Golf bodies in Great Britain and Ireland have united this week on a campaign focused on the importance of player and club Handicap Committee responsibilities under the World Handicap System TM (WHS TM ) – collectively, the Rules of Handicapping TM and Course Rating System TM .
With the new golf season now underway in GB&I, The R&A is working together with the national home associations on a collaborative campaign to raise awareness of those responsibilities.
The WHS was launched in 2020 and is now being used in over 130 countries across the globe, providing golfers with a single, consistent measure of playing ability worldwide. Within GB&I, there have been challenges with the WHS – notably around the perception of handicap manipulation – and the aim of the campaign is to help golfers better understand what behaviours and actions are a breach of the Rules of Handicapping.
“We’re delighted to be working with The R&A and our partners in GB&I golf on this campaign,” said Golf Ireland CEO Mark Kennelly. “In Ireland, the volume of feedback we have received since the WHS has been introduced shows that the subject of handicapping is one that is really important to Irish clubs and golfers.
“This campaign gives us all an opportunity to speak directly to golfers about how the system works, and about how we can address common concerns, particularly around handicap manipulation which is a key focus.”
The national home associations have today sent out e-newsletter communications direct to players and club managers with the support of The R&A. The communication includes a player and club ‘flipbook’ each highlighting five key responsibilities, with the player flipbook also posted on social media.
With the WHS still relatively young, the first revision in 2024 included fairly subtle changes to allow for the system to continue to bed in.
To help inform discussions on the next revision, tentatively scheduled for January 2028, a global survey was conducted in September last year to gather feedback from players and golf club administrators, which has helped inform this week’s campaign.
The survey received 72,000 responses and a significant proportion of those were from GB&I. Globally the system is viewed very positively, but there was more negativity from respondents from
GB&I – due in no small part to the fact GB&I underwent the biggest change in moving from the CONGU system to the WHS.
Major themes to emerge from comments from respondents in GB&I is the perception that the WHS is open to manipulation and that Handicap Committees need more support to carry out their roles effectively.
Grant Moir, Executive Director – Governance at The R&A, said, “Inclusivity is at the heart of the WHS, with one of the main aims being to encourage as many golfers as possible to obtain and maintain a Handicap Index. That has been one of its great successes.
“But The R&A, along with the USGA, understand the need to monitor WHS closely and through our research it’s clear that in Great Britain and Ireland there are some specific concerns around the system, particularly the perception that there may be a small minority of players that are manipulating the system.
“This social media and e-newsletter campaign, which we are conducting in collaboration with England Golf, Golf Ireland, Scottish Golf and Wales Golf, is intended to address these concerns. The purpose of the campaign is to raise awareness, particularly among golfers, but also Handicap Committees as to what their responsibilities are within the Rules of Handicapping.
“We don’t think there are many golfers abusing the system to gain an unfair advantage but we recognise that even if a small number are doing so then it can impact on the enjoyment of competition golf and negatively impacts on golfer opinion of the WHS.
“So our aim is to help golfers better understand the behaviours and the actions that are a breach of the Rules, to emphasise that deliberately breaching these Rules is unacceptable and to call out deliberate manipulation for what it is, which is cheating. The Rules of Handicapping just like the Rules of Golf rely to a certain extent on player integrity and we all need to be prepared to challenge behaviour that lacks the type of integrity we all expect.”
With golf participation rising across the world through on and off course formats, the number of rounds being recorded in GB&I through the WHS are strong and new golfers, in particular, are positive about the system. For example, 9.1 million competitive rounds were played in 2024 within
GB&I compared to 8.7 million in 2023. The number of general play scores also increased from 3.9 million in 2023 to 4.9 million in 2024.
Hannah McAllister, CEO of Wales Golf, added, “At Wales Golf, we understand how important handicapping is to both our clubs and players, and how vital it is to use the World Handicap System correctly.
“This joint campaign with our partners at The R&A and GB&I golf gives us a valuable opportunity to address some of the concerns raised by golfers across Wales, and ensures the WHS runs smoothly and benefits everyone —players, clubs and officials alike.
“One of the key issues we’re tackling is handicap manipulation, and the responsibilities that golfers have around submitting scores and maintaining their handicap. This campaign is focused on educating players on how to use the WHS fairly, while also supporting clubs in managing the system effectively.”
With Irishman Rory McIlroy creating great excitement after becoming only the sixth male golfer to win all four major titles after his nail-biting win at the Masters Tournament on Sunday night, golfers in GB&I have huge inspiration to head for the fairways this Easter weekend and beyond.
“Anything that makes golf more accessible is a positive,” added Grant Moir from The R&A. “The WHS makes getting and maintaining a handicap much easier and adds to the appeal of golf. The number of rounds being played in GB&I under WHS confirms that.
“We will continue to review the Rules of Handicapping, including the safeguards that are already in the system to prevent abuse, to ensure they are as robust as possible.”
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