Cornwall Golf
Handicapping
WHS
"A modern handicap system for all golfers everywhere"
The new World Handicap System (WHS) has been designed to encourage more golfers to obtain a handicap - enabling them to play with, or against, each other anywhere around the world.
The idea for a new, unified system was conceived by The R&A and the USGA and developed following an extensive review of existing systems administered by six handicapping authorities. Adaptable across golfing cultures, the proposed new system will provide players with a consistent measure of playing ability globally, helping to make the game of golf more enjoyable.
The WHS came into operation on 2nd November 2020. The current CONGU Unified Handicapping System was replaced by WHS which unified the six handicapping structures that were in place throughout the world. With one single system in place golfers can obtain and maintain a handicap index; use their handicap index on any golf course around the world; and compete or play a casual round with anyone else on a fair and equal basis.
(Feb 2022) Unfortunately whilst it remains a priority there is not yet full interoperability across different countries.
There are a number of links below to various sources of further information. The R&A link leads to a wealth of information and includes videos, background, the key principles and additional Q&As.
For any queries, in the first instance, please contact CG Secretary Chris Pountney.
Key Features of the WHS
Key Features
Calculation of Playing Handicap
The number of strokes received during a round will be based on the choice of course, tees and format of play. This will include any Handicap Allowances that have been set to promote fairness of play.
Go out and enjoy your Round
Under the new system, golfers should feel like they can simply play and enjoy their round - just the same as always.
Submit your Score
The player should submit their score as soon as practicable after completing the round, preferably before midnight on the day of play for inclusion in the daily Course Conditions Adjustment calculation. This allows a responsive update of the player's handicap for the next day they play.
There is no real need for golfers to worry about the technical details of the new system. However, for those who are interested - here are some of the highlights:
Minimal Number of Scores to Obtain a Handicap
To encourage new players to the game, National Associations can set the number of holes required to be submitted to obtain a handicap. It is recommended that the minimum number of holes should be 54, in any combination of 9-hole or 18-hole rounds.
Maximum Handicap
Under the new system, the maximum handicap that can be issued to a player of any gender is 54.0.
Acceptable Scores for Handicap Purposes
Singles and Stableford formats of stroke-play competitions must be submitted by all players. National Associations have discretion within their jurisdiction to decide whether other acceptable formats of play can be submitted for handicap purposes - giving players plenty of opportunity to submit scores and provide evidence of their potential ability.
Maximum Hole Score
Golfers of all skill levels will occasionally make a high score on a hole, which does not reflect their potential. Under the new system, the maximum score per hole will be limited to Net Double Bogey, which is the equivalent of zero points in Stableford formats.
Course Rating and Slope Rating
Course Rating indicates the difficulty of a golf course for a 0-handicap golfer. Slope Rating is relative to the Course Rating, providing strokes needed to play at the same level as the 0-handicap golfer for a specific set of tees. Course and Slope Ratings enable golfers' handicaps to be portable from course to course, country to country.
Basis of Handicap Calculation
Averaging the best eight of a player's most recent 20 scores provides a good indicator of potential ability. When combined with memory of demonstrated ability over time, the resulting handicap provides a balance between responsiveness and control - so a temporary loss of form should not automatically lead to an excessive increase in handicap.
Abnormal Course and Weather Conditions Adjustment
Golf is an outdoor sport and not always played in ideal conditions. The new system will consider the impact of daily course or weather conditions on each golfer's performance. Such adjustments will be conservative and will only be made when there is clear evidence that an adjustment is warranted.
Accommodating Local Golfing Cultures
It is not our intention to try to force a change on the way that golf is played around the world or to try and remove the variations. The cultural diversity that exists within the game, including different formats of play and degrees of competitiveness, is what makes the sport so universally popular. Through collaboration with National Associations, the goal has been to try to accommodate those cultural differences within a single WHS.
9-Hole Scores
The new system is able to accept both 9-hole and 18-hole score formats for handicapping purposes, where selected by National Associations.
Daily Revisions
The player should submit their score as soon as practicable after completing the round, preferably before midnight on the day of play. This allows for a responsive update of the player's handicap before the next day they play.
England Golf WHS Resources WHS via the R&A WHS Map R&A and USGA Resource Portal WHS Rules of Handicapping
Diary
| March 2023 Diary of Events | ||||||
| Wednesday 1st | ||||||
| Thursday 2nd | ||||||
| Friday 3rd | ||||||
| Saturday 4th | ||||||
| Sunday 5th | ||||||
| Monday 6th | ||||||
| Tuesday 7th | ||||||
| Wednesday 8th | ||||||
| Thursday 9th | ||||||
| Friday 10th | ||||||
| Saturday 11th | ||||||
| Sunday 12th | ||||||
| Monday 13th | ||||||
| Saturday 14th | Cornwall Men Match at home to Royal Navy (Friendly) | Perranporth | ||||
| Sunday 15th | Frank Wills Salver & Cornish Bowl Finals | Newquay | ||||
| Thursday 16th | ||||||
| Friday 17th | ||||||
| Saturday 18th | ||||||
| Sunday 19th | ||||||
| Monday 20th | ||||||
| Tuesday 21st | ||||||
| Sunday 22nd | Cornwall Team Championship & Presidents Trophy Finals | St Enodoc | ||||
| Thursday 23rd | ||||||
| Friday 24th | ||||||
| Saturday 25th | ||||||
| Sunday 26th | ||||||
| Monday 27th | ||||||
| Tuesday 28th | ||||||
| Sunday 29th | 12:00 - 14:30 | Junior Spring Meeting (OoM) | Bude & North Cornwall | |||
| Tuesday 7th | Cornwall Boys U16 Match at home to Devon U16 (U16 Ben Enoch Trophy) | Bude | ||||
| Cornwall Boys U14 Match at home to Devon U14 (U14 Jack Roberts League) | Bude | |||||
| Saturday 8th | ||||||
| Thursday 9th | 08:30 - 09:30 | Cornwall Women's Amateur Championship 2026 Rd 1 & Amateur Championship 2026 Rd 2 | Mullion | |||
| Monday 10th | ||||||
| Tuesday 11th | ||||||
| Sunday 12th | Cornwall Men Match at home to Dorset (Channel League) | Perranporth | ||||
| 11:05 - 15:37 | B Team Club Championship Qualifier 2026 | St Austell | ||||
| Thursday 13th | ||||||
| Tuesday 14th | SW Four Counties Junior Championship (3 days) | Woodbury, Devon | ||||
| Saturday 15th | ||||||
| Sunday 16th | ||||||
| Monday 17th | ||||||
| Tuesday 18th | ||||||
| Sunday 19th | 10:00 - 13:54 | A Team Club Championship Qualifier 2026 | The Point at Polzeath | |||
| 13:00 - 14:20 | Cornwall Junior Tour 2026 Rd1 (0-28) | Perranporth | ||||
| 14:30 - 15:42 | Cornwall Junior Tour 2026 Rd1 (29-54) | Perranporth F9 | ||||
| Thursday 20th | ||||||
| Friday 21st | ||||||
| Saturday 22nd | ||||||
| Sunday 23rd | ||||||
| Monday 24th | ||||||
| Tuesday 25th | ||||||
| Sunday 26th | Cornwall Mixed Greensomes | Falmouth | ||||
| 08:00 - 09:28 | Cornish Closed & U21 Championship - Rnd 1 & 2 | Mullion | ||||
| Monday 27th | Cornwall Seniors Men Match away to Devon Seniors (Seniors Channel League) | Tavistock | ||||
| Sunday 3rd | Gammon Trophy Preliminary Round | |||||
| 13:00 - 14:20 | Cornwall Junior Tour 2026 Rd2 (0-28) | Bowood Park | ||||
| 14:30 - 15:42 | Cornwall Junior Tour 2026 Rd 2 (29-54) | Bowood Park Hotel & F9 | ||||
| Thursday 4th | ||||||
| Friday 5th | ||||||
| Saturday 6th | ||||||
| Sunday 7th | ||||||
| Monday 8th | ||||||
| Tuesday 9th | ||||||
| Sunday 10th | 07:30 - 15:54 | Royal Cornwall Goblets | The Point at Polzeath | |||
| Monday 11th | 07:33 - 16:15 | Seniors & Founders Cups | The Point at Polzeath | |||
| Tuesday 12th | 07:30 - 15:50 | Royal Cornwall Challenge Cup | The Point at Polzeath | |||
| Wednesday 13th | 08:00 - 09:50 | Cornwall Men's Amateur Championship 2026 Rd 1 | The Point at Polzeath | |||
| 08:30 - 10:30 | Cornwall Women's Division 1 Spring Meeting | Newquay Aug2012 | ||||
| 10:40 - 12:30 | Cornwall Women's Division 2 Spring Meeting | Newquay Aug2012 | ||||
| 13:00 - 14:50 | Cornwall Men's Amateur Championship 2026 Rd 2 | The Point at Polzeath | ||||
| Thursday 14th | 09:37 - 11:43 | Lawrance Cup | The Point at Polzeath | |||
| 13:49 - 15:55 | Lawrance Cup (cont.) | The Point at Polzeath | ||||
| Friday 15th | 08:06 - 11:42 | Western Morning News Challenge Cup | The Point at Polzeath | |||
| 12:54 - 16:12 | Western Morning News Challenge Cup (cont.) | The Point at Polzeath | ||||
| Tuesday 16th | ||||||
| Sunday 17th | Gammon Trophy 1st round | |||||
| Monday 18th | Cornwall Seniors Men Match away to Gloucestershire Seniors (Seniors Channel League) | Lilley Brook | ||||
| Friday 19th | ||||||
| Saturday 20th | ||||||
| Sunday 21st | ||||||
| Monday 22nd | ||||||
| Tuesday 23rd | ||||||
| Wednesday 24th | ||||||
| Monday 25th | 10:00 - 13:54 | England Golf Junior Champion Club Qualifier | Mawgan Porth GC | |||
| Friday 26th | ||||||
| Saturday 27th | ||||||
| Thursday 28th | SW U16/U14 Boys Championships | Bude | ||||
| Monday 29th | ||||||
| Tuesday 30th | ||||||
| Sunday 31st | Cornwall Men Match away to Glamorgan (Channel League) | Radyr | ||||
| Thursday 11th | 08:00 - 09:30 | Cornwall Women's Baron Rose Bowl Round 1 & 2 | Tehidy Park | |||
| Monday 12th | ||||||
| Tuesday 13th | ||||||
| Sunday 14th | Gammon Trophy 2nd round | |||||
| Cornwall Boys U14 Match away to Wiltshire U14 (U14 Jack Roberts League) | Chippenham | |||||
| Thursday 15th | ||||||
| Friday 16th | ||||||
| Wednesday 17th | 12:45 - 14:35 | Cornwall Golf Men's Seniors County Championship 2026 Rd 1 | Bowood Park | |||
| Thursday 18th | 11:15 - 12:55 | Cornwall Golf Men's Seniors County Championship 2026 Rd 2 | Bowood Park | |||
| Friday 19th | 08:30 - 15:00 | Cornwall Men's Over 55s Team Championship | Looe | |||
| Tuesday 20th | ||||||
| Sunday 21st | 13:00 - 14:20 | Cornwall Junior Tour 2026 Rd3 (0-28) | Porthpean | |||
| 14:30 - 15:42 | Cornwall Junior Tour 2026 Rd3 (29-54) | Porthpean | ||||
| Thursday 22nd | ||||||
| Friday 23rd | ||||||
| Saturday 24th | ||||||
| Sunday 25th | ||||||
| Monday 26th | ||||||
| Tuesday 27th | ||||||
| Sunday 28th | 08:00 - 09:30 | Cornwall Junior County Championship 2026 Rd 1 (U16 & U18) | Trethorne | |||
| 09:40 - 11:10 | Cornwall Junior County Championship 2026 (U12 & U14) | Trethorne | ||||
| 12:00 - 12:10 | Cornwall Golf Girls 9 Hole Championship | Trethorne F9 | ||||
| 12:20 - 12:50 | Cornwall Golf Girls County Championship 2026 | Trethorne | ||||
| 13:00 - 14:30 | Cornwall Junior County Championship 2026 Rd 2 (U16 & U18) | Trethorne | ||||
| Thursday 29th | ||||||
| Tuesday 30th | Glamorgan Seniors Match away to Cornwall Seniors Men (Seniors Channel League) | |||||
| Sunday 5th | Women's South West Inter County Match Week (4 days) | Yeovil | ||||
| Cornwall Men Match at home to Somerset (Channel League) | Perranporth | |||||
| Monday 6th | Cornwall Seniors Men Match at home to Wiltshire Seniors (Seniors Channel League) | West Cornwall | ||||
| Friday 7th | ||||||
| Wednesday 8th | 08:30 - 12:50 | Cornwall Women's Inter Club Handicap Shield (Division 2) | St Austell | |||
| Thursday 9th | SWCGA Boys Championship | Weston-super-Mare | ||||
| Monday 10th | ||||||
| Tuesday 11th | ||||||
| Sunday 12th | Gammon Trophy Semi-Finals | |||||
| 13:00 - 14:20 | Cornwall Junior Tour 2026 Rd4 (0-28) | Tehidy Park | ||||
| 14:30 - 15:42 | Cornwall Junior Tour 2026 Rd4 (29-54) | Tehidy Park F9 | ||||
| Thursday 13th | ||||||
| Friday 14th | ||||||
| Wednesday 15th | SWCGA Men's Seniors Championship (2 days) | Royal North Devon | ||||
| Sunday 16th | ||||||
| Monday 17th | ||||||
| Tuesday 18th | ||||||
| Sunday 19th | Cornwall Men Match away to Somerset (Channel League) | Mendip Spring | ||||
| Thursday 20th | ||||||
| Friday 21st | ||||||
| Saturday 22nd | ||||||
| Sunday 23rd | ||||||
| Friday 24th | Cornwall Boys U16 Match at home to Dorset U16 (U16 Ben Enoch Trophy) | China Fleet | ||||
| Cornwall Boys U14 Match at home to Dorset U14 (U14 Jack Roberts League) | China Fleet | |||||
| Tuesday 25th | ||||||
| Sunday 26th | 08:00 - 09:36 | Cornwall Golf Maxam Cup Rd 1 & Maxam Cup Rd 2 | Falmouth | |||
| Monday 27th | Somerset Seniors Match at home to Cornwall Seniors Men (Seniors Channel League) | TBC | ||||
| Friday 28th | ||||||
| Saturday 29th | ||||||
| Thursday 30th | Cornwall Boys U18 Match away to Devon U18 (U18 Greenaway Shield) | Stover | ||||
| Sunday 2nd | Girls Inter County Match Week (4 days) | Bristol & Clifton | ||||
| Cornwall Men Match at home to Glamorgan (Channel League) | St Enodoc | |||||
| Monday 3rd | Cornwall Women's Flag Day | St Austell | ||||
| Tuesday 4th | Somerset U18 Match away to Cornwall Boys U18 (U18 Greenaway Shield) | Bowood Park | ||||
| Saturday 5th | ||||||
| Sunday 6th | ||||||
| Monday 7th | ||||||
| Tuesday 8th | ||||||
| Wednesday 9th | ||||||
| Thursday 10th | ||||||
| Friday 11th | ||||||
| Wednesday 12th | Cornwall Boys U16 Match away to Somerset U16 (U16 Ben Enoch Trophy) | Wells | ||||
| Cornwall Boys U14 Match away to Somerset U14 (U14 Jack Roberts League) | Wells | |||||
| Sunday 13th | ||||||
| Monday 14th | ||||||
| Tuesday 15th | ||||||
| Wednesday 16th | ||||||
| Monday 17th | Cornwall Seniors Men Match at home to Gwent Seniors (Seniors Channel League) | Bude | ||||
| Friday 18th | ||||||
| Wednesday 19th | 08:30 - 14:30 | Cornwall Golf Men's Seniors County Stableford Championship 2026 | St Mellion-Kernow | |||
| Sunday 20th | ||||||
| Monday 21st | ||||||
| Tuesday 22nd | ||||||
| Sunday 23rd | Lord Lieutenants Trophy | Truro | ||||
| U12 Four Counties | Trethorne | |||||
| Thursday 24th | ||||||
| Friday 25th | ||||||
| Saturday 26th | ||||||
| Thursday 27th | Cornwall Boys U18 Match away to Dorset U18 (U18 Greenaway Shield) | Isle of Purbeck | ||||
| Thursday 3rd | 09:00 - 10:30 | Cornwall Women's Division 1 Autumn Meeting | Bude & North Cornwall | |||
| 10:30 - 12:00 | Cornwall Women's Division 2 Autumn Meeting | Bude & North Cornwall | ||||
| Monday 4th | ||||||
| Tuesday 5th | ||||||
| Sunday 6th | Cornwall Men Match away to Dorset (Channel League) | Crane Valley | ||||
| 13:00 - 14:20 | Cornwall Junior Tour 2026 Rd5 (0-28) | Cape Cornwall Club 18 | ||||
| 14:30 - 15:42 | Cornwall Junior Tour 2026 Rd5 (29-54) | Cape Cornwall Club 18 | ||||
| Thursday 7th | ||||||
| Friday 8th | ||||||
| Saturday 9th | ||||||
| Sunday 10th | ||||||
| Monday 11th | ||||||
| Saturday 12th | Summer Scratch & Handicap League Finals Day | Launceston | ||||
| Sunday 13th | Gammon Trophy Final | |||||
| Monday 14th | Cornwall Seniors Men Match away to Dorset Seniors (Seniors Channel League 2014 on) | Dorset Golf and Country Club | ||||
| Friday 15th | ||||||
| Saturday 16th | ||||||
| Sunday 17th | ||||||
| Monday 18th | ||||||
| Tuesday 19th | ||||||
| Sunday 20th | Bolitho Trophy and Kernow Cup Final | TBC | ||||
| Thursday 21st | ||||||
| Friday 22nd | ||||||
| Saturday 23rd | ||||||
| Sunday 24th | ||||||
| Friday 25th | 09:00 - 12:30 | Cornwall Women's Captain's Jubilee | West Cornwall | |||
| Tuesday 26th | ||||||
| Sunday 27th | SW Boys Under 12's Championships | Ferndown Forest | ||||
| 11:35 - 14:25 | Cornwall Golf Men's Club Champions (Depot & Petherick Cups) | Carlyon Bay | ||||
| Sunday 4th | 10:00 - 12:50 | Junior Autumn Meeting (OoM) | Whitsand Bay | |||
| Thursday 5th | ||||||
| Friday 6th | ||||||
| Saturday 7th | ||||||
| Sunday 8th | ||||||
| Monday 9th | ||||||
| Tuesday 10th | ||||||
| Sunday 11th | 13:00 - 14:20 | Cornwall Junior Tour 2026 Rd6 (0-28) | Mullion | |||
| 14:30 - 15:42 | Cornwall Junior Tour 2026 Rd6 (29-54) | Mullion F9 | ||||
| Thursday 12th | ||||||
| Friday 13th | ||||||
| Saturday 14th | ||||||
| Sunday 15th | ||||||
| Monday 16th | ||||||
| Tuesday 17th | ||||||
| Wednesday 18th | ||||||
| Thursday 19th | ||||||
| Friday 20th | ||||||
| Saturday 21st | ||||||
| Sunday 22nd | ||||||
| Monday 23rd | ||||||
| Tuesday 24th | ||||||
| Wednesday 25th | ||||||
| Thursday 26th | ||||||
| Friday 27th | ||||||
| Wednesday 28th | Cornwall Golf Club Team | Perranporth | ||||
| Thursday 29th | 09:15 - 12:27 | Junior Maxam Cup | St Enodoc-The Holy Well | |||
| Monday 30th | ||||||
| Tuesday 31st | ||||||
| March 2023 Diary of Events | ||||||
| Wednesday 1st | ||||||
| Thursday 2nd | ||||||
| Friday 3rd | ||||||
| Saturday 4th | ||||||
| Sunday 5th | ||||||
| Monday 6th | ||||||
| Tuesday 7th | ||||||
| Wednesday 8th | ||||||
| Thursday 9th | ||||||
| Friday 10th | ||||||
| Saturday 11th | 08:30 - 09:02 | Cornwall Men Match at home to Royal Navy (Friendly) | West Cornwall | |||
| Sunday 12th | ||||||
| Monday 13th | ||||||
| Tuesday 14th | ||||||
| Wednesday 15th | ||||||
| Thursday 16th | ||||||
| Friday 17th | ||||||
| Saturday 18th | ||||||
| Sunday 19th | ||||||
| Monday 20th | 10:30 - 11:18 | CGU Seniors Order of Merit 2 | West Cornwall | |||
| Tuesday 21st | ||||||
| Wednesday 22nd | ||||||
| Thursday 23rd | ||||||
| Friday 24th | ||||||
| Saturday 25th | ||||||
| Sunday 26th | 11:04 - 12:56 | Junior Spring Meeting | Falmouth | |||
| Monday 27th | ||||||
| Tuesday 28th | ||||||
| Wednesday 29th | ||||||
| Thursday 30th | ||||||
| Friday 31st | ||||||
Simon Wood
Operations Manager
Cornwall Golf
E:
info@cornwallgolf.org.uk
T: 01752 847600
T: 07971 624313
Performance and Development Manager
Cornwall Golf
E: development@cornwallgolf.org.uk
T: 07958 262193
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