Understanding the World Handicap System (Without Needing a Degree in Mathematics)
Golfers love talking about handicaps. Usually it's after a poor round and often begins with the words, "I was playing off 12 before they changed the system..."
The truth is that the World Handicap System (WHS) has made handicapping fairer, more portable and more reflective of how we actually play. Whether you're teeing it up in Surrey, Scotland, Spain or anywhere else in the world, the same system is used to calculate your handicap.
Rather than relying on an annual review or a committee trying to work out whether you've suddenly become the next Rory McIlroy, WHS updates your handicap based on your submitted scores. It looks at your best recent performances and calculates a Handicap Index that travels with you wherever you play.
In simple terms:
- Play golf
- Submit scores
- WHS does the clever bit
- Your handicap adjusts accordingly
It's a bit like VAR in football. Sometimes you don't agree with it, but it's there whether you like it or not.
Why OGC Members Should Use the MyEG App
As an OGC member, if you hold an England Golf affiliation and handicap, the MyEG app is one of the most useful golf apps you can have on your phone.
The app allows you to:
- Submit General Play scores
- View your Handicap Index
- Check score history
- Monitor handicap movements
- Access your digital membership information
- Keep everything golf-related in one place
Gone are the days of trying to remember where you left a scorecard or wondering whether that excellent 38 points from three weeks ago ever actually made it onto the system.
General Play Scores Count
One of the biggest misconceptions we still hear is:
"That was just a casual round, it doesn't count."
If you've pre-registered your round in the MyEG app and followed the correct process, your score can absolutely count towards your handicap.
This helps keep handicaps current and accurate throughout the season, rather than relying solely on competition rounds.
For a simple guide on how to submit a score, watch this helpful video:
📺 How to Submit a General Play Score:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gBvs2MUlRc
Public Liability Insurance – The Benefit You Hope You Never Need
Let's be honest. Every golfer has hit at least one shot that started out heading towards the fairway and ended up exploring completely different parts of the golf course.
Sometimes those wayward shots can cause damage or injury.
One of the often-overlooked benefits of England Golf membership is that it includes Personal Liability Insurance for affiliated golfers.
Hopefully you'll never need it, but should the worst happen, it's reassuring to know that cover is in place. Given the speed a golf ball can travel, we'd suggest this benefit alone makes affiliation worthwhile.
After all, replacing a Pro V1 is one thing. Replacing somebody's conservatory is quite another.
Keep Your Handicap Current
At OGC, we encourage all members to maintain an active and accurate handicap. Not only does it make competitions fairer, it also helps when playing with fellow members and guests across our growing collection of courses.
So if you haven't already:
✅ Download the MyEG app
✅ Check your handicap details are up to date
✅ Start submitting qualifying scores
✅ Enjoy the peace of mind that comes with England Golf liability cover
And remember, if your handicap goes up after a bad round, don't blame OGC, England Golf, WHS, your playing partners, the greens, the weather, the bunker rake, the temporary tee markers or Mercury being in retrograde.
Sometimes it was just a bad day at the office. We all have them. 🏌️♂️⛳