then 95%. My partner struggles of 4 one day got 2. Complete joke.
Use the division system 1,2,3 etc, play 100% and limit major club completions to a maximum of 28 for men
I have been playing for 55years and felt competitive playing of a low hcap in fballs and singles,till the EGU scrapped 75%,the 100%in singles is ridiculous your playing a match play comp with a medal hcap,you should just play a medal knock out,since the hcap is over 18holes. The idea of a hcap is that we should all score the same,guy’s scoring 5points on one hole ,2shots should be playing bowls.Bloody stableford needs changing should be minus1 not nought,gets on my wick when some 24 hcap comes in with 43 and boasts he didn’t score on 3holes ,Frank Stableford must of been awful at medals.That’s me dowe.😎
The systems are not easy and are definitely not making it a level playing field. Let’s be honest here not everyone is putting in their cards after every round on general play, especially if they have had an exceptionally good round as they want to protect their handicap, particularly if it’s high, as they get the advantages when entering comps. So where is the fairness in that. Everyone should put a minimum number of cards in per year or not be eligible to play in comps . Don’t know how the whs can get around this
Good day – I know we are loosing many keen golfers – and these are the ones we want to keep!
I play with a group of chaps (seniors) some of us are better and 3 are not so good – using the England golf app each game I fail to see how the better golfers can actually win a game. We play staple ford and our average is 18 H/Cap yet the other 3 play off 38 – this offers 20 shots! Then
We have slope and will offer just 1 for us yet will increase the poorer player by 4 meaning we would have to give 23 shots, no chance. These higher handicaps are reasonable players but fail to break 100 per round yet using staple ford they win most games. It was much fairer when handicaps were 28 max and the slope was non existent. The big issue these golfers fail to break 100 and we see the handicap does not change for many many months. I would love a solution before we loose even more valued golfers who say its pointless playing as there is no chance of a win.
Overall I feel England Golf is a good system – checking H/caps on the phone etc. But its gone the wrong way to help new golfers as they will loose the better golfers.
I find it totally ridiculous that we spend time and effort registering every round to obtain and maintain a “fair “ handicap only to find in competitions you lose shot’s .
Surely your handicap is your handicap – why does it need to be adjusted ?
It only favours the lower handicappers anyway – why should they get an added advantage ?
I have asked this question to many people at our club , the Pro , captains , committee members etc and no-one yet has been able to explain why !
Keep it simple , there should be one playing handicap !