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How the World Handicap System Works

By League Admin • March 31, 2026

The World Handicap System (WHS) is the global standard adopted by the USGA and R&A to calculate golf handicaps fairly across all courses and conditions.

Score Differential

After each round, a Score Differential is calculated:
Differential = (Adjusted Gross Score − Course Rating) × 113 ÷ Slope Rating

Handicap Index

Your Handicap Index is the average of your best 8 Score Differentials from your most recent 20 rounds, multiplied by 0.96.

Playing Handicap

On the day of a round, your Playing Handicap is:
Handicap Index × (Slope Rating ÷ 113) + (Course Rating − Par)

Questions? Contact the league admin for help getting set up.

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