'It's a DISMAL failure': Golf fans react to the one-year anniversary of the WHS

It's fair to say the WHS is far from a success...but what do you think?

Ben Smith

03 Nov 2021

'It's a DISMAL failure': Golf fans react to the one-year anniversary of the WHS — 'It's a DISMAL failure': Golf fans react to the one-year anniversary of…

The amateur golf world endured one of the biggest changes in its history last year.

We are of course talking about the introduction of the World Handicap System (WHS).

It replaced CONGU and is supposed to be a fairer way of calculating your handicap.

So long bandits who rock up and claim a massive stableford victory after not playing for months.

Now we are at the one-year anniversary of the introduction of the WHS.

Has it been a success?

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It has been one year since the WHS system was introduced. Has it been good or bad for golfers? Give us your thoughts below:
— GolfMagic.com (@GolfMagic) November 3, 2021

But not everyone sees the WHS as a good thing and it still is a hot topic of conversation in clubhouses across the world.

If you're not sure what the WHS is, let's refresh your memory.

Very briefly, handicaps are now calculated with your eight best scores over your last 20 rounds multiplied by 96 per cent.

You can now transport your handicap index globally which will vary depending on your chosen course's slope rating.

So far, it seems as though there is a divide in its success.

We asked our readers in a poll and the feedback shows as much.

An hour-long poll on social media revealed 59.7 per cent of voters felt the WHS system is good.

One of the common gripes is that golfers believe it marginalises low handicappers.

Others include that it is unnecessarily complicated and confusing.

On the other hand it offers flexibility especially with general play scores on the MyEngland golf app.

The ability to input all your scores all through a phone is a positive.

There is also the fact you'll immediately know your handicap change.

The fact that there's a fairly even split over whether it's good or bad, says it's bad. If less than half respondents think it's not good, then it's a failure in my book. Personally, there are benefits to it, however its far too complex to understand for even keen golfers.
— Mark (@mexicomark) November 3, 2021

20 years ago scores of US golfers turned up in the UK major am events with silly + handicaps they couldn’t play to, & now we’ve basically imported that US system & made it harder than ever for better golfers to compete in club comps. It’s a dismal failure IMO.
— R_O_B_B_O (@robbo2107) November 3, 2021

After 5 years "development" this is the best they could come up with? It doesn't help when all golf bodies aren't on the same page either. But it's overly complicated and doesn't add anything that wasn't already there. Great you can transfer h/cap to another course. Whoopee.
— Si Whitt (@si_whitt) November 3, 2021

Yes.
Good because one common system.
Bad because still does not accurately reflect a players game—plus formulas & outcome not understood by customer.
Direct reflection/actual handicap should equal score in relation to par, nothing more or less, imo.
— Keith Cook (@_KeithCook) November 3, 2021

Have to say when there are golfers playing 1 or 2 competitions a week and STILL can't work out 95% of their Course Handicap I'm not sure it's the system
Generally speaking the golfers who don't understand it are the ones who haven't looked at it
— Tim Aggett (@TimAggettsport) November 3, 2021

It's been great for me, as someone who doesn't have the time to make the most of a membership anywhere it allows me the opportunity to maintain a handicap until my situation changes.
— Andy B (@AndyBurtenshaw) November 3, 2021