PGA Members called to support R&A’s WHS awareness campaign

28/04/2025

The R&A has launched a new campaign across Great Britain and Ireland to highlight the importance of player and club Handicap Committee responsibilities under the World Handicap SystemTM (WHSTM) – collectively, the Rules of HandicappingTM and Course Rating SystemTM.

With the golf season now underway in GB&I, The R&A has been working with the national home associations on a collaborative campaign to raise awareness of these responsibilities.

PGA Professionals and Managers are often the first point of contact when it comes to WHS-related queries. It’s essential for those who have dealings with handicap submissions understand the system but are also well-positioned to help ensure handicapping integrity when players submit scores.

Launched in 2020, the WHS is now active in more than 130 countries across the globe, providing golfers with a unified measure of playing ability. However, in GB&I, there remain challenges, particularly around the perception of handicap manipulation. The campaign aims to tackle this issue by helping golfers and club professionals recognise what actions may breach the Rules of Handicapping.

E-newsletter communications have been sent directly to clubs and golfers with the support of The R&A. The communication includes a player and club ‘flipbook’ each highlighting five key responsibilities, with the player flipbook also posted on social media.

With the WHS still relatively young, the first revision in 2024 included fairly subtle changes to allow for the system to continue to bed in.

To help inform discussions on the next revision, tentatively scheduled for January 2028, a global survey was conducted in September last year to gather feedback from players and golf club administrators, which has helped inform The R&A’s campaign.

Major themes to emerge from respondents in GB&I is the perception that the WHS is open to manipulation and that Handicap Committees need more support to carry out their roles effectively.

Grant Moir (left), Executive Director – Governance at The R&A, said, “Inclusivity is at the heart of the WHS, with one of the main aims being to encourage as many golfers as possible to obtain and maintain a Handicap Index. That has been one of its great successes.

“But The R&A, along with the USGA, understand the need to monitor the WHS closely and through our research it’s clear that in Great Britain and Ireland there are some specific concerns around the system, particularly the perception that there may be a small minority of players that are manipulating the system.

“The purpose of the campaign is to raise awareness, particularly among golfers, but also Handicap Committees as to what their responsibilities are within the Rules of Handicapping.

“We are well aware that PGA Members are often the first port of call for queries from club members on the WHS and this awareness campaign addresses many of the questions that are frequently raised.

“We don’t think there are many golfers abusing the system to gain an unfair advantage but we recognise that even if a small number are doing so then it can impact on the enjoyment of competition golf and negatively impacts on golfer opinion of the WHS.”

Robert Maxfield, PGA Chief Executive, added: “PGA Members are often central to upholding the integrity of the World Handicap System at the club level. Your role as educators and advisors is crucial in helping golfers understand and use the WHS correctly.

“This campaign will help provide PGA Members with material to guide golfers and promote good practices, which in turn will ensure fairness. “

With golf participation rising across the world through on and off course formats, the number of rounds being recorded in GB&I through the WHS is strong and new golfers, in particular, are positive about the system. For example, 9.1 million competitive rounds were played in 2024 within GB&I compared to 8.7 million in 2023. The number of general play scores also increased from 3.9 million in 2023 to 4.9 million in 2024.

With the new season well underway, the campaign has been timed to help educate players as they head for the fairways in the coming days and beyond.

Moir continued, “The WHS makes getting and maintaining a handicap much easier and adds to the appeal of golf. The number of rounds being played in GB&I under WHS confirms that.

“We will continue to review the Rules of Handicapping, including the safeguards that are already in the system to prevent abuse, to ensure they are as robust as possible.”