Page 24 - Golf Champion - December 2019

[ USGA ]

World Handicap System to Roll Out in 2020

2020년 월드 핸디캡 시스템 출시 예정

IBERTY CORNER, N.J., and ST. ANDREWS, Scotland (Nov. “When the golf community works together, everyone benefits,”
L4, 2019) – The World Handicap System (WHS) is ready to be said Mike Davis, CEO of the USGA. “We have seen the benefit
launched in January 2020 and will provide golfers with a unified that handicapping has provided for decades, providing greater
and more inclusive handicapping system for the first time. enjoyment for all who play. To have a single set of Rules of Hand-
Though many countries are planning to adopt the new system icapping for the game will connect golfers from country to coun-
in January, the system will go live in other parts of the world try, and we are excited to bring the best of all worlds together
throughout the year to accommodate different implementation through this initiative.
plans and variations in the golf calendar. “It is one of the many ways we are investing in golf’s future, to
Developed by the USGA and The R&A in close coordination strengthen and foster growth of the entire game for years to
with existing handicapping authorities, the WHS will provide all come.”
golfers with a consistent measure of playing ability, with handi- Martin Slumbers, Chief Executive of The R&A, said, “The game
caps calculated in the same way wherever they are in the world. of golf is transforming to meet the needs of the modern-day
A key objective of the initiative was to develop a modern system, golfer; modernizing the Rules this year was an important step
enabling as many golfers as possible to obtain and maintain a forward in that regard and the World Handicap System will be
Handicap Index. Golfers will be able to transport their Handicap another.
Index globally and compete or play a casual round with players “Our hope is that the launch of the WHS will be a catalyst for
from other regions on a fair basis. It will also indicate the score change; signalling the start of a new era of golfer engagement,
a golfer is reasonably capable of achieving the next time they go being inclusive by embracing all golfers, whatever their level of
out to play. ability, and broadening its appeal to a much wider audience.”
The table lists the estimated implementation timeframes for a se- “Change also means opportunity and, managed appropriately,
lection of countries: this can only be good for the game. It does mean there will be a
period of adjustment, as we saw with the
Indicative Time Frame* Country new Rules, but once it beds in golfers and

Argentina, Australia, Canada, India, Mexico, Panama, golf clubs will benefit in many ways from
January South Africa, Republic of Korea, United States, the new system.”
Uruguay and Venezuela In preparation for the launch of the
WHS, more than 3,000 golf courses have
February – March - April Hong Kong, New Zealand, Singapore and Sweden
been rated for the first time and an ex-
May - June - July – August Portugal tensive education program has been de-
September - October – livered. By the end of 2019, more than 90
November – December Great Britain and Ireland National Associations will have attended
an educational seminar and a robust li-
*Subject to change
The WHS has two main components – the Rules of Handicap- brary of resources is hosted on WHS.com to support regional
ping and the Course Rating System. The Rules of Handicapping education.
are encompassed within seven Rules to inform administrators Rules of Handicapping books are being produced and will be
and golfers on how an official Handicap Index is calculated and translated and delivered through national associations.
administered, with some flexibility given to national associations In addition, the USGA and The R&A have developed a series
based on how the sport is played and enjoyed in their region. of golfer-focused materials, including videos, infographics and
The Course Rating System, based on the USGA Course Rating posters, which can be used by national associations and shared
System first adopted nearly 50 years ago and already adopted on with golf clubs for the benefit of golfers.
nearly every continent, sets out a consistent method of determin- This includes a promotional video which can be seen here fea-
ing a course’s difficulty. Together, these components become the turing Annika Sorenstam, Gary Player and voices of recreational
foundational elements in determining a golfer’s Handicap Index. golfers from around the world to encourage as many golfers as

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