Page 14 - 2020 Golf Guide

T Level Field NEGOTIATING THE NEW WORLD HANDICAP SYSTEM.
he element of golf that makes it • Meeting the needs and expectations of executive director of the Delaware Golf
truly unique is handicapping—a golfers, golf clubs and golf authorities around Association. “Great features like golfer lookup
system that allows players of all levels the world. and a course handicap calculator help you find to compete against one another, regardless • Being adaptable to suit all golfing cultures. the info you need to play a round or calculate
of ability. This great equalizer has gotten a revamp in 2020 with the launch of the World Handicap System.
Golf already has a single set of rules for playing, equipment and amateur status. Yet there are six different handicap systems used around the world. The WHS will consolidate those by doing the following:
• Enabling golfers of varied abilities to play
and compete on a fair and equitable basis, in any format, on any course, anywhere around the world.
• Making it easy to understand and implement, without sacrificing accuracy.
GG12 Golf Guide 2020 | todaymediainc.com
Among the broadest benefits of the new system: It will save time and offer more frequent updates. Golfers can now get a handicap established after just three rounds instead of five, making the game more accessible for new players. Likewise, the new system takes better advantage of today’s technologies, offering daily handicap updates, as opposed to the previous archaic two-week window. Factoring how your score is impacted in adverse playing conditions is another welcome upgrade.
“I really like the new [Golf Handicap Information Network] app,” says Laura Heien,
how many strokes you get.”
Heien also likes the daily revisions. “With
the technology available in today’s world, there’s no reason we shouldn’t expect faster updates to our scoring record,” she says. “For golfers who play multiple rounds per week, your index is now responsive and will allow you to compete on a more equitable basis.”
—Jim Finnegan
For more details on the World Handicap System, a complete overview of the benefits, and to download the new USGA app, visit dsga.org or usga.com.