World Handicap System (WHS)

[jim8flog]

I don't find that people always explain things clearly enough so here's my understanding:

Our HI is our handicap if we were playing on a Slope 113 course, considered to be "the average".

Our Course Handicap is the adjustment to represent the course and tees we are playing that day, if the Slope is higher than 113 our CH will be higher.

From our CH, we get today's Playing Handicap based on the format of play.

WHY?
Who knows ?‍

I thought a slope of 113 is considered to be the point where a course has the same difficulty for a scratch and a bogey player hence neither player receives additional shot to their HI.

I thought the average slope is 125.

 

[balaclava]

I have three numbers; a HC index (HCI), a course rating (CR) and a slope rating (SR)

Q1. Where does the HC Index number come from - how was that calculated?
Q2. What is the formula used to calculate the Course HC e.g. HCI x CR / SR?
Q3. I presume that the Playing HC is 95% of the Course HC?

 

[Imurg]

I have three numbers; a HC index (HCI), a course rating (CR) and a slope rating (SR)

Q1. Where does the HC Index number come from - how was that calculated?
Q2. What is the formula used to calculate the Course HC e.g. HCI x CR / SR?
Q3. I presume that the Playing HC is 95% of the Course HC?

1.
Index is calculated from the average of the best 8 differentials from your last 20 rounds dating back 2 years (I believe)
2.
Course handicap is Index x Slope ÷ 113 and rounded if youre in England. The slope number is taken from whichever tee you are using.
3.
Playing handicap will depend on format being played. Tables have been published showing the %age per format
Singles strokeplay (Medal/Stableford) uses 95%
Simples

 

[HampshireHog]

Is it possible to have a permanent “sticky” that covers how the initial Index was calculated, how to calculate course handicap and playing handicap, and how the index is affected as you play?

It just seems that these questions are repeated continuously.

 

[rulefan]

I have three numbers; a HC index (HCI), a course rating (CR) and a slope rating (SR)

Q1. Where does the HC Index number come from - how was that calculated?
Q2. What is the formula used to calculate the Course HC e.g. HCI x CR / SR?
Q3. I presume that the Playing HC is 95% of the Course HC?

1) By looking at your last 20 Score Differentials. (ie the difference between your score and the Course Rating (CSS in old money) and multiplying by (113/ Slope). Then taking the average of the best 8.

2) Course Handicap = Index x (Slope/113)

3) Yes, in individual stroke play. But may be different according to the format of play (100% match play)

PS. See how the slope is accounted for and then reversed in 2) & 1)

 

[rulefan]

Is it possible to have a permanent “sticky” that covers how the initial Index was calculated, how to calculate course handicap and playing handicap, and how the index is affected as you play?

It just seems that these questions are repeated continuously.

Good idea but it's already on the EG website

 

[ScienceBoy]

Just had my first “good round but my handicap went up” moments as a 29 pushed a 27 out of my last 20 rounds.

 

[HampshireHog]

Clearly no one goes there though ?

 

[jim8flog]

I have three numbers; a HC index (HCI), a course rating (CR) and a slope rating (SR)

Q1. Where does the HC Index number come from - how was that calculated?
Q2. What is the formula used to calculate the Course HC e.g. HCI x CR / SR?
Q3. I presume that the Playing HC is 95% of the Course HC?

Q1

It is the best 8 from 20 only if you have 20 scores since January 2018 on you record.

If you have less then that it is an increasing formula which starts at 3 scores which is the best score minus 2 strokes as each score is added the formula changes until you reach 20 e.g only 19 and it is the best 7

 

[Foxholer]

1) By looking at your last 20 Score Differentials. (ie the difference between your score and the Course Rating (CSS in old money) and multiplying by (113/ Slope). Then taking the average of the best 8.
...

They used CSS cf SSS? Probably reasonable, as equates to Conditions Adjustment though that will no longer apply for non-comp rounds; just checking

 

[jim8flog]

Clearly no one goes there though ?

I would hope everybody is going there now as it is the best source for your Handicap Index.

 

[SwingsitlikeHogan]

I thought a slope of 113 is considered to be the point where a course has the same difficulty for a scratch and a bogey player hence neither player receives additional shot to their HI.

I thought the average slope is 125.

More I thinking that for a course with a SR of 113 a higher handicap player has no more or no less difficulty playing the course to his ability as reflected by his HI than a scratch player - and so the higher player does not require any additional shots to be able to complete against the scratch guy on a level (handicap) footing.

 

[3offTheTee]

If playing a scramble, 4 players 25,20,15 10 are the resultant 4 figures rounded OR are they exact please?

 

[balaclava]

Course handicap is Index x Slope ÷ 113 and rounded if you're in England. The slope number is taken from whichever tee you are using.

If that is correct (and I am sure you are correct) the course rating is not a factor in the equation (so why have it) and where does the number `113 come from?

 

[IanMcC]

If playing a scramble, 4 players 25,20,15 10 are the resultant 4 figures rounded OR are they exact please?

Exact to one decimal place.

 

[Ethan]

If that is correct (and I am sure you are correct) the course rating is not a factor in the equation (so why have it) and where does the number `113 come from?

Slope is an adjustment factor for the proportional degree of difficulty for the bogey player compared to the scratch player. 113 is the zero rated point where a course is not proportionately more difficult for the bogey player cf the scratch.

The course handicap is most similar to the current CONGU, because your current CONGU has the course difficulty baked in. The Handicap Index is essentially the handicap with the course factor stripped out, so should be comparable between players at different courses. Then when you go to any course for a game, including your own, you put the course factor back in again.

 

[IanMcC]

If that is correct (and I am sure you are correct) the course rating is not a factor in the equation (so why have it) and where does the number `113 come from?

Im not trying to be cheeky, but you really should read the England Golf toolkit, or at least watch the HDID videos on youtube, or something.

 

[Tashyboy]

There is no buffer zone anymore.?.
Your 34 replaced the 20th score on your list.
If that was a good one, say 38 points, then your best 8 average is going to go up.

cheers me man.
A pal of mine is gonna be gutted. His 20th score was a 64 if that is replaced he ain’t gonna be happy.

 

[Ethan]

cheers me man.
A pal of mine is gonna be gutted. His 20th score was a 64 if that is replaced he ain’t gonna be happy.

And that is exactly why handicaps move more quickly under WHS. You play to your handicap and it still goes up because of losing that score from your 8/20.

 

[jim8flog]

If that is correct (and I am sure you are correct) the course rating is not a factor in the equation (so why have it) and where does the number `113 come from?

Not following you totally when you say CR is not a factor. CR is what you are trying to get to.

113 is the base line number that the WHS organisers have decided on.

It is figure which can be greater or lesser for slope. If you started with 0 it would be hard to produce a number less than it as you would have a negative handicap if you played on a which is less difficult. There is no way of deciding what the easiest course in the world is as someone might build an easier one.