This competition uses the World Handicap System (WHS). Here’s how handicaps work in your match.
Step 1: Find your Course Handicap #
Before your match, each player calculates their Course Handicap for the course being played, using the standard WHS formula (Slope Rating and Course Rating). You can do this via:
Step 2: Add the away player extra shot New for 2027 #
Each away player receives one extra shot, added to their Course Handicap before the full difference is taken. See how the away player extra shot works.
Step 3: Calculate the Playing Handicap #
The Playing Handicap for each singles match is the full difference between the two players’ Course Handicaps, after the away player’s extra shot has been added. The higher-handicapped player receives that number of strokes.
Maximum Handicap Index Limits #
To play in the competition, players must have a Handicap Index within these limits:
| Competition | Maximum Handicap Index |
|---|---|
| Men’s | 20 |
| Women’s | 30 |
What if a player’s index is above the limit? #
They may still play, but their Course Handicap must be calculated using the maximum permitted index, not their actual one.
Examples:
- A woman with a Handicap Index of 31.9 plays with a Course Handicap calculated from 30.
- A man with a Handicap Index of 20.9 plays with a Course Handicap calculated from 20.
There is no limit on the resulting Course Handicap itself — only on the Handicap Index used to calculate it.
The away player’s extra shot is added after the Course Handicap has been calculated, so the limit does not affect it.
Stroke Index in Match Play #
Handicap strokes are allocated by hole according to the Stroke Index on the scorecard, as set out in Rules of Golf — Rule 3.2c.
In a sudden-death play-off, and in the Women’s Round 1 3-hole play-off, strokes, including the away player’s extra shot, are given hole-by-hole by the stroke index of the holes played, in the same way as during the round. The committee has not varied this.
